Coventry 3-3 Swansea: Cullen completes stunning Swans comeback

Coventry 3-3 Swansea: Cullen completes stunning Swans comeback

Substitute Liam Cullen completed a remarkable comeback as Swansea came from three goals down to steal a 3-3 draw against Coventry at the CBS Arena.

Jonathan Panzo, Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres put the Sky Blues in the driving seat before Joel Piroe and Jay Fulton reduced the deficit.

Cullen had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he poked in from close range to complete the turnaround for Swansea, who came into the match without a win in six.

The disappointment marked Coventry’s first home match since they were issued an eviction notice by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group before agreeing a new deal to play at the CBS Arena on Monday.

Nottingham Forest loanee Panzo rose highest from Gustavo Hamer’s corner after 29 minutes to head home his first goal in English football.

It was more than deserved for Mark Robins’ men, who saw top scorer Gyokeres miss a one-on-one with Swans stopper Sven Benda after he was put through by Callum O’Hare.

O’Hare himself had missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when he found himself free in the box but volleyed Allen’s cross wide of the left-hand post.

Swansea enjoyed 72 per cent of possession in the opening 45 minutes but barely threatened as Piroe’s free-kick was comfortably gathered by Sky Blues goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

Despite the words of manager Russell Martin ringing in the Swansea players’ ears as they returned to the field, it took less than two minutes for Coventry to double their lead.

Gyokeres was the architect, teeing up Allen to curl his left-footed effort out of the reach of Benda for his fourth goal of the season.

Gyokeres then put Coventry three goals to the good after 54 minutes, making no mistake when he was put through by O’Hare’s pass despite a nervy wait as the ball trickled into the opposite corner after striking the post.

Swansea had not shown any signs of launching an unlikely comeback, but last season’s top scorer Piroe started the turnaround after 68 minutes when he turned in Ryan Manning’s cross from the left.

Martin had introduced both Oliver Cooper and Armstrong Oxo-Flex in an attempt to salvage something from the match and it was the latter who forced Wilson into a smart save before Fulton fired home the rebound.

And just 16 minutes after Piroe’s tap-in, the comeback was complete.

Cullen, thrown on just a matter of seconds before, was in the right place at the right time to turn in after Piroe’s header had come back off the post, stunning the CBS Arena crowd.

More News on this


LiveScore Daily: Today’s football news in bite-sized chunks

LiveScore Daily: Today’s football news in bite-sized chunks


LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Poch: Pleasure to coach Enzo

Read more
Bellingham pays heartfelt tribute to Francis

Bellingham pays heartfelt tribute to Francis


England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has paid tribute to “trailblazer” Trevor Francis following his death at the age of 69.

Bellingham, who spent his formative years at Birmingham where Francis also made his name as a teenager, thanked him for the guidance he had provided.

Read more
Francis: The 'Super Boy' who became Britain's first £1million player

Francis: The 'Super Boy' who became Britain's first £1million player


Trevor Francis was a footballer best known not for scoring in a European Cup final, earning 52 England appearances or later managing in major finals – all notable achievements – but for one of the game’s historical landmarks, as British football’s first £1million player.

In these days of £100million-plus fees, few now bat an eyelid at modest seven-figure moves but in 1979, when Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest smashed the British transfer record to sign Francis from Birmingham, the sum caused quite a stir.

Read more
No Harv measures for Newcastle as Barnes signs

No Harv measures for Newcastle as Barnes signs


Newcastle have added to their attacking options by signing Harvey Barnes from relegated Leicester on a five-year deal.

Barnes, 25, heads to Tyneside to replace Allan Saint-Maximin, who is set for a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Read more