MATCH REPORTS 08/09

DERBY COUNTY 2-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS  Date 06/11/09 At Pride Park    Championship

Coventry

Konstantopolous, Clarke (sent off 62), Ward, Barnett, van Aanholt (Hussey 65), Eastwood (Bell 76), Cork (McIndoe 66), Morrison, Best SNU Ireland, Madine, Grandison, Jeffers

Derby

Bywater, Green (Livermore 87), Leacock (Addison 77), Savage, Pearson, Stoor,Barker, Moxey. Teale, Dickov (Croft 79), Hulse SNU Atkins, McEveley, Hughes, Connelly

HT DCFC 0-1 CCFC  FT DCFC 1-2 CCFC ATT 26,511 Goals Leon Best (3), Rob Hulse (48 & 61)

Referee Phil Crossley Booked Dickov, Barnett, Clarke x2, van Aanholt, Hussey,

Man Of The Match Leon Barrnett took the votes in our car with nominations for Osbourne and Cork.

_______________________

Coventry City were left to rue some more poor defending as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Derby County in a stormy fixture.

This Friday night affair shown live on Sky and the poor form of late from a side in need of proper funding did offer an excuse for some not to go to Pride Park, but the turn out of 681 City supporters was very good for a rainy night in this East Midllands city.

It all started so well as Chris Coleman's side, which saw four changes from the one beaten by Reading, took the lead. Leon Best, who is in the Republic Of Ireland squad to face France next week, got the ball on the right and finished with a great low drive after a cross from Freddy Eastwood has been punched out by ex City loanee Stephen Bywater.

This sparked wild scenes in the away end. However, with a referee making decisions that both sets of fans felt were wrong, Derby started to be allowed chances.

Debutant Leon Barnett was kept busy as a former City loanee Dean Leacock had a chance followed by ones for Hulse, Teale, Pearson. At times in the first half, City passed the ball well and one move brought huge cheers from the sky blue support every time a City player touched the ball.

In the 31st minute, there was touching of a different kind when Barnett, was grabbed by Paul Dickov. Somehow, the Scot escaped with a caution, which was what Barnett received.

Two more City players followed into the book of Mr Crossley.  Jordan Clarke was cautioned for what looked from the away end as intent and Patrick van Aanholt for time wasting.

Five minutes of stoppage time were added on and in that the City fans were howling as Dickov blasted a right wing cross over from four yards to see Coventry ahead at the break.

Unfortunately, City did not start the second period as same as they started the first. Within four minutes of the restart, City's static defence were caught napping as a cross came over and there was Rob Hulse who had plenty of time to flick past Dimi from a Teale pass.

In the 61st minute, the former Crewe youngster compounded more misery on the Sky Blues when a cross from the left was not dealt with and Hulse picked his spot to score.

Now, there cannot be a referee in the country who does not know the antics of Robbie Savage. The Leicester loving Welshman according to an article in the Leicester media a couple of weeks ago, had been trying to get a City player sent off. In the 62nd minute, he got his wish when Clarke clattered him before walking off as a melee ensued.

It was hard to see what happened but Savage kept having to swap his blood shirt throughout the remainder of the game from something that had nothing to do with Clarke’s tackle.

"2-1 To The Referee" plus some Robbie Savage abuse sang the City fans as Chris Coleman and Steve Harrison opted to send on Chris Hussey and Michael McIndoe.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, City, for me had more than enough to get something out of this game against a side, who showed glimpses as to why they were 19th in the table going into this game.

However, lacking effective leadership on the pitch and someone who could put their foot on the ball and dictate the play, the Sky Blues did not really threaten the goal of Stephen Bywater.

Isaac Osbourne, Jack Cork and Aron Gunnarsson all did jobs but although McIndoe did get the odd cross over, there again seemed a lack of urgency amidst the City team.

With ten minutes left, Derby were awarded a penalty conceded by Chris Hussey. Those of you who watched it on tv, would have had a lot better view than me stood at the opposite end or my mate Stewy stood next to me with the game on the tv on his phone. Whether, it was a penalty or not did not really matter as Rob Hulse stepped up expecting to get his hat-trick and he hit a low shot that Dimi dived to his left to push away.

City pushed forward at the end winning an 88th minute corner but they went down to another defeat.

COVENTRY CITY 1-3 READING  BY KEV MONKS   Date 31/10/09 At The Ricoh Arena   Championship

Coventry

Konstantopolous, Cranie, Turner, Grandison, Clarke, Cork , Gunnarsson (Osbourne 56), McIndoe (Best 56), van Aanholt (Hussey 72), Morrison, Eastwood. SNU Ward, Ireland, Bell, Madine

Reading

Federici, Tabb, Matejovsky, McAnuff, Church (Long 55), Rasiak, Bertrand, Sigguardson, Pearce, Pearce, Howard (Karacan 68) SNU Hamer

HT CCFC 0-1 RFC    FT  CCFC 1-3 RFC  ATT 15,165

Goals Grzegorz Rasiak (1 & 71), Jobi McAnuff (53), Freddy Eastwood (62)

REFEREE E.Ilderton BOOKED  Hussey

MAN OF THE MATCH  Freddy Eastwood took the votes 

_______________________

Coventry City served up a Halloween horror show with a 3-1 home defeat to Reading.

This was my 1850th City first team game and a match where the club were trialing the dropping of the match day price increases, something in my book, which has not helped attendances.

This did not increase the crowd, which included more visitors from Northern Ireland plus a very welcome regular from Denmark and only 15,165 with 639 Reading fans, were officially recorded as being in the ground.

The players of a City side that saw three changes with Dimi Konstantopolous replacing Keiren Westwood, Jermaine Grandison in for flu victim Stephen Wright and Aron Gunnarsson coming in for Isaac Osbourne, were led onto the pitch by British Legion Standard Bearers.

They marched onto the pitch in a well-drilled manner but with twenty eight seconds of the first half, City’s young defence was looking anything but an organised outfit when a cross from the right was powerfully headed home into the CT Stand net from a couple of yards out by Grzegroz Rasiak.

Then Sigurdsson went wide, Ryan Bertrand forced Dimi to smother his shot and before we had reach the eight minute mark, a Matejovsky cross was woefully wasted by Simon Church.

Chris Coleman was told by the City support to sort it out in no uncertain terms whilst some in the Tesco Stand were heard booing as Reading won all the aerial battles.

Having the Gunnarsson throw was a weapon in the City armoury and it eventually lead to the Sky Blues first corner in the 12th minute after Ben Turner’s effort inside the area was blocked.

Two minutes later and we were on our feet when City, who had not scored since the home game against Leicester City, had a free kick that was met by the head of Freddy Eastwood and the ball flew into the net. However, the assistant on the Main Stand side had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.

With Jay Tabb playing at right back for the Royals and being cheered by some of the City support and booed by others, you would have thought that Patrick van Aanholt would have been tearing into him all afternoon.

The Dutchman did get through in the 15th minute when he volleyed wide but he did not enjoy much success against the former Coventry man.

For much of the first half, it was as frustrating as the noise from kids blowing horns that had been on sale in the club shop with the Sky Blues being reactive rather than proactive in their attempts to find the equalising goal.

Jermaine Grandison, who had a fairly good game had a 26th minute header saved following a Gunnarsson throw and it was the Icelander who went wide with a shot on the turn from a 30th minute corner.

It was no surprise that the disgruntled City support booed the team off at the break and were even more fuming when Jobi McAnuff made it 2-0 to the visitors in the 53rd minute, after a static defence watched him smash the ball into the net with Dimi helpless.

There were massive boos after the goal which turned into a huge ironic cheer when Michael McIndoe, who again had failed to impress the City support, was replaced by Leon Best, quickly followed by Aron Gunnarsson, making way for Isaac Osbourne.

Reading hit the post in the 58th minute before Dimi saved from Long’s far post volley from the resulting corner and the “Coleman Sort It Out” chants started again.

It seemed to work as up the other end, Jack Cork thumped the cross bar from ten yards before Adam Federici denied Clinton Morrison who had got to a flick on from Best for the first of two corners taken by Isaac Osbourne.

This also lifted the City fans who were now trying to get behind the team and in the 62nd minute, Freddy Eastwood got the ball about 22 yards out and drove it firmly into the net for his fifth goal since he joined City.

We thought the fight back against a side who have struggled of late especially at home, was on.

However, Brendan Rogers’ side forced Jordan Clarke, who did not have the best game of his career, to clear off the line from a corner. When eventually, the ball came back in, the Sky Blues defence stood thinking the flag would go up for offside but there was Grzegorz Rasiak to rifle home in the 71st minute. The Pole looked at the referee before running over to celebrate with the jubilant visiting fans.

Coleman sent on Chris Hussey who had played the whole game for City Reserves at Forest on Tuesday afternoon but the game was lost.

Jordan Clarke wasted a great chance deep in stoppage time as City were booed off by some as they went down to their third defeat in four games.

