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Coventry fans taunt Leicester after coming from behind to win and restore 6-point lead at top

Coventry fans cheekily taunt Leicester after coming from behind to win and restore a 6-point lead at the top of the Championship table.

Jordan James gave Leicester a half-time lead and it could have been more with Carl Rushworth keeping out chances from Bobby De Cordova-Reid twice while Caleb Okoli also sent his header over the bar.

A first half from the Championship leaders, who also saw two Ephron Mason-Clark send his efforts wide of the target and Jack Rudoni comfortably saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.

Steve Ogrizovic (Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR): “I am very impressed with this Leicester attack. I am very impressed with Jordan Ayew in particular, he is working hard and getting into great positions. But you would say that he isn’t getting the service that he deserves in this team.

“I’m relieved that it is only 1-0 as it could have been more. Coventry haven’t been awful and going forward they look alright, but defensively they are all over the place.

“You have to give Leicester the credit, they are the ones that have turned up, they have been very quick and very switched on and are playing really well. Coventry have had plenty of problems today.”

Rob Gurney (BBC Radio CWR commentator): “Coventry are too open defensively at the moment. You would say that Leicester have been the better team since the start, and at times it has looked like it could be 2-0 to Leicester. Coventry need to step their game up.”

Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports Football: “This has been a brilliant start from Marti Cifuentes’ side. They are dominating the ball and making a lot of that possession. They will be disappointed they are not 2-0 up.”

“This first half has been, defensively, very good for Leicester. They haven’t kept a clean sheet since September. Coventry have to step it up in the second half.”

Coventry got the start they wanted to in the second half, Ephron Mason-Clark cut the ball back to Jack Rudoni on the edge of the area and a shot came off Ellis Simms in the six-yard box and rolled into the net to make it 1-1.

City then nearly made it 2-1. Romain Esse seeing his shot on past Jakub Stolarczyk, then bounced against the the foot of the post.

There was a penalty appeal from the hosts when it got messy between Haji Wright and Caleb Okoli, the referee Lewis Smith not awarding anything.

Into the final 10 minutes, Abdul Fatawu got past Matt Grimes, made his way into the area, attempted to beat Carl Rushworth at his near post and the goalkeeper made a good save.

Then came what most inside the ground and those watching on from home, Coventry took the lead on 85 minutes. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto with a shot across goal, then Haji Wright made sure it went in.

Rob Gurney (BBC Radio CWR commentator): “The Leicester players have swarmed the referee and they are not happy. ‘We are top of the league’ is ringing around the ground. ‘Going down, going down Leicester City’, I’m not too sure about that one…”

A sigh of relief for the Sky Blues as the final whistle blew, coming from behind to win for the first time since Boxing Day.

They have 55 points from 27 games played, Middlesbrough are 2nd with 49 points from 27 games, and Ipswich are 3rd with 47 points but have a game in hand.

Meanwhile for Leicester, they sit 12th with 37 points from 27 games, 4 points from the playoffs before the rest of the weekend’s action.

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:

“There was a great atmosphere from start to finish. It was tough in the first half, because they gave us some problems and they get their goal.

“They’re a good team, with good individuals and their league position isn’t the reality when they play like that. They gave us issues, but to turn the game around like that is a big pleasure.

“It’s a good feeling for the group, because we had to tactically change some bits off the ball, but the big thing was overcoming the tension and the feeling of what the first half was, to reiterate to the players why they are where they are, at the top of the league, because of the work they’ve done and the quality they’ve got.

“They went out and responded, which was brilliant – and hence, the atmosphere in the stadium at the end of the game.”

Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester:

“It’s a tough one, because it’s a derby. It was an opportunity, as well, to have a good moment after our last two results, to reconnect with our fans, so it’s a tough one.

“We knew the first half was very good, it was at the tempo we want the team to play. There was good communication, there was good controlling of the game, creating chances but perhaps we needed to be more clinical.

“The game was there for the taking, but we spoke at half time that Coventry are playing at home, chasing the game and would try to push.

“We knew there’d be moments we have to cope with, but what we cannot accept is the way we conceded after just seconds after restarting.”

Twitter users reacted after Coventry fans taunt Leicester when coming from behind to win and restore a 6-point lead at the top…

@michaellfriel: What ever Lampard said or did at half time my god we come out a totally different team 😍 I LOVE THIS GAME

@rm_rf_tom: We’ve been terrible all Christmas really, so a poorer team like Leicester is just what we needed to start getting that winning mentality back.

@SephtonMark: We battled and the second half was enormous! Mind the gap Leicester City! Have some of that… #PUSB

@CCFCSBA_: That is so huge for the derby win but for the league table’s point of view too that win is priceless.

@manjdogszn: 2 different half’s today – let’s not repeat that first one next week lads. PUSB

@RobPUSB: Good win in the end but fuck me that first half was painful 🤣 one or two more additions, a plan B, more pace and movement on the ball and we may be able to retain the top 2 spots

@CoachPhilSims: Right then, let’s take this and rebuild momentum to get this over the line 💪🏼

@NickJH83: Much, much better in that second half. Given the context of our recent form this is a great comeback and result. I’m absolutely buzzing!

@JackWhitman_7: Cancel Luke Thomas’ contract. #lcfc

@RFox55_: Another defeat and a loss to our local rivals. Brilliant first half and they couldn’t be arsed second half. Manager clueless and Luke Thomas an embarrassment. Don’t know where we go from here as a club.

@danhall86: As away performances have gone this season, I’m very glass half full. Gave top of the league a scare. If we had took our chances, it was a comfortable win. #lcfc

@mnorman1985: Full time. We’ve just lost to Coventry. Yet there were still people clapping. My mind boggles. #lcfc

@WTFox1884: Was explaining to my missus earlier how usually I wouldn’t dream of missing a derby game no matter how poor we are. But I didnt bother with Derby on 29th & I didnt bother today. My enthusiasm for supporting this club has never been lower. Even in the Levein / Holloway era #lcfc

@MarkgLcfc: 1st half i saw green shoots of positivity. We looked good but like many fans, knew we had to score more than 1. The way we start 2nd half is a concern. How many games do we concede in 1st 15min & momentum shifts. Luke Thomas, good local lad but costs us most games #LCFC

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