Coventry City striker Matty Godden has been hit with a retrospective two game ban for diving – ruling him out of next week’s trip to face Rovers.

The Football Association announced the 30-year-old admitted the breach of Rule E3 during the win over Fulham earlier this month and would be hit with the standard penalty.

Godden went down in the box after a challenge by defender Antonee Robinson resulting in referee Gavin Ward giving a spot-kick which the striker converted as the Sky Blues went on to win 4-1.

That was Godden’s second goal of the season, in his sixth appearance, but the FA later announced that Godden had been charged with the offence, which it said amounted to improper conduct, and has since revealed he has hit with a two-game ban.

 

 

A spokesman said: “Matt Godden will be unavailable for Coventry City’s next two games after he admitted a breach of FA Rule E3, which happened during their EFL Championship game against Fulham FC on Saturday, October 2 2021, accepting the standard penalty.

“The striker’s behaviour in the 50th minute of the fixture amounted to improper conduct, in committing a clear act of simulation which led to the award of a penalty kick.”

Godden will also miss the game against Preston North End.

Coventry have been the Championship’s surprise package so far this season, winning all six of their home games, and once more on the road, to take 22 points from their first 11 games to sit third in the Championship standings.

Top scorer Viktor Gyokeres, beaten to the Championship player of the month prize by Ben Brereton, is currently away on international duty with Sweden, but should be back in time for the trip to Ewood Park on October 16.