COVENTRY CITY 0-0 WEST BROMWICH ALBION BY KEV MONKS Date 24/10/09 At The Ricoh Arena   Championship

Coventry

Westwood (Konstantopolous 10), Cranie, Clarke (Bell 68), Wright, Turner, McIndoe, Osbourne, Cork, van Aanholt, Eastwood (Madine 90), Morrison SNU Hussey, Cain, Grandison, Ward

West Brom

Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Matlock, Thomas (Cech 84), Mulumbu, Jara, Koren (Teixeira 67), Dorrans, Moore (Wood 84)

SNU Kiely, Reid, Martis, Cox

HT CCFC 0-0 WBA    FT  CCFC 0-0 WBA   ATT 20 871

REFEREE K.Stroud BOOKED City van Aanholt, Osbourne, Cork. WBA Thomas, Moore, Mulumbu.

MAN OF THE MATCH Dimi Konstantopolous took the votes for a fine performance and a clean sheet 

_______________________

Coventry City lacked ideas up front but did enough to earn a highly creditable draw against West Bromwich Albion.

For both sets of supporters, this was a normal Championship match. The home ground of the Championship leaders may be twenty seven miles away from the Ricoh Arena but there is and has been no rivalry or history between the two clubs and for certain sections of the media, many of whom have come to Coventry for work, to try and hype this into some sort of derby that anyone bothers about, to me, demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge of the history of our football club and that of West Bromwich.

After two very poor performances away to Sheffield Wednesday and at the ‘Mini Ricoh’ in Cardiff, the crowd, most of whom, had left home in the pouring rain which stopped shortly before kick off, had to be boosted by 4,000 visitors from the Black Country and a large number of free tickets being dished out to schools.

Chris Coleman made one change with a starting role for Jordan Clarke at left back, allowed Patrick van Aanholt to move into midfield.

It was a tactic that worked pretty well as the England U19 international and Cov kid made some good tackles early to keep Graham Dorrans, who for me was the Baggies man of the match in check.

Ten minutes in and Chris Coleman was forced to make a change to his original line up when keeper Keiren Westwood felt a back twinge flare up.

Dimi Konstantopolous, whose last match was for City Reserves at Coventry Sphinx eighteen days ago and his last first team appearance was the fated League Cup tie against Hartlepool United back in August, came on in his place.

With Stephen Wright having his best game for a while, City’s defence was able to cope with the Albion attack and when they did get forward, there was the Greek keeper to make the save.

Two came in the 26th minute when he and Stephen Wright blocked Jerome Thomas to concede a corner and and eight minutes later, Dimi confidently punched away a corner and then reacted when Dorrans, who had taken the corner came back in with a right footed drive.

This came after Freddy Eastwood who was jeered by the away support, who were making the majority of the noise, in the Jewson Stand End, which City attacked in the first half, had headed wide.

City created nothing of note as the first half ended with the visitors having the better of the play.

At times, there was more entertainment in the away end than on the pitch as a number of visiting fans were escorted out much to the loud cheers of the scoreboard enders.

With Michael McIndoe improving throughout the half and Jack Cork working tirelessly, City continued to keep pace with the visitors.

David Bell was sent on for Jordan Clarke in a move, which saw Michael McIndoe switch to the left flank.

It was the Norwich man who did reasonably well, that had City’s best chance to snatch a win in the 83rd minute when his shot from the right produced a diving save from the giant that is Scott Carson.

Dimi saved from Zuiverloon before Gary Madine was given his debut. Carlisle’s fifth best striker, jumped and won a header straight away much to the approval of the City support.

We urged City on as they won a corner deep into the four minutes added on by referee Keith Stroud but the match finished without a goal and we left happy with a point. 

CARDIFF CITY  2-0  COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS Date 20/10/09 At The Cardiff City Stadium   Championship

Coventry

Westwood, Cranie, Wright, Turner, van Aanholt (Hussey 67), Osbourne, Cork, McIndoe, Eastwood, Best (Bell 64), Morrison SNU Konstantopolous, Madine, Grandison, Clarke

Cardiff

Marshall, Kennedy, Matthew, Hudson, Gerrard, Whittingham, Burke, Ledley, McPhail, Chopra, Bothroyd SNU Enckleman, Rae, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack

HT CCFC 1-0 CCFC FT CCFC 2-0 CCFC ATT 19,038 Goals Anthony Gerrard (4), Peter Whittingham (58 pen)

Referee Mike Russell Booked Turner, Bothroyd, Cork, Wright, van Aanholt

Man Of The Match The young City mascot from Gloucester, who looked good before kick off and applauded the City support well.

_______________________

Coventry City badly let 350 City supporters, who took the time and effort to get to the new Cardiff City Stadium to see a Sky Blues side give Cardiff an easy 2-0 victory.

A couple of coach loads (one of which suffered a tyre blow out on the way back), a number of cars, plus City fans from Gloucestershire, South Wales, Bristol, Kent and ambridgeshire all made their way into the sanitised new home of the Bluebirds.

Very much resembling the Ricoh Arena, the away fans are housed in the scoreboard corner and they saw a City team, which had two changes from the one that had failed at Hillsborough on Saturday.

Martin Cranie was back in defence with Freddie Eastwood on the left whilst new loanees Chris Hussey and Gary Madine on the bench.

Chris Coleman, who was roundly abused by the home fans, told his players not to concede early on.  However, four minutes in and his words, on a rainy night, crumbled to dust as Cardiff took the lead thanks to a fine header from former Walsall man Anthony Gerrard heading home unchalleged a cross from the left.

Leon Best, who had little to no service for most of the match, was denied by David Marshall who dived to beat away his eighth minute shot.

Three minutes later, Clinton Morrison who spent a lot of time out of the game on the right flank, played in Best who hit the side netting.

Apart from one rare attack by Jack Cork, all the play was up the other end. Thanks to City's midfield not retaining possession, Cardiff who included former Sky Blue Jay Bothroyd launched attack after attack.

Keiren Westwood got to a Bothroyd poke in the 15th minute. Whittiingham was having too much freedom on the right. He sent one into the side netting and was a constant threat.

Then in the 32nd minute, Whittingham was clear through and Ben Turner had no choice but to bring him down. Thankfully, he was not directly on goal and Turner escaped with a caution.

Michael McIndoe playing in the centre of midfield struggled and in the 32nd minute, it was only a tackle by van Aanholt that prevented Cardiff from going further in front. The loanee gave McIndoe the same short thrift that some of the City support, were putting in his direction.

Westwood saved from Whittingham as we went into the break, very unhappy at the Sky Blues latest display of ineptitude.

Apart from a shot from Cork from 25 yards and one from Eastwood which was straight at the keeper late on, City never looked like getting back into the match.

In the 57th minute, the game was well and truly over when some woeful defending from Stephen Wright following a Turner howler saw a penalty conceded. Treacle Towner Peter Whittingham scored from the resulting spot kick.

Had this been a boxing bout, this contest would have been stopped to save the punishment that the excuse for a defence and the furious City support were suffering.

But the misery continued as Leon Best went off with what looked like a hamstring injury. David Bell was sent on but without any match practice, only made up the numbers.

In the 67th minute, Chris Hussey was given his debut. Clearly not used to not getting the ball when he called for it, Hussey's waving and gesturing kept the Cardiff fans, who are no longer the intimidating 12th man they were at Ninian Park, to our right amused and they were cheering every time the loanee from AFC Wimbledon got the ball.

Bell and McIndoe had half hearted attempts, which were easily dealt before there were calls for Coleman to sort it out as we trudged depressed at having wasted another day watching a not good enough Coventry City, out of the stadium and made our way home.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS Date 17/10/09 At HILLSBOROUGH   Championship

Team

Westwood, Wright, Ward, Turner, van Aanholt, Cork, Osbourne, Gunnarsson (Eastwood 56), McIndoe (Cain 71), Morrison, Best SNU Cranie, Grandison, Konstantoplous, Walker

Sheff Wed

Grant, Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr, Johnson (Miller 93), Potter, O'Connor, Gray (McAllister 76), Clarke (Sodje 73), Varney. SNU O'Donnell, Simek, Jeffers, Hinds

HT SWFC 2-0 CCFC  FT SWFC 2-0 CCFC ATT 20,026

Goals Darren Purse (4), Leon Clarke (19 pen) Referee Colin Webster Booked Ward, Clarke, Beavers,

Man Of The Match Very hard to give one but Patrick van Aanholt took the votes.

_______________________

Coventry City were left to rue some poor defending and some equally poor refereeing as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

There was a very good turnout of around 1500 City supporters in the Leppings Lane stand at a Hillsborough Stadium, which reckons it should be part of the England 2018 World Cup bid.

Since the Disaster, Hillsborough has been noted for being away fan unfriendly and the latest ruse that riled some of the Sky Blue Army was the refusal to admit flags due to them being a fire hazard, despite home fans being allowed them (hmmm lost count how times I have seen a flag spontaneously combust).

Those unhappy at this joined the rest of us in the stand on a cloudy day in S6, as the match kicked off with the Sky Blues wearing black shirts and sky blue shorts, fielding a side that included fit again Ben Turner,Michael McIndoe and Aron Gunnarson who at least had some match practice playing for Iceland against South Africa.

Within three and a half minutes of the first whistle, there were storm clouds amongst the City support as Coventry went a goal down.

A corner was conceded and nobody picked up Darren Purse who banged the ball into the net from close range to delight the home fans in the Kop.

McIndoe had the ball in the net shortly after but City, who missed the abilty of Sammy Clingan to put their foot on the ball and do something creative with it, failed to really test the home defence or keeper.

In the 18th minute, James O'Connor got the ball just inside the area. He looked to go down first to an Elliott Ward tackle and then finally when Ward tackled him again, down he went.

