Latics find a way to victory

UP FOR THE BATTLE...Michael Ngoo grapples with a Coventry City rival

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IT was not always pretty here, but the effectiveness of John Sheridan in producing consistent results for Athletic is beyond question after a fourth win in seven outings since his return.

Ryan McLaughlin's forthright scamper through a incompetent Coventry defence and terrific finish was the undoubted highlight of a performance that was rough around the edges at times.

Aiden O'Neill sparked at just the right moment as the hosts turned the screw after half-time, making the most of good fortune that had twice seen the ailing Sky Blues strike the woodwork when the contest was in the balance at 1-1.

Sheridan's other on-loan protege Rob Hunt was also effective in consistently raiding down the left flank and ultimately, a purple patch between half-time and the 70th minute, when McLaughlin defeated calamity goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook, did for opponents who were at least the match of their hosts up to that stage.

Peter Clarke's persistence in challenging Charles-Cook four minutes earlier had seen him bundle home his fifth goal of the season to become the club's outright leading scorer in 2016-17.

And though Kwame Thomas pulled one back with a smart far-post header, Russell Slade's men paid the price for turning up with a defence containing more holes than a colander.

Athletic made two changes from the starting line-up put out at MK Dons. Back in after suspension came Anthony Gerrard at centre-back, with Hunt recovering from illness to take his spot at left-back and Brian Wilson shifting across to right-back.

FLANKS

That meant a role on one of the flanks for previous right-back McLaughlin, with Ryan Flynn restored to the team in place of Tope Obadeyi, who dropped to the bench.

Coventry's woes can be viewed through their league record, which shows no wins at all in the division since November 1 - a sequence of poor fortune in contrast to knock-out success in the Checkatrade Trophy, in which Slade's side have made it to Wembley.

There was little that would grace the hallowed turf in North-West London in the first half, on a difficult surface at SportsDirect.com Park.

Coventry were caught cold early on. Flynn, operating in a role up front alongside injury victim Aaron Amadi-Holloway, tricked his way past his man on the right of the area and from the byline, his cross fizzed across goal.

Kevin Foley tried to clear from inside his own six-yard box, but failed hopelessly, only getting enough of a connection on the ball to send it into his own unguarded net.

Athletic barely had time to pat themselves on the back before Tudgay made it 1-1. As happened plenty of times in a first half in which Athletic simply could not maintain possession for any length of time, the experienced former Sheffield Wednesday and Derby striker advanced towards the edge of the area before striking a true effort which arrowed and dipped beyond the dive of Connor Ripley.

Amadi-Holloway was forced off the field soon after, the victim of a heavy challenge that saw him sustain a knee injury he could not shake off. Paul Green replaced him, with Sheridan opting for an unorthodox front pairing of McLaughlin and Flynn.

Coventry almost made it 2-1 just after the half-hour. Callum Reilly played a neat one-two with Tudgay, whose movement was causing problems, and the placed shot from 18 yards out beat Ripley, who was relieved to see the ball rebound to safety via the underside of his crossbar.

Charles-Cook made a meal of a Chris Taylor cross which almost led to an opportunity for the hosts, but raids into Coventry territory were sporadic and left Sheridan appealing for more at the interval.

Ripley was forced into action after 50 minutes to produce an excellent stop from the hard-running George Thomas. Kyel Reid played in the winger and his outside-of-the-foot effort was superbly tipped onto his right-hand post by Athletic's goalkeeper, who then had to claw out a Vladimir Gadzhev corner kick.

O'Neill suddenly came to the fore as Athletic turned up the heat. First, the on-loan Burnley teenager left players in his wake with a strong burst down the left, cutting back for Green, who controlled and saw his shot blocked over the bar by a defender.

Hunt was next in on the act, poking inside for Taylor, who then saw a cross-shot from a tight angle take a nick off a defender before going behind.

From the resulting corner from Ollie Banks, Athletic went in front. Clarke stayed up after an initial clearance and when Brian Wilson drove the ball back in, the defender with an eye for goal made the most of Charles-Cook's error.

O'Neill then shot wide, before McLaughlin decided to go all the way himself. He benefited from Michael Ngoo's presence.

OFFERED

The tall striker offered an extra dimension to a forward line that had not fired since Amadi-Holloway's early departure with a knee problem.

In occupying Sky Blues thoughts, he allowed room for the Northern Irishman to pass through before hitting a third for the hosts for the first time in a home league game since Rochdale were beaten 3-0 in March, 2015.

Kwame Thomas pulled a goal back and a slightly nervy Athletic were on the back foot for a period as the clock ticked down.

IN A NUTSHELL: Athletic did enough, again, finding a way to win.