Plymouth, facing relegation, managed to surprise the play-off contenders Coventry by securing their third consecutive home victory, although they still remain at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship.
Before halftime, goals from Mustpha Bundu and Ryan Hardie put the hosts ahead, though Haji Wright managed to reduce the deficit for Coventry just prior to halftime, making it 2-1.
In the second half, Bundu netted his second goal of the match 20 minutes in, effectively sealing the win for Plymouth.
Coventry could have taken the lead early when Joel Latibeaudiere, unmarked, missed a chance by shooting wide from the far post after a corner by Jack Rudoni.
Plymouth’s first real attack came from a smooth left-side movement initiated by Darko Gyabi, leading to Bali Mumba delivering a splendid cross for top scorer Hardie, who felt he was fouled while attempting to connect.
Hardie came close to scoring in the 23rd minute when Bundu shot from the left, and Hardie slightly redirected the ball, causing it to go inches past the post. Coventry’s keeper, Bradley Collins, later had to deal with pressure from another Bundu cross, which the referee deemed a foul against him.
Bundu earned a yellow card in the 27th minute but went on to score in the 40th minute, capitalizing on a cleared corner with a well-timed half-volley after beating Ellis Simms to the ball. He then assisted Hardie just before the break, with Hardie scoring through Collins’ legs. Wright reduced the gap with a close-range strike in added time of the first half. However, this goal was not enough, as Bundu’s second goal in the 65th minute ensured Plymouth’s victory.
The Managers
Plymouth’s Miron Muslic:
“I have always believed we had a chance, and today was no exception. I am proud of our performance just two days after our disappointing loss to Middlesbrough. We knew Coventry was a strong side, but we managed to allow them only one chance from a set-piece.”
Coventry’s Frank Lampard:
“This was a disappointing result for us. The game was largely affected by our mistakes leading to set-pieces. We were aware of the potential threats from these situations but failed to effectively manage them today, resulting in a challenging afternoon overall.”