Referee Mr Webster awarded a penalty, which saw Leon Clarke send Keiren Westwood the wrong way and put Wednesday 2-0 up.

"Coleman Sort It Out" demanded the City fans but all we got was hit and hope football. In the 25th minute, Grant did have to make a save when he punched away a Gunnarsson volley. Cork fired over before the assistant referee Darren Bond on the touchline to our left, incurred the wrath of the sky blues support when he pulled Leon Best up for an offside which no-one else could fathom out.

As we approached stoppage time at the end of the first half, there was a complete furore. The ball came over and Leon Best got in a header inside the six-yard box. The ball from our lofty vantage point looked a yard over the line when Lee Grant used his hands to scoop the ball back over the line. We all jumped up, the City players all thought they had scored but there was nothing from the referee and linesman who were taunted by the City support and confronted by some of the City players after the half time whistle had been blown. Even the local radio back up our claims but 2-0 it was.

Going in at 2-1 down would have been game on for the Sky Blues but today, it seemed that not every player was up for getting City back in the match.

There were howls of derision every time Mr Webster gave City a free kick but in the 56th minute, a bad afternoon got worse when Aron Gunnarsson was clattered by Leon Clarke. The Icelander rejected Clarke's attempts to try and get up. It was clear to see that he was in pain with what looked a possible broken leg and eventually a stretcher was summoned and he was dispatched to hospital.

Freddie Eastwood came on and played in three different positions in 15 minutes. In the 61st minute, every one was howling for a penalty when Leon Best was sent crashing. It looked a good shout and even the referee blew for the penalty but the Derbyshire based assistant Alan Parker on the Main Stand side said there was an offside and Mr Webster went with that.

"You're Not Fit To Referee" and "2-0 To The Referee" sang the City supporters before Michael McIndoe, who clearly has still to win over some of the City support was replaced by Ashley Cain who got a run out. Patrick van Aanholt who at least showed some fight late on, had a chance along with Cork and Osbourne before Morrison’s late shot on the turn dipped just over the bar.

However, this was not to be City’s afternoon and we left disappointed and pointless. 

BIRMINGHAM CITY 0-4 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

City

Quirke, Christie, Greenway (Gudger 85), Grogan, Cameron, Grandison (Adams 72), Cain, Walker, Jeffers (Lellu 78), Ogleby, Blackwell

HT BCFC 0-1 CCFC FT BCFC 0-4 CCFC

Goals Jamie Greenway (12), Jermaine Grandison (50), Jacob Blackwell (55), Shaun Jeffers (68)

______________________

Coventry City U18's were back to winning ways with a storming 4-0 victory at Birmingham City.

Greg Rioch's side which included Jermaine Grandison, Adam Walker,Ashley Cain and Shaun Jeffers took the lead in the 12th minute.

Robert Ogleby took apart his marker and centred for Jamie Greenway to fire past Jack Butland from twelve yards.

City's defence was resolute under the leadership of Jermaine Grandison. Twice, it was breached but Grandison cleared a 28th minute corner off the line after a superb Michael Quirke save and six minutes later, Cyrus Christie cleared another off the line.

At the other end, Coventry were always looking for a second goal and it came in the 50th minute when the hard working duo of Walker and Cain combined to swing in a corner which Jermaine Grandison headed in at the far post.

Christie hacked another off the line but City, who were getting nothing from the referee Mr Day went 3-0 up in the 55th minute.

Ashley Cain crossed from the right, Walker jumped for the ball taking with him a defender. This meant that Jacob Blackwell was unmarked at the far post and the winger swept home from six yards.

In the 61st minute, the City support in a big crowd at Wast Hills were seething when two Birmingham players tripped over each other and Ogleby dispatched the loose ball into the net. However, the unsighted assistant on the far side put his flag up and the goal was ruled out.

The Sky Blues in their black away kit, did get a fourth in the 68th minute thanks to an excellent finish from Shaun Jeffers who burst past his man before beating Butland with a left footed drive.

Michael Quirke made a double save late on but City, who to a man had put in an excellent team performance, were very worthy winners.

COVENTRY SPHINX 0-2 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY KEV MONKS

Sphinx

O’Neill, Goodbody, Doherty, Rhodes, Ward, McAteer Muldoon, Fisher, Phillips, Murdock, Ruff Subs Used Manak, Halton, Woodall, Smith, Martin, A.Wilson-King

Coventry City Reserves

Konstantopolous, Christie, Gudger (Greenway), Gorgan (Bottomer 78, Jermaine Grandison (Adams 78), Cameron, Cain, Walker, Jeffers, Ogleby (Quirke  86), Lellu (Blackwell 75),

HT CSFC 0-1 CCFC  FT CSFC 0-2 CCFC ATT 112 Goals Adam Walker (30), Shaun Jeffers (pen 67) Referee Mike Bingham

Coventry City Reserves won 2-0 at Coventry Sphinx in a quickly re-arranged friendly.

This was City’s first visit to Sphinx since July 1995 and for the game, Frankie Bunn and Greg Rioch, plus Steve Harrison in the crowd, named a team that saw Dimi Konstantopolous in goal with Jermaine Grandison, Adam Walker, Ashley Cain and Shaun Jeffers who regularly are on the bench for first team matches along with a number of U18’s players.

Against a side preparing for the biggest match in their history on Saturday, when Sphinx take on Bedworth United in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round, City should have been facing a first minute penalty but it was not given and the Sky Blues in their black away kit started to created chances of their own.

In the sixth minute, Shaun Jeffers found Ashley Cain on the right. The Nuneaton born’s winger’s cross was met by the head of Robert Ogleby but he could not get the angle he wanted under pressure from Terry Ward and the ball went over the bar.

The Midland Alliance side went up the other end and a long ball from Craig Goodbody was picked up by Josh Ruff. The midfielder drove from sixteen yards but Konstantopolous was alert and pushed the ball round for a corner.

City kept pressuring with Ogleby, Lellu, Walker and right back Cyrus Christie, all having efforts on goal in the opening twenty minutes.

On the half hour mark, a Cain cross from the right fell for Adam Walker, some twenty yards out from goal and the midfielder made no mistake firing high into the net.

This delighted the City fans in the crowd but in stoppage time, the Sphinx support had their hearts in their mouth as Jerome Murdock was sent on his way. He slipped the ball under Konstantpolous but the ball hit the bottom of the far post and meant that City were ahead at the break.

Sphinx Boss Danny McSheffrey made a number of changes in the second half but it was City who continued to have the better of the chances.

Ogleby had two efforts at the start of the second half. However, this was not one way traffic and in the 63rd minute, Jerome Murdock found space on the right and got hit in a low drive which bounced off the near post.

Four minutes later, the match was finished as a contest when City were awarded a penalty. Shaun Jeffers won the discussion on who was taking the kick and made no mistake to put City two goals ahead.

In the 78th minute, good work from Adam Walker and Cain who had switched to the left flank, set up Robert Ogleby. The speed merchant hit a stunning shot from twenty yards unfortunately, it thumped the bar before being cleared.

Konstantopolous made a good save from Woodhall for a corner and Walker, Ogleby and Bottomer both had chances as the match finished with a 2-0 victory for City and some good match preparation for Coventry Sphinx.       

COVENTRY CITY 1-1 LEICESTER CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 03/10/09 At The Ricoh Arena   Championship

Team

Westwood, Cranie, Wright, Ward, van Aanholt, Cork, Clingan (Osbourne 70), Gunnarsson, Eastwood, Best, C.Morrison SNU Cain, Grandison, Clarke, Walker, Konstantopolous, Jeffers

Leicester

Weale, M.Morrison, Hobbs,  Brown, Dyer, Berner, Oakley, King, Kermogrant (Howard 59), Fryatt (Waghorn 59), Gallacher (Campbell 59)

HT CCFC 1-0 LCFC  FT CCFC 1-1 LCFC  ATT 22,207 Goals Sammy Clingan (37), Martyn Waghorn (69)

Referee M.Oliver Booked Clingan, Gallagher, Best

Man Of The Match Votes for Jack Cork, Sammy Clingan and Freddie Eastwood in a hard working performance

_______________________

The first M69 derby of the season finished in a 1-1 draw at the Ricoh Arena. Coventry City went into the game on the back of the win against Watford and with Michael McIndoe picking up a knock in that game, Freddie Eastwood was given a rare start.

It was a blustery old lunchtime as the match kicked off at the Ricoh Arena in front of the biggest crowd of the season, which included 4,802 members of the Leicester family.

Outside it was relatively peaceful and inside the ground, although there was some good banter between the two sets of supporters, there was not much of an atmosphere inside the ground.

With Martin Cranie again at right back and Stephen Wright who had a better game at centre half whilst leaving the capable Elliott Ward to win the headers, City attacking the Jewson Stand in the first half, kept Matty Fryatt out of the game.

Jack Cork again enjoyed a free role and worked very hard in a strong midfield and in the space of two minutes, his fellow midfielder Aron Gunnarsson, who was also encouraged to attack, had two chances.

The first in the eighth minute went just over the bar but the second came from a cross from the Tescos Stand side by Eastwood, who improved as the game went on, Morrison knocked on and Chris Weale in the Leicester goal produced a great save to concede a corner.

Although there was a lot of good work being done, again the visitors were able to exploit the Sky Blues weaknesses.

