COV'S ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

LIFELONG FAN KEVIN HALLS REFLECTS ON AN INCREDIBLE SEASON OF HIGHS AND LOWS FOR THE SKY BLUES...

ALONG with thousands of expectant Coventry City supporters, I was at Wembley to see us take on Luton Town in the Championship play-off final.

Jordan Clark’s first-half goal gave  the Hatters the lead, but Cov were level midway through the second half when midfield magician Gustavo Hamer produced a superb finish after being teed up by our Swedish ace Viktor Gyokeres. Cue wild celebrations among the Sky Blues fans.

There were thrills and spills after that, but you just had that sneaky feeling it was destined to go to penalties. The quality of spot-kicks in the shoot-out was exceptional until, unluckily for us, defender Fankaty Dabo blasted his penalty high over the bar.

What a cruel way to lose. I left Wembley Stadium gutted that my beloved club had missed out by way of penalties, but quickly pulled myself together. After all, the Sky Blues had a brilliant season, especially when you consider that the start of the campaign was the stuff of nightmares.

Cov had to postpone three home Championship games because of an unplayable pitch. That was due to rugby seven in the Commonwealth Games being played on the surface.

This had a huge impact on the Sky Blues, who ended up playing six of their first seven games away from home. We won only one of our opening ten games and were bottom of the table in mid-October, albeit having played fewer games than anyone else in the division.