SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

FOREST GREEN 2

COVENTRY CITY 1

ALEX BRAY crowned his Forest Green debut with a goal as Mark Cooper’s side climbed out of the bottom two to put a dent in Coventry City’s promotion hopes.

Signed on deadline day from Rotherham United, Bray gave his new side the lead on 39 minutes. Coventry City striker Marc McNulty levelled things up from the penalty spot on 58 minutes with his 26th goal of the season, but Rovers responded six minutes later when captain Lee Collins fizzed home from the edge of the box to make it three home wins on the spin for Rovers.

Earlier, last-gasp Coventry defending denied Rovers a 23rd minute lead. Christian Doidge’s superb flick fell to strike partner Reuben Reid who nipped beyond keeper Lee Burge and as the net bulged in anticipation,  Jordan Willis saved a certain goal with a  superb sliding clearance off the line.

It was end-to-end – Brad Collins saving with his feet from Coventry City hot-shot Marc McNulty.

Coventry City’s Liam Kelly saw yellow for an industrial challenge on Isaiah Osbourne in the 37th-minute. Two minutes later Rovers nosed ahead. Slip-shod Coventry defending allowed Christian Doidge to find Dayle Grubb and his shot was fingered onto the post by Burge, but the alert Bray was on hand to net  for his new club.

McNulty gave the FA Cup giant-killers hope from the spot, but Lee Collins’s sizzler handed Rovers the points and a league double over Mark Robins’s side.

Cooper made one change from the team beaten at Exeter City.  Alex Bray, signed on loan from Rotherham, replaced Dan Wishart. Chris Clements took his place on the bench after joining on loan from Grimsby Town.

Coventry City, FA Cup winners in 1987, and with an eye on a fifth round trip to Premier League Brighton, started on the front foot. The Sky Blues sucked up the 989 travelling  fans’ energy and Josh Barrett demanded an acrobatic sixth-minute save from Brad Collins.

Rovers responded – Isaiah Osbourne fizzing wide from a Dayle Grubb assist.

Only last-gasp Coventry defending denied Rovers a 23rd minute lead. Christian Doidge’s superb flick fell to strike partner Reuben Reid who nipped beyond keeper Lee Burge and as the net bulged in anticipation,  Jordan Willis saved a certain goal with a  superb sliding clearance off the line.

As the half ticked on, Liam Kelly saw yellow for a lunge on Osbourne in the 37th-minute.

Rovers just about edged the first-half and nosed ahead on 39 minutes. Slip-shod defending allowed Doidge to find Grubb and his close control and shot was fingered onto the post by Burge, but the alert Bray was on hand to net his first goal on his debut for his new club.

Coventry were handed a lifeline on 58 minutes. Reid was adjudged to have tripped Kelly and McNulty drilled home from the penalty spot for his 26th goal of the season.

Six minutes later and Rovers regained the lead. Grubb cut in from the left and captain Lee Collins fizzed in from the edge of the box.

Rovers remained resolute and could have made it 3-1 in six minutes of added time. Grubb drove at the defence for sub Tahvon Campbell to be thwarted by Burge.

McNulty gave the FA Cup giant-killers hope from the spot, but Lee Collins’s sizzler handed Rovers the points and a league double over Mark Robins’s side.

Forest Green: (4-4-2) B Collins, Bennett, Rawson, Gunning, Hollis; L Collins, Osbourne (Clements 63, Bray (Wishart 73), Grubb, Reid (Campbell 83), Doidge

Subs not used: Belford, Simpson, Laird

Star Man: Farrend Rawson

Coventry City: (4-4-2) Burge, Grimmer (McDonald 32), Willis, Davies (Haynes 70), Stokes; Bayliss, Doyle, Kelly, Barrett; Biamou (Clarke-Harris 64), McNulty

Subs not used: Vincenti ,O'Brien, Beavon, Shipley

Attendance: 3,623

Next up: Forest Green travel to Newport County on Saturday, February 10, 3pm.