One time City loanee Lloyd Dyer fired over in the 16th minute and five minutes later, Paul Gallagher from the edge of the area hit the bar with a curling effort.

The game needed a goal to bring it to live and in the 37th minute, a handball decision by referee Mr Oliver gave City a free kick.

Up stepped Sammy Clingan to take the kick some twenty yards out. The wall looked well positioned but then keeper Chris Weale decided to go for a walk. This left Clingan with a bigger target to aim at and the Northern Ireland international duly obliged, firing high into the net and sparking scenes of joy amongst the Sky Blue support.

Those smiles on our faces lasted through half-time and into a second half which saw Coventry on the attack looking for that second goal which surely would have wrapped up a victory.

Eight minutes after the restart, good foot work by Cork sent Gunnarsson down the right and into the area. He hit a corker of a shot but Weale produced an equally exquisite save to push the ball over for a corner that Ward fired wide from.

Clinton Morrison, who was well marked, did get the ball in the net in the 57th minute but the flag from the assistant on the Tescos Stand side had long had his flag up.

Nigel Pearson opted for a triple substitution. Steve Howard, DJ Campbell and Martyn Waghorn were sent on in the 59th minute and within ten minutes, that tactic paid off when the visitors equalised.

Weale cleared upfield. The ball fell to Martyn Waghorn and the substitute flicked the ball past Keiren Westwood before rushing over to celebrate with his fans.

Chris Coleman than decided on a change with the hard working Sammy Clingan replaced by Isaac Osbourne.

With ten minutes left, Clinton Morrison did all the hard work to shrug off the attentions of his marker and get in space for a shot but could only blast the ball into the CT Stand.

Urged on by the Sky Blue Army, City won two corners and in the 86th minute, Leon Best, crashed a shot against the bar after the flag had again gone up. This meant it was one point apiece from a hard fought local derby.

WATFORD 2-3 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS Date 29/09/09 At Vicarage Road  Championship

Team

Westwood, Clarke (Cranie 68), Wright, Ward, van Aanholt, Clingan,Cork, McIndoe (Eastwood 72), Gunnarsson (Osbourne 85), Best, Morrison SNU Konstantopolous,Walker, Cain, Jeffers

Watford

Loach, Mariappa , Cowie (Lansbury 56), Graham, Doyley, Harley, Bennett, Hoskins (Henderson 70), Cleverley, Eustace, Hodson (Oshodi 76). SNU Lee, Severin, Bryan, Sordell

HT WFC 2-1 CCFC  FT WFC 2-3 CCFC ATT 13,034

Goals Sammy Clingan (13), Tom Cleverley (20), Will Hoskins (37), Leon Best (65 & (84)

Referee A. Marriner Man Of The Match Keiren Westwood took the votes in our car.

_______________________

Coventry City came back to beat Watford 3-2 in a highly entertaining game.

At a three sided Vicarage Road on a pleasant night and no hold ups on the M1, there was an excellent turn out of City supporters in the away end. This included many southern based supporters including some from South Wales.

There was plenty of noise from the 750 strong Sky Blue Army as City attacked the end where we were in the first half.

The team showed three changes with the injured Ben Turner and Marcus Hall replaced by Elliott Ward and Patrick van Aanholt. Issac Osbourne, who started on Saturday was replaced by Aron Gunnarsson.

The Icelander injured his arm early on but played on and showed some of the form that took him to the hearts of the City support last season.

Gunnarsson was not alone in what was a battling performance from the Sky Blues. Against a team which had only lost once and one that included former Sky Blue John Eustace, who was booed by some of the travelling support, City could have been down in the opening seconds when the 'Golden Boys' as the announcer called them won two corners before Will Hoskins headed over.

Cork went close with a header before McIndoe got in a 3rd minute shot from the right side of the area which Roche got a touch to push away.

Jordan Clarke, who looked good going forwards, just missed the far post.

The way City have been playing of late, you do fancy them to score and in the 13th minute, Coventry did just that. The ball fell to Sammy Clingan, twenty yards out. His low drive was perfectly measured and it went into the bottom of the net.

Watford keeper Scott Loach chucked a wobbler, claiming his line of vision was impaired as Clinton Morrison and a couple of other City players tried to get out of the path of the ball.

The goal stood but with Elliott Ward and Stephen Wright at sixes and sevens and the midfield not stopping through balls, Watford won two corners and then equalised when Tom Cleverley volleyed home on the edge of the six yard box in the 20th minute.

If you were a neutral, you would have loved this game as two sides who could attack but had frail defences, gave their supporters some nervous moments.

Loach made a good stop in the 31st minute after Morrison dived in to a drive from the right by Clarke.

But in the 37th minute, City had the ball inside the Watford penalty area. It was cleared upfield and Will Hoskins got on the right to give Westwood no chance.

The Republic of Ireland international may not have got to that one but two minutes before the interval, a mistake by Ward let Watford in. The ball was squared by Cowie but somehow Westwood pulled off a tremendous save to save a certain goal from Hoskins.

The Watford fans were howling at their strikers who by now should have wrapped up a victory when thirty seconds after the restart, Danny Graham was left totally unmarked to volley over the bar.

City kept battling away, always looking a threat on the break and after Ward had made a superb tackle to deny Graham and with Freddie Eastwood warming up to come on.

City got a throw in, on the side of the three stands put together, which is now closed to spectators. Gunnarsson’s throw fell for McIndoe whose volley was blocked and gave City a corner.

The ball eventually came out to the right after a six yard box scramble for Sammy Clingan. The Ulsterman centred to the far post and there was Leon Best who headed into the net and sent the City support into a frenzy.

Best had another header saved before Martin Cranie came on in place of Jordan Clarke to try and add some more strength to the City defence.

Four minutes after that change, Coleman made another. To chants of “Here Comes Our Goal Machine” from some of the City fans at the back of the stand, Freddie Eastwood came on for Michael McIndoe.

In the 74th minute, Keiren Westwood was at his best when a Liam Henderson cross caught Stephen Wright’s leg and somehow, Westwood kept it out with lightening reactions.

Four minutes later, the Coventry keeper who was receiving all the plaudits from the City fans made another cracking save from a header.

Eastwood forced Loach into a save and in the 84th minute, the home keeper was picking the ball out of the net for the third time in the match when a Clingan cross was helped on by Ward and Leon Best got a leg to send the ball into the net.

It was pandemonium in the away end as this goal was duly celebrated by a very happy Sky Blue support.

Isaac Osbourne was sent on but Watford continued to attack. Westwood had to make two more saves with even Clinton Morrison getting back to making a cracking intervention.

The game went into stoppage time and Martin Cranie cleared off the line before a terrible miss from Liam Henderson.

Then much to our relief, referee Andre Marriner, who had little to do apart from let this highly entertaining affair flow, blew the final whistle to herald a well deserved victory for Coventry City.

COVENTRY CITY 2-2  MIDDLESBROUGH BY KEV MONKS

Date 26/09/09 At The Ricoh Arena  Championship

Team

Westwood, Clarke, Turner (Ward 76), Wright, Hall (van Aanholt 46), Clingan, Osbourne (Gunnarsson 46), Cork, McIndoe, Best, Morrison SNU Konstanopolous, Eastwood, Cranie, Cain 

Middlesbrough

Jones, Hoyte, O’Neill, Williams, Bennett, Arca, Johnson (Yeates 73), Wheater (Gounds 63), St Ledger, Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 52)

HT CCFC 0-2  MFC  FT CCFC 2-2 MFC  ATT 16,771

Goals Sean St Ledger (39), Rhys Williams (45+1), Clinton Morrison (77), Leon Best (90+4)

Referee G.Horwood Booked Bennett, Johnson, Wright, Lita

Man Of The Match Keiren Westwood took the votes with nominations for Jack Cork and Jordan Clarke.

_______________________

Coventry City left it late to snatch a point against Middlesbrough at the Ricoh Arena.

Chris Coleman, who attended the fans forum last night, made one change to a City side that had lost 3-2 at Preston North End and he fielded Jordan Clarke, who this week was called up for England U19’s ahead of Martin Cranie.

In front of a 16,771 crowd at the Ricoh Arena on another sunny afternoon, which also included former City player and manager Gordon Strachan as well as Middlesbrough fan and former referee Jeff Winter, Gareth Southgate’s side, who had lost 5-0 to West Brom last week started on the attack with Emnes forcing a save from Westwood after only 45 seconds.

Attacking the CT Stand for the first half, Clinton Morrison, who worked hard, got down the right in the fifth minute and crossed from the right for Michael McIndoe to rise and head just over the crossbar.

Another stop from the Westwood was followed in the 27th minute by City, who were relying on counter attacking rather than taking the game to the side relegated from the Premier League, getting the ball up to Morrison who jinked into space before not far firing wide of the far post.

Now, my mate Ray from Ireland, who very rarely sees a City win and is something of a jinx, was sat a few rows behind me with a young friend of his, Donnacha Lynch from Cork, who was seeing his first ever City game and at half time, he was being blamed as Coventry went in, two goals down.

The first came on 39 minutes when poor marking at a corner let in Sean St Ledger, who seems to enjoy scoring against City when he was with his parent club Preston, for a free header, which he duly dispatched into the net.

The second came in the second minute of stoppage time and was the result of some comical defending failing to clear the ball and it falling for Rhys Williams to bang home.

