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Steward slips while trying to catch pitch invader after Coventry’s late equaliser at Plymouth

A steward slips while trying to catch a pitch invader after Coventry’s very late equaliser at Plymouth on Wednesday night.

Mark Robins’ Sky Blues earned valuable point thanks to Liam Kitching netting on the 96th minute to send the away end wild.

The ball had bounced off two defenders before finding its way into the goal, securing a valuable point for Coventry to put them into the Championship top six.

Before this, Argyle’s top-scorer, Morgan Whittaker, scored his 17th goal of the league season, putting his side ahead in the 54th minute. Randell passed to Whittaker, who produced an emphatic finish.

However, Ellis Simms netted a leveller just 11 minutes later when taking a shot at goal which Hazard saved well, but it fell to Simms again, and he nudged the ball over the line.

Plymouth quickly regained their advantage when Mikel Miller scored in the 68th minute, with Argyle suddenly having numbers over as they broke on the left. Miller ripped a cross into a dangerous area, and Bobby Thomas threw out a leg, but deflected it past his keeper.

But, Coventry salvaged a draw thanks to Kitching’s crucial contribution in the dying moments of the match, after a free-kick on the left was drilled in low, took a couple of deflections, then snuck inside the near post.

Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard; 3 Lino Sousa (14 Mickel Miller 60), 9 Ryan Hardie (23 Ben Waine 77), 10 Morgan Whittaker (4 Jordan Houghton 89), 16 Alfie Devine, 17 Lewis Gibson, 18 Darko Gyabi, 20 Adam Randell, 22 Brendan Galloway, 26 Ashley Phillips (5 Julio Pleguezuelo 77), 29 Matty Sorinola (2 Bali Mumba 60). Substitutes (not used): 25 Callum Burton (gk), 6 Dan Scarr, 8 Joe Edwards, 35 Freddie Issaka.

Booked: Randell 18

Coventry City: 40 Brad Collins; 3 Jay Dasilva, 4 Bobby Thomas, 9 Ellis Simms, 15 Liam Kitching, 21 Jake Bidwell (11 Haji Wright 62), 22 Joel Latibeaudiere (cap) (28 Josh Eccles 77), 24 Matt Godden (7 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto 62), 27 Milan Van Ewijk, 29 Victor Torp, 45 Kasey Palmer. Substitutes (not used): 13 Ben Wilson (gk), 2 Luis Binks, 6 Liam Kelly, 30 Fabio Tavares, 41 Dermi Lusala, 54 Kai Andrews.

Booked: Simms 63, Latibeaudiere 75, Thomas 85

Referee: Keith Stroud

Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster said post-match, per pafc.co.uk: “I don’t want to reflect on one moment of the game where we’ve defended poorly,” said Foster. “Across the 97 minutes of the game, we’ve done incredibly well.

“They’re an excellent team; I thought we limited them to very few opportunities. I thought we defended resolutely. They’re always going to cause you problems because they’ve got so many good players, but I thought we limited them to very few opportunities.

“I thought we carried a big threat going the other way as well. Of course, we’re disappointed in the manner in which we’ve drawn the game, but in terms of the overall performance, I’m proud of them.

“[Coventry] have got so much quality. I think they’ll be a team that’ll be in the top six at the end of the season; I’d be very surprised if they’re not. We’ve taken them to a hair’s breadth of getting three points.

“The boys did everything I asked of them in the second half. I asked the players to be brave in possession. We train in a certain way, and we want them to reflect what we do on the on the training pitch in the games. In order to do that, they’ve got to be brave.

“They’re talented enough; they’re technically good enough; they’ve got the tactical understanding. We just need that bravery, that courage to get on the ball in tight areas when you’re under pressure and find a way of getting out.

“We wanted to be a little bit more fluid in terms of getting through the pitch, I thought we linked it better, particularly our number tens. I thought Alfie [Devine] and Morgan were excellent finding those pockets in between the lines and in the half spaces.

“We’ve got to be brave to get them on the ball. Both can handle it; both can receive opposed on the half turn and play forward. There were wonderful opportunities for us in the second half; we’ve took two of them.

