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One word, frustration seemed to aptly sum up the feelings within the Coventry camp at the end of this hard fought Midlands West/East local derby.
Frustration that at the end of an immensely difficult week, which had seen the squad decimated by a stomach bug but which ended in a narrow defeat to second from the top, Nottingham.
In reality Cov’s performance had made the East Midlanders look anything but a side which, at the end of the match, would see them briefly again head the Championship. But for some indifferent decision making and goal kicking allied to poor execution at times would surely have seen Nottingham return with a second defeat against their name. As it was, all Coventry could take from again being so near was a losing bonus point.
Nottingham without question certainly began the more promisingly, it taking Coventry a quarter of an hour to find a real footing in visiting territory. Centre, Tonks was wide with a 40 metre penalty attempt for Nottingham on five minutes from some 49 metres Fangatapu Apikitoa was then well short of the mark.  With Nottingham camped in Cov territory without however breaking down great defence, it took a Chris Lewis break into the visitors "22" on 19 minutes from which a lead was taken two minutes later. Electing to kick to the corner, an impressive catch and drive, a real Cov feature of the match, saw Dai Maddocks rumble in for his second try in consecutive matches, the conversion from Apikitoa being pulled wide. Six minutes later though Nottingham pulled back and with 10 points coming in 16 minutes before half time. First after an attempted chip by Apikitoa was charged down, the visitors moving possession which saw winger Nirmalendran cross for Tonks to add the extras, the centre adding a penalty five minutes later after Cov were offside in front of their posts. 
Back came Coventry though and just on half time another kick to the corner saw again a rolling maul set up and held only for visiting flanker Sherriff to be caught blatantly offside at a scrum in front of the posts and receive yellow. Unfortunately at the resulting set piece against a depleted pack Cov failed to capitalise, concede a penalty and the visitors escape to the subsequent half time unscathed.
Immediately on the restart a Will Hurrell break spelt danger, before on 50 minutes Tonks for Nottingham was short with a penalty attempt. One minute later and not one of Cov’s better moments. Tackles were missed after possession was lost attempting to run out of defence which saw replacement Forsyth able to plunge in at the corner, conversion missed ,but Nottingham ahead 5-15.
With Tommy Hayes now on as a replacement, Coventry began to put some better phases together, although errors were still creeping, before on 65 minutes came a real lifeline. Am effective kick of vision from Nathan Jones saw the visitors back peddling, Will Hurrell feeding Jamie Miller which saw the acting captain storm in for his third try of the season, Drew Locke missing the conversion.
10-15, but sadly within three minutes 10-18 as Taylor for Nottingham landed a penalty after an infringement 40 metres out.
Cov though kept attempting to come forward, Locke and Apikitoa leading a great counter which enabled Tommy Hayes to land a 30 metre penalty on 79 minutes to take the side back into losing bonus point territory.
Nottingham however then slowed matters down to deny possession, with the Blue and Whites throwing in one last attack which brought no reward.
Ultimately though disappointment at what might just have been.
Coventry. Ollie Winter, Will Hurrell, Drew Locke, Chris Lewis, Romain Plantey, Fangatapu Apikitoa, Nathan Jones, Dai Maddocks, Jo Merrigan, Jamie Hall, Arthur Brenton, Sam Herrington, Jamie Miller (Capt), Ben Pons, Aaron Carpenter.
Replacements; Rob Dugards for Hall, Ben Dechartres for Brenton, Louis Mc Gowan for Herrington, Richie Bignell for Pons, Tommy Hayes for Lewis, Ryan Prosser for Merrigan
Not used; Mike Walls.
Coventry. Tries; Dai Maddocks, Jamie Miller. Penalty goal; Tommy Hayes.
Nottingham; Tries Rohaan Nirmalendran, Andrew Forsyth. Conversion; Greig Tonks. Penalty goals; Tonks and Tim Taylor.
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