City were booed off at the break so Coleman went for a double change. He replaced Isaac Osbourne, who had not trained all week with Aron Gunnarsson and Marcus Hall with fit again Patrick van Aanholt.

Sammy Clingan was involved at both ends as the half restarted. A 47th minute long ball went just over before Middlesbrough went up the other end and won a corner which the Ulsterman cleared a yard off the goal-line.

Westwood pulled off a good save from Adam Johnson as the scoreboard boys enjoyed some banter with a group of shirtless Boro fans in the away end.

The rest of the crowd were getting restless. A drummer, sounding more like he should have been in an Orange Order parade, was not adding to the atmosphere and we sat waiting for a bit of inspiration on the pitch.

It arrived in the 77th minute. Ben Turner had been forced off with a knock and was replaced by Elliott Ward. City got the ball on the Main Stand side through Jordan Clarke. The Coundon kid chipped the ball forwards for Leon Best to head into the path of Clinton Morrison who turned before firing home from seven yards out.

The grandstand finish was on. With the crowd duly lifted, there was a bizarre incident, which saw Elliott Ward incorrectly cautioned by referee Mr Horwood just before the game went into stoppage time.

Four minutes were added and in the last seconds. City got a free kick. Clingan, picked out Elliott Ward. The centre half with the uncertain future, played the ball to the back post and there was Leon Best who netted to earn City a point and send the Sky Blue Army home happy with a draw that for long periods looked unlikely.

LEICESTER CITY U18's 3-0 COVENTRY CITY U18'S BY KEV MONKS

Team

Quike, Christie, Greenway (Gudger 31), Thomas, Cameron, Wynter, Grandison, Lellu. (Banguela 57), Jeffers, Ogleby, Blackwell (Bottomer 66)

HT LCFC 1-0 CCFC  FT LCFC 3-0 CCFC

Goals Elliott Chamberlain (1), Adi Yusseff (48), Cain Bolger (53),

__________________

Coventry City U18's lost their first game of the season when they were beaten 3-0 at Leicester City this morning.

Both teams were unbeaten going into this clash at Middlesex Road but it was Steve Beaglehole, who was the happier manager as his side took the lead after only 32 seconds.

Leicester took a long throw in from the left and Elliott Chamberlain was first to react and lashed home from close range.

Rob Ogleby was City's main outlet and the front man fired across the goal in the ninth minute and then blasted over from a Lellu long ball seven minutes later.

The home side, who had a physical presence that City struggled to deal with, had three good chances including a 27th minute, Yusseff shot on the turn that just went over the bar.

Leicester continued to have the better of the play but in the 41st minute, Jacob Blackwell picked out Ogleby who clipped the far post.

The promise City did show in the first half evaporated after the break. In the space of eight minutes, City conceded two more goals.

Addi Yusseff scored the first three minutes into the second half when he beat Quirke with a low finish. Then in the 53rd minute, Leicester,who look hard to beat on this form, added a third thanks  to a Cain Bolger header.

Today, was not City's day and although Cyrus Christie had a good game, this was a bad day at the office.

PRESTON NORTH END 3-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS  Date 19/09/09    At Deepdale     Championship

Team

Westwood, Cranie (Eastwood 84), Hall, Turner, Wright (Ward 69), McIndoe, Cork (Cain 76), Osbourne, Clingan, Best, Morrison SNU Ireland, Grandison, Clarke, Gunnarsson

Preston

Lonergan, Jones, Chilvers, Collins, Nolan, Sedgewick, Chaplow (Shumulikoski 69), Carter, Wallace, Brown (Parkin 26), Mellor (Elliott 64). SNU Henderson, Hart, Mawhene,

HT PNEFC 0-1 CCFC  FT PNEFC 3-2 CCFC ATT 11,230 Goals Sammy Clingan (19), Chris Brown (49 & 67), Neil Mellor (54)

Referee D.Deadman  Booked Morrison Man Of The Match Sammy Clingan took the votes in our car with nomination for Marcus Hall

._______________________    

Today was Coventry City's ninth visit to Deepdale for a league game and for the ninth time, we came back without a victory after a 3-2 defeat.

It did look like the Sky Blues were to have their day in the first half as an unchanged City side were the better team for the opening 35 minutes.

In front of an excellent turn out of well over a thousand City fans who had made their way up a busy M6, City played Michael McIndoe in attack alongside Leon Best and Clinton Morrison when we attacked and 4-5-1 with Best the lone striker when we defended.

In the 18th minute, the City fans in the Kop stand were going mental when Sammy Clingan scored with a stunning free kick from about 28 yards out.  The Ulsterman did as Adebayor did last week at Man City but Clingan ran down to the City fans to celebrate.

Another free kick a minute later, saw Best get in a header at Lonergan. The Preston keeper was clearly the home side's best player as twice he used his legs to deny Leon Best and keep his side, who looked very ordinary at this point in the match.

Clinton Morrison picked up another point-less booking after the referee reacted to the crowd.

Things had looked good but slowly Preston started to get back in to the game. Chris Brown had a couple of chances after good defending from Marcus Hall conceded corners but at the break City were still ahead.

Last week, we witnessed a Jekyll and Hyde performance against Bristol City and within five minutes of the second half, it was more of the same.

A 49th minute free kick conceded by Cranie, was not defended and with players queuing up to shoot, Chris Brown was allowed space and time to volley the ball into the net.

Five minutes later and Preston took the lead. They countered after another poor City corner and the ball was squared to Neil Mellor who gratefully accepted an easy chance to beat the helpless Westwood.

With McIndoe now on the right flank, City worked a good move on the hour mark that finished with Clinto Morrison sweeping an Isaac Osbourne cross onto the cross bar from eight yards.

Two all would have set City up nicely but in the 67th minute, Preston went further in front after Keiren Westwood dropped a corner and Chris Brown banged in.

At Blackpool, a third goal for the home side signalled a large walk out but bar a handful, the Sky Blue Army remained in the hope that City could get back in the match.

Elliott Ward and Ashley Cain were sent on. A neat 81st minute one two gave Leon Best room inside the area but Lonergan saved again. Freddie Eastwood came on and even managed three shots.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added on and with around thirty seconds left, Coventry pulled another goal back thanks to  Clinton Morrison hooking the ball past Lonergan from a long ball but it was too late and City left Deepdale still not having won a league game there.

COVENTRY CITY 3-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED BY KEV MONKS Date 15/09/09    At The Ricoh Arena     Championship

Team

Westwood, Cranie, Wright, Turner, Hall (Clarke 84) , Osbourne, Cork, McIndoe, Clingan, Best, Morrison (Gunnarsson 84) SNU Konstantpolous, Cain, E.Ward, Grandison, Eastwood

Sheffield United

Bunn, France, Walker, Morgan, Taylor (Stewart 71), J.Ward, Harper, Quinn (Evans 61), Montgomery, Treacy (Cotterill 66), Henderson. SNU Reid, Bennett, Little 

HT CCFC 1-1 SUFC   FT CCFC 3-2 SUFC  ATT 14,326  

GOALS Leon Best (11), Jamie Ward (30), Clinton Morrison (50), Martin Cranie (60), James Harper (75)

Referee Anthony Taylor Booked Morrison 

Man Of The Match – Jack Cork took the votes with plenty of contenders in an excellent team performance

_______________________    

Coventry City put in a hard working performance to beat Sheffield United 3-2 at the Ricoh Arena tonight.

Chris Coleman fielded the same team that had started the 1-1 draw against Bristol City on Saturday in front of a crowd which looked no more than 10,000 spectators actually in the stadium by the time the match kicked off.

In the crowd amongst City supporters from Northern Ireland and those closer to home was Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish, who is alleged to have told a South Coast based City supporter that Coventry could have Gary McSheffrey.

Despite there not being massive numbers for this game, there was some good noise. The 1100 Unitedites in the Jewson Stand gave us their version of that John Denver classic “Annies Song” as the match kicked off.

They nearly had something to sing about after 73 seconds when Henderson fired straight across the face of the goal and watched his shot go out for a throw. There had been much praise for Isaac Osbourne’s performance on Saturday and the midfielder was soon involved, winning City a sixth minute corner.

In the 11th minute, Michael McIndoe got in one of a number of decent cross during the game and the ball went over to the far side of the area. There was Leon Best, who controlled the ball before rifling it into the bottom corner of the Jewson Stand net.

United came straight back and Keiren Westwood made a great save with his feet. The crowd were getting behind City and were loving it as they passed the ball around on the deck with precision.  Jack Cork was having his best game in a City shirt since he joined on loan from Chelsea. He displayed a hunger for the ball and basically ensured that the Sky Blues were well ahead in the midfield battle with his effort and enthusiasm.

Keiren Westwood was alert in the 21st minute when the purposeful City defence which had Martin Cranie at right back and Stephen Wright alongside Ben Turner at centre half, was breached by a shot from the clearly offside Stephen Quinn.

However, on the half hour mark, Westwood could do nothing as Jamie Ward got towards the penalty area and let rip with a stunning drive which flew into the net to tie the match. Kevin Blackwell’s side threatened a couple more times but it was all square going into the break.

With the temperatures dropping, we only had to wait five minutes after the restart to be back on our feet in celebration. Michael McIndoe was again the architect, skipping past one time City target during his non league days Ryan France and sending a 50th minute ball across the face of the goal for Clinton Morrison to run in and smash the ball past United’s on loan custodian.