“I’m sure when we look back and we review the game, we’ll probably be even more desperately disappointed that we haven’t got all three points.

“Credit to the players, they deserved all three, but you don’t always get what you deserve in football, unfortunately.”

“We turn our attention to Leeds on Thursday afternoon. We’ll review this game with the players when they come in. We’ll do our recovery session, and we’ll turn our attention to Leeds and what will be another thrilling game.

“They’re an excellent side as they’ve shown time and time again this season. I think tonight and tomorrow we need to just assess the game that we’ve just played in, improve the bits that we need to and then look ahead to Saturday.”

Coventry boss Mark Robins on the result, per ccfc.co.uk: “It was disappointing. we were in control in the first half and we kept them really quiet. However, during the second half we did not compete as well as we needed to and we became sloppy.

“We don’t want excused. We know we werent good enough. In an attacking sense, we created a lot of chances.

“Their first goal was poor and we should do better to stop Morgan Whitakker. I just don’t think we had the energy and quality.

“We gave them a leg up for their goals. We have to be better and we have to come back from this performance and do better on Saturday.

“Like I say, it’s going to be a long journey back. We need to get that out of our legs and go to Stoke City and turn this into a positive result if ewe can do.

“It could prove a vital point at the end of the season.

On the changes he made going into the game: “I was forced into the changes before the game. We’re not playing Championship Manager; I am managing human beings.

“My squad is tight, it’s light. I don’t think it was the changes, it was all we had available.

“Callum O’Hare was missing tonight due to fatigue. I have heard that there are lots of stupid stories out there about him which are rubbish.

“What is the point of dragging him ten hours on a bus when twenty minutes on the pitch could rule him out for Saturday?

“We have a small squad and we have a few injuries. Callum is not one. He wanted to play today but we decided he wouldn’t.

“He has gone from not playing for months to playing every weeks and we need to look after him. I would love to roll him out every week.

On the late equaliser: “In general, we’ve attacked pretty well. One big positive is Ellis’ goal. He plowed through and made sure it went into the net.

“The fans were brilliant on a horrible night, a 500-mile round trip when they’ve all got work tomorrow.

“I want to thank the fans but we’re disappointed that we didn’t perform to the levels that we expect.”

Twitter users reacted after a steward slips while trying to catch pitch invader following Coventry’s late equaliser at Plymouth…

@leobcfc01: Fact he tells him to get back and get his hat 🤣

@CarlBarnard15: The steward going back to get the pitch invaders hat 💀#pafc

@LRbix: When stewards chase pitch invaders it’s like a chase scene in a black and white film

@Dezzi_Searle: Pretty sure he tried to two foot him 😂

@alexsmith_1999: To the City fan who took one for the team, went on the pitch, ripped his Moncler jacket wide open and dropped his phone in the goalmouth You are my hero, feathers all over the pitch 😂😂 #pusb

@beanie59186661: Ripped the moncler 😂😂

@DoubleH_72: He seemed happy enough walking through the park afterwards.

@KatieStaffs: And then shook his jacket down the concourse tunnel to make it snow 😂 Brilliant

@jackbailey71: Good support 👍

@selnor1983: Plymouth fan here. Just a word on your supporters. Best away fans that have come to Home Park all season. Did yourselves proud. Made for a great atmosphere between the 2 fans. Was a great game of football. Take the point. Wish you all the best on your playoff run.

@steve_tints: Best all season. Ours embarrassing for most parts I thought.

@patpafc: Brilliant away fans guys. You celebrated that you won and we felt like we lost on the equalizer. That’s football. That’s what makes it so effin addictive. Good luck, hope you make the play offs at least. Argyle fan.

@footballtravs: They’re always good to be fair but that’s an especially great backing for the distance and midweek, as you rightly mention.

@THFC_OLAS: The pitch invader getting his hat back is what you want to see.

@upTheArgo: Hats off to Coventry fans, some of the best we’ve had down here #ccfc #pafc

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