Morrison removed his shirt in the celebration which saw him run into the corner between the CT and Tescos Stand. As he was celebrating.  referee Anthony Taylor picked up his shirt and looked at his number and cautioned the striker as he made his way towards the centre circle.

Despite City being 2-1 up, this exhilarating contest was finely balanced. Issac Osbourne managed to clear a 57th minute corner off the line via a post.

City went up the other end and Clinton Morrison, who was enjoying a lot of freedom thanks to the tremendous job Leon Best was doing against Kyle Walker, won a 59th minute corner.

Michael McIndoe took the corner from the same area, Morrison had run into after his goal and the Scot delivered a telling ball for Martin Cranie to rise and power a header into the net.

Issac Osbourne, who has yet to score for City, tried his luck with a long ranger and was not far away but in the 75th minute, United who had made three substitutions pulled a goal back.

Jamie Ward got into the area and hit a shot that Keiren Westwood could not hold and there was James Harper, who pounced to score before celebrating in front of his team’s supporters.

With seven minutes left, one of the United subs – Ched Evans thumped the bar. Chris Coleman went for a double change taking off the hard working duo of Marcus Hall and Clinton Morrison and replacing them with Jordan Clarke and Aron Gunnarsson.

Five minutes of stoppage time were added (two and a half minutes for the substitutions and 30 seconds a piece for the goal) as City kept their nerve and collected a very welcome three points from a good night’s work.

COVENTRY CITY 1-1 BRISTOL CITY BY KEV MONKS  Date 12/09/09    At The Ricoh Arena     Championship

Team

Westwood, Wright, Hall, Clingan, Turner, Cranie, Osbourne (Eastwood 77), Cork (Gunnarsson 77), McIndoe, Best, Morrison SNU Konstantopolous, Ward, Grandison, Clarke, Jeffers

Bristol City

Gerken, McAllister, Fontaine, McCombe, Carey, Elliott, Maynard, Hartley (Johnson 73), Skuse (Sno 73), Wilson (Orr 64), Saborio. SNU Williams, Sproule, Nyatanga

HT CCFC 1-0 BCFC   FT CCFC 1-1 BCFC  ATT 16,449. GOALS Leon Best (17), Nicky Maynard (47)

Referee Neil Swarbrick  Booked  Hall, Wright, Eastwood Morrison, Carey, Elliott, Saborio

Man Of The Match –Keiren Westwood took the votes from Isaac Osbourne and Martin Cranie

_______________________    

Coventry City took their first ever point off Bristol City at the Ricoh Arena with a 1-1 draw.

City boss Chris Coleman had wanted a performance from his side at the disaster that was Blackpool and in the first half, the City supporters which included a very good number of school kids on free tickets in a crowd of 16,449 on a very warm, sunny afternoon at the Ricoh Arena were treated to that.

City started with Marcus Hall at left back replacing Patrick van Aanholt who has a groin strain and brought back Isaac Osbourne for Aron Gunnarsson who had seen international action with Iceland national and U21 teams over the last seven days.

The Sky Blues lost the toss and attacked the CT Stand in the first half after a minutes applause had been held for Coventrian Fusilier Shaun Bush who had been killed in Afghanistan trying to save the life of a fellow City supporter.

Michael McIndoe, played against his former club and was booed when his name was read out by Stuart Linnell by the fans from the West Country. Some of his former team mates also seemed to have scores to settle and he was hacked down on a couple of occasions early on.

The Scot, after firing wide in the 6th minute, also delivered some good crosses alongside Isaac Osbourne who seemed determined to get City attacking early doors.

Firstly a chance for Clingan was set up by Osbourne who in the tenth minute, hit a daisy cutter from the edge of the area which Dean Gerken spilled but got enough on it to take it out of the path of the incoming Clinton Morrison.

In the 17th minute, Coventry City were ahead. Marcus Hall delivered a peach of a cross and Leon Best dived to head home for City’s first goal since the league match at Barnsley and the first at home to Bristol City since the Sky Blues were moved up to the Ricoh Arena by the personal agenda merchants of previous boards.

A second nearly came, three minutes later, when the solid Ben Turner rose to meet a McIndoe free kick and his deflected header was inches away.

In the 24th minute, City did get the ball in the net when Clinton Morrison was first to a rebound after the keeper had saved a Best header. However, Morrison was in an offside position and it remained at 1-0.

This was one of those games where City always needed a second goal. The Robins, who fielded former Sky Blue Louis Carey, went up the other end and two great saves from Keiren Westwood in the space of four minutes kept City ahead.

Seven minutes before the break, a cross from the lively Best, who had performed well for Ireland on Tuesday night, was so dangerous that McCombe had to clear the ball over his own cross bar.

In stoppage time, Keiren Westwood made a good save to stop a Maynard free kick.

But two minutes in to the second half, there was nothing Westwood could do as Nicky Maynard ran to meet a ball from the Bristol number 33 and from 25 yards plus out, smashed it high into the net.

Coventry began to look nervous. Even Keiren Westwood got himself in trouble and was grateful when Saborio fired into the side netting after the City keeper had been caught in possession.

The passing from the Sky Blues, which in the first half had been excellent, ceased its accuracy and Sky Blues chances became rarer and rarer.

Keiren Westwood remained busy dealing with a 61st minute header by Skuse and another from McCombe ten minutes later.

Some of the City support had been calling for changes and in the 77th minute, they got them when Freddie Eastwood and Aron Gunnarsson were sent on.

A chorus of “Sky Blue Army” from the back of the CT Stand failed to lift the players to get another goal although Leon Best had an 85th minute pushed away and four minutes later, Martin Cranie also got in a header which was cleared.

Although the second half was rather disappointing, it was a point against a side who normally beats us and a point that many of us would have taken before hand.

COVENTRY CITY U18’S 2-1 CHELSEA U18’S BY KEV MONKS

Team

Quirke, Wynter, Gudger, Grogan, Cameron, Greenway (Christie 75), Joel Grandison, Thomas (Blackwell 75), Wilson, Ogleby (Bottomer 90), Lellu

Chelsea

Walker, Sampayo (Conteh 46), Strickland, Mills, Hayden, McCreach, Clifford, Dialo (Sent off 45), Mitrovic (Prosenik 65), Rogers, Knott (Devine 60)

HT CCFC 1-1 CFC FT CCFC 2-1 CFC Goals Joel Grandison (30), Mario Mitrovic (37), Robert Ogleby (77)

Referee Mike Bingham Booked Dialo X 2, Conteh, Lellu,

A superb Coventry City U18’s beat Chelsea 2-1 this morning in an highly entertaining game at the Alan Higgs Centre.

Greg Rioch’s side went into the game unbeaten and were straight onto the attack in front of a good crowd.

Fit again Curtis Wynter played at right back and had the first chance of the match in the opening minute. He played in a City team that was full of passion and commitment and one that knew how to pass.

Some of their movement early on was sublime as Connor Grogan, Conor Thomas and a terrific move in the 17th minute involving the industrious Callum Wilson and Robert Ogleby to set up Joel Grandison for a shot.

On the half hour mark, Coventry deservedly took the lead when a back heel by Wilson, played in Gudger on the over lap. A deep cross was dispatched to the far side of the penalty area where Joel Grandison was waiting to fire City ahead.

City may have had all the play up to this point but Chelsea had the remainder of the half and were level in the 37th minute when a stunning left footed drive from 25 yards was volleyed into the net by Marco Mitrovic.

In the 43rd minute, Michael Quirke was quick to react when Connor Clifford attacked. The City keeper got his feet to deflect the ball. It fell  twenty five yards out for Mitrovic but with an open goal at his mercy, the striker’s shot hit the right hand post.

In stoppage time, Chelsea were down to ten men when Dialio clattered  Curtis Wynter and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

City stuck to their guns in the second half against a Chelsea side now playing one up front. Ogleby was making some long surging runs to set up chances for his strike partner Callum Wilson and the striker tapped wide in the 56th minute before Thomas was denied by the feet of Sam Walker.

Grandison had a 62nd minute effort hacked off the line, Ogleby fired wide in the 70th minute whilst Clifford curled a free kick over at the other.

Then it came in the 76th minute, Robert Ogleby made a surging run from just past the halfway line and as he got to the edge of the area, he thumped a stunning low drive into the net.

There was a scare late on when Quirke just managed to clear an audacious lob from Clifford off his line but City went up the other end and Walker pushed an Ogleby flick header onto the post as City ran out deserved winners in a highly entertaining match.

BLACKPOOL 3-0 COVENTRY CITY  BY KEV MONKS  Date 22/08/09    At Bloomfield Road    Championship

Team

Westwood, Wright, Cranie, Turner, van Aanholt, Cork, Gunnarsson, Clingan, McIndoe, Best, Morrison (Eastwood 61). SNU Clarke, Grandison, Cain, Osbourne, Walker

Blackpool

Rachubka, Eardley, Crainey, Edwards, Taylor-Fletcher (Bangura 80), Southern, Adam (Vaughan 80), Youell, Burgess (Emmanuel-Thomas 60), Ormerod. SNU Gilks, Clarke,Baptiste, Almond.

HT BFC 1-0 CCFC   FT BFC 1-0 CCFC ATT 8,239

GOALS Charlie Adam (12 pen), Ben Burgess (58), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (70)

Referee Nigel Miller Booked Adam

Man Of The Match – Stephen Wright took the votes in our car on a day where there were not many contenders.

_______________________    

1,560 Coventry City supporters wasted time and money travelling as the Sky Blues were easily beaten 3-0 at Blackpool.

Thankfully the rain held off as we got to the building site that is Bloomfield Road. The players took five hours on Friday to get to downmarket seaside resort, whilst we took three hours on a traffic heavy M6 this morning.

Chris Coleman, who had told a City fan that had written to him after the defeat to Swansea, not to bother coming back, made one change bringing in loan signing Jack Cork to replace Issac Osbourne.

By the 12th minute, many of the City fans were wishing they were back in the pub or getting on with their weekend away, as the leader-less Sky Blues conceded a penalty.

Sammy Clingan, who had originally lost possession, brought down Ben Burgess (no Eduardo-esque seeking a penalty here). Charlie Adam put away the resulting penalty and even that early on, it looked the only winners of this match would be the Tangerines.

Ian Holloway's side played simple one touch, give and go football in midfield and to this, City had no answer.

Playing the long ball up to Morrison and Best, marked by two taller centre halves including Cov kid Ian Evatt in windy conditions, clearly was not the tactic to play. When City did keep the ball on the deck, the likes of Stephen Wright and Patrick van Aanholt did some good stuff.

Michael McIndoe also tried to go forward but unfortunately, again it looked like Ray Ranson’s refusal to give Aron Gunnarsson the contract extension he wants is playing on his mind as today he looked a pale shadow of himself last season.

They did compete in spells and win corners and one in the 33rd minute, was won by van Aanholt which saw him fire in a low 35 yarder at Rachubka. Blackpool went up the other end and the Dutchman was there to clear.

City were booed by some at the break and thirteen minutes into the second half, a good number of City fans got up and walked out of the open seating area after the home side increased their lead.

Keith Southern got in a header, which hit the cross bar and bounced down for Ben Burgess to tap home.

Some of the departees vented their frustration at the City players, some of whom responded with the same gestures that they had been shown.

Clingan had a shot on target that produced ironic cheers from those still in the away end before Morrison pulled up injured and was replaced by Freddie Eastwood.

In the 68th minute, City had their only real chance when a McIndoe cross to the far post was met by the head of Best and Rachubka got down to make a good save.

Two minutes later and it was well and truly game over. In front of their fans, Blackpool attacked and as the City defence dis-integrated, three forwards were queuing up to shoot. Gary Taylor-Fletcher was the recipient and beat the helpless Westwood.

This provoked even more City fans to leave the ground and seek the sanctuary of the pub or start back down the M55 and M6, whilst others suffered in silence to the bitter end.

Most of the players headed straight for the tunnel whilst Aron Gunnarsson, apologised to the fans. When everyone was off the pitch, Keiren Westwood came over and got a good reception from those in the away end.

The look of disappointment on his face summed up a miserable day. 

COVENTRY CITY  0-1 SWANSEA CITY  BY KEV MONKS  Date 22/08/09    At The Ricoh Arena Championship

Team

Westwood, Wright, Cranie, Turner, van Aanholt, Osbourne (Cork 64), Gunnarsson, Clingan, McIndoe (McKenzie 85), Best (Eastwood 84), Morrison. SNU Konstantopolous, Clarke, Cain, Grandison,

Swansea De Vries, Rangel, Monk, Tate, Dyer, Britton, Orlandi (Lopez 69), Gower, Dobbie (Pintado 75), Bond (Morgan 64). SNU Cornell, Collins, MacDonald, Painter

HT CCFC 0-0 SCFC  FT CCFC 0-1 SCFC  ATT 16,307 Referee P.Crossley Booked Best, Britton, Tate, van Aanholt, Rangel, Clingan

Man Of The Match Stephen Wright took the votes from Ben Turner and Martin Cranie

________________________   

Coventry City missed a penalty and lost their first league match of the season to Swansea City 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena.

This was a day where City supporting fallen soldiers Sergeant Simon Valentine, Lance Corporal James Fullarton and Fusilier Louis Carter were remembered with a very moving minutes applause. It should have been a minute’s silence but both sets of supporters started clapping with the players and match officials joining in to remember three brave lads who sadly will never be amongst our ranks again.

There were tears amongst some of the City support as the Sky Blues fielded the same team, which played ninety minutes at Doncaster on Tuesday night.Both sets of players plus the stewards who were busy along with the police dealing with some of the Jack army in just after the match kicked off, wore black armbands.

Swansea attacked the CT Stand for the first half and although he was the smallest player on the pitch, Nathan Dyer was the most effective for the visitors. He caused the City midfield a number of problems with his running and passing through out the match and won a fifth minute corner.

City as in previous games looked good in spells. In the tenth minute, an Osbourne cross was fired just wide by Leon Best. Then a good run by Osbourne led to a throw in. The City supporters clapped as Aron Gunnarsson took the throw. He sent it deep into the box and the ball was prevented from going any further by the hand of Andrea Orlandi. Referee Mr Crossley needed no persuading and awarded the penalty. Sammy Clingan opted to take it. He fired it low to De Vries right but it was wide of the mark. About twenty feet to be precise and the groans went up as the ball hit the Tescos advert at the Jewson Stand end.

A lovely 16th minute Wright cross was met by the head of Leon Best, who has been called up for the Republic Of Ireland’s World Cup game in Cyprus but he headed straight at De Vries.

Swansea may have changed their manager but their good style of passing football continued whilst City started to rely on the counter attack as their method of going forward.

Too often, City looked to pump balls high into the area, only for the visitors to easily deal with the situation. Tate and Gary Monk looked vulnerable when the ball was on the floor in the penalty area but were not tested enough.Even a 57th minute Leon Best free kick, which worked so well at Barnsley seven days ago went into the wall.

So it was time for a change and Chris Coleman who had not been getting the same adulation he received from the supporters of his home town club last season, mainly thanks to an article which said he would not manage Swansea for family reasons, made it bringing on Jack Cork.

Cork, son of former City Reserves boss Alan was signed yesterday from Chelsea, who could possibly be loaning us Joe Cole as part of his rehabiltation, if you believe training ground whispers and showed a few nice touches when he came on in the 64th minute.

I was now thinking it was not going to be our day after seeing my mate Ray from Ireland. Ray is a lovely fella and has been following City for years but everytime he comes to a game, City lose.

And so it proved. Swansea had a corner and then got the ball inside the area in the 68th minute. Leon Britton fired a shot, which, Keiren Westwood pushed onto the bar. When it came down, it fell for Ashley Williams who drove it low into the net.The Swansea fans went mad and the police and stewards got involved with some of their supporters.

Still time to get something out of this, we thought. Jack Cork tried his luck from twenty yards with twenty minutes left but De Vries got it.

City continued to look for a way past the organised visitors who were intent on stopping Gunnarsson, Clingan and McIndoe from playing.

With six minutes left, Freddie Eastwood was sent on and a minute later, the City supporters were on their feet to applaud the welcome return of the contract seeking Leon McKenzie who came on and won a corner straight away.De Vries took it very easily and City were unable to offer any more of a threat to the visiting goal and went down to a 1-0 defeat.

DONCASTER ROVERS 0-0 COVENTRY CITY  BY KEV MONKSDate 18/08/09    At The Keepmoat Stadium   Championship

Team Westwood, Wright, van Aanholt, Cranie, Turner, Osbourne, Clingan, Gunnarsson, McIndoe, Morrison, Best SNU Walker, Grandisn, Konstantopolous, Clarke, Jeffers, Cain, Cameron

Doncaster

Sullivan, Roberts (Hird 81), Chambers, Lockwood, Shackell, Stock,Woods (Fortune 84), Oster (Heffernan 85), Coppinger, Shiels, Hayter. SNU Fairhurst, Wilson, Guy,Smith

HT DRFC 0-0 CCFC  FT DRFC 0-0 CCFC ATT 9,484Referee Carl Boyeson Booked Coppinger, Gunnarsson

Man Of The Match Stephen Wright took the votes.

________________________    

Coventry City took their first ever point from the Keepmoat Stadium with a 0-0 draw. On a sunny warm Tuesday night in Yorkshire for the second time in four days, 791 City fans included one from Norway and one who flew back from America were in the away end of Doncaster Rovers home, after braving the M1 roadworks, to see Chris Coleman keep the same side that had gone to the top of the league with a 2-0 victory at Barnsley.

However, you would have thought it was the home side, who were table toppers in the opening period. Leon Best had a good shot go wide in the first minute but most of the play started to be at the other end.

Too often, the long diagonal ball up to the Rovers forwards caused City problems. Isaac Osbourne was constantly forced inside and with Aron Gunnarsson still not at his full playing potential, Stephen Wright was doing a number of jobs including that of winger.

Michael McIndoe against one of his old clubs, was booed every time he touched the ball by the home fans.  Leon Best did well in the 13th minute to win the first of two corners. But Sean O'Driscoll's side started to create chances with Chambers, Oster and Shiels all had a go at goal but either missed the target or found Keiren Westwood well positioned. 

After Coppinger had been booked for dissent and Gunnarsson cautioned, a foul by McIndoe gave Doncaster a 37th minute free kick some twenty yards out. A kick from I think James Hayter (Doncaster's black numbers on red and white hooped shirts were not that clear), hit Westwood's left hand post.

City attacked the end where we were housed for the second half and were left wondering whether the Football League were right to appoint a referee from East Yorkshire and an assistant from nearby Lincolnshire for this match.Some of the decisions riled the City support and whilst he may have been correct a couple of times that Leon Best had not beaten the offside trap, his decisions that gave a goal kick when Stephen Wright had his cross clearly pushed onto the bar by Sullivan and that a Doncaster player did not get the final touch from a 64th minute cross from the Scouser were just plain wrong.

When Wright did win a 73rd minute corner and the referee actually gave it in favour of City, there was a huge ironic cheer from the Sky Blue support.

Mr Boyeson did show one good bit of common sense in the 78th minute when Aron Gunnarsson collided with Roberts. It looked like the referee was going to produce a card but the Icelander, who had been skating on thin ice with a couple of tackles that had home fans baying for yellow cards, got a talking to and the game continued with the full quota of players.

With two minutes of normal time, Gunnarsson 's throw found Morrison in the area. Substitute Sam Hird, a yard off the goal-line cleared and a hard working City side settled for the point most of would have taken before hand.  

BARNSLEY 0-2 COVENTRY CITY  BY KEV MONKS   Date 15/08/09    At Oakwell   Championship

Team

Westwood, Wright, van Aanholt, Cranie (Grandison 71), Turner, Osbourne, Clingan, McIndoe, Gunnarsson, Morrison, Best (Jeffers 80). SNU Quirke, Clarke, Cain, Walker, Cameron

Barnsley

Steele, Hassell, Kozluk (sent off 58), Moore, Foster, Campbell-Ryce, De Silva, Butterfield (Sodje 80), Maken (Odejayi 66), Bogdanovic, (Hume 66), Hammill. SNU Preece, Devaney, El Haimour, Potter

HT BFC 0-1 CCFC FT BFC 0-2 CCFC ATT 12,552 Referee Steve Tanner Booked Kozluk x2, Butterfield, McIndoe

Goals Leon Best (8), Clinton Morrison (81)

Man Of The Match Sammy Clingan took the votes in an excellent team performance.

________________________     

How we love going to Oakwell. Coventry City constantly get victories to send them top of the league whilst Barnsley have players sent off. Today, it was more of the same as the super Sky Blues went to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 victory against a ten men Barnsley.

An easy journey to Oakwell, which is still a proper football ground where visitors can partake in a beer or have a cigarette in certain areas marshalled by friendly stewards, if you have not had your fill in any of the local licensed premises amongst friendly home supporters before entering the ground, ensued.

Around 1,000 City fans were in the away end at Oakwell to see new signing from Portmsouth - Martin Cranie starting at centre half.

Patrick van Aanholt also started with internationals Sammy Clingan, Keiren Westwood, Aron Gunnarsson and Leon Best back in the side after their midweek trips.

On a gorgeous sunny afternoon, the Sky Blue support was in fine voice as the game kicked off. By the eighth minute, they had plenty to sing about as a clever ball from Cranie, fell to the feet of Clinton Morrison. It was difficult to tell as the City support were at the other end, actually how far out Leon Best was when he took the free kick but what he did was to hit it with such a force that ex City keeper Luke Steele in the Barnsley goal, only reacted when the ball hit the back of the net.

The City fans went mad, thorougly enjoying another cracking goal from the Sky Blues and singing "We Are Top Of The League" and "We're Gonna Win The League"

Barnsley had one tactic which was to bang everything up to Danny Bogdanovic. The competent Cranie, had not spent long with his new team-mates, but he soon had the back four organised along with Stephen Wright.

It was midfield where for a time, City in the first half, allowed Barnsley to play. Gunnarsson was pushing up too far and the Tykes were able to get in the likes of Jon Maken who fired wide in the 25th minute.

Michael McIndoe was responsible for City's set pieces when he was not tearing into the home defence.  In the 33rd minute, his free kick flew just wide of the full stretch Steele and the far post.

The buy from Bristol City cut through the Barnsley defence four minutes later and he could have shot but opted to square it for Morrison who in turn passed it, flicked it on for Isaac Osbourne. Unfortunately, it was not a good shot and a goal kick was the outcome.

In the 44th minute, Stephen Wright made a brilliant diving header. Thankfully, it was away from his own goal and City were still ahead at the break.

City were straight at it as the second half started. A jinking run by van Aanholt, who again, showed class on the ball and good vision, earned a chorus of “sign him up” whilst “The Balls From The Falls” or Sammy Clingan to non-Northern Ireland supporters controlled everything in midfield. Clingan demonstrated that he can either play short passes to feet or was able to pick out players with ease and accuracy in a performance that shone out.

In the 52nd minute, Leon Best, made a surging run and cross. Morrison flew in to win a corner. The top scorer from last season was then involved, hooking over after Steele flapped.

Rob Kozluk was booked for a foul on Wright and in the 58th minute, he cynically hacked down Aron Gunnarsson. Mr Tanner had had enough and Kozluk was sent off.

More boos and jeers from the City support towards a Barnsley player came when Iain Hume came on eight minutes later. The “Leicester Reject”, which was one of the politest things he was taunted with, stayed up the other end and saw little of the ball.

In the 68th minute, Martin Cranie went down. A stretcher was called for. Much to the home fans disgust, Cranie walked to the touchline with what looked like a hamstring injury but did not come back on.

Jermaine Grandison took his place in a City side which was now trying to pass its way to goal rather than shooting.

A 79th minute foul by Butterfield led to a booking for the youngster and a free kick for City. McIndoe took it and this won a corner which he eventually fired over from when it looked like he would score from inside the area.

Leon Best, who had taken another knock earlier on, was replaced with ten to go by Shaun Jeffers as City continued to look for a second goal, which would wrap up the victory.

It came just over a minute later, when a patient build up saw Isaac Osbourne cross from the right and Clinton Morrison dive in to score from a couple of feet out.

City boss Chris Coleman, who made a point of clapping all the City support before the game, has said about the team spirit and this was evident as every outfield player raced to celebrate with the striker who had hit his third goal in two games.

Barnsley won two corners and Shaun Jeffers wasted a good chance with only Steele to beat as the “We Are Top Of The League” chants boomed out of the away end.

In the dying seconds, Keiren Westwood finally had something to do when he cleared a Hume free kick off the line before we could celebrate an excellent City performance and a second consecutive victory of the new season.

COVENTRY CITY 0-1 AET HARTLEPOOL UNITED  BY KEV MONKS   Date 12/08/09    At The Ricoh Arena. Carling Cup 1st Round

Team

Konstantopolous, Wright (Wilson 106), Turner, Grandison, Clarke (Cameron 104), Cain, Osbourne, Walker, McIndoe (Morrison 76), Eastwood, Jeffers SNU Quirke, Blackwell, Grogan.

Hartlepool

Flinders, Haslam, Collins, Liddle, Hartley, Jones, Fredriksen (Larkin 64), Sweeney, Monkhouse, McSweeney (Brown 62), Behan (Boyd 75)

HT CCFC 0-0 HUFC  FT CCFC 0-0 HUFC ET1 CCFC 0-1 HTFC ET2 CCFC 0-1 HTDC  ATT 6.055 

Referee M.Haywood Booked Wright, Monkhouse Goal Adam Boyd (105)

Man Of The Match. Isaac Osbourne, Jermaine Grandison, Ashley Cain, Jordan Clarke and Adam Walker all had nominatons.

________________________

Coventry City are out of the League Cup at the first attempt after a 1-0 extra time defeat to Hartlepool United.

Going into the game, it looked like Chris Coleman had his excuses written early. Injuries and international matches may have meant that many of the battlers from Sunday’s win over Ipswich Town were missing. But with the FIFA & UEFA blaming Football League insisting all matches in the first round of this competition were played, there was little that Coleman or anyone else could about it.

This left City having to field a team which would pretty much resemble a reserve team if we had one, against a full strength Hartlepool outfit who had drawn 0-0 at MK Dons on Saturday.

One time Hartlepool keeper and a man who said he would return to Victoria Park if the chance arose – Dimi Konstantopolous was in goal as part of seven changes from the team which had beaten Ipswich. Jermaine Grandison and Jordan Clarke started in defence, with Adam Walker and Ashley Cain slotting into midfield. Shaun (spelt this way not Sean) Jeffers and Freddie Eastwood started up front.

City could not even make the full requirement of seven substitutes and Clinton Morrison sat on the bench with five of City’s U18 players.

With England live on terrestrial television and some City supporters in Amsterdam, plus the chance to see how Kieren Westwood and Sammy Clingan were getting on, via Sky Sports, the crowd for this game was not going to be massive.

6,055 (the lowest for a home League Cup tie since City moved to the Ricoh Arena) including 339 visitors made a good bit of noise as the match kicked off.

The Sky Blues attacking the visitors end, in the first half had most of the possession. Michael McIndoe, Freddie Eastwood with a flick header from a Cain and Adam Walker, denied by Flinders, all had chances in the opening fifteen minutes against decidedly uninterested Orange shirted opponents.

Unfortunately, City failed to create much before the break, despite the best efforts of the young players and the second half saw the City support finding their voices to try and lift the team.

Five minutes in and the visitors had the ball in the net after Dimi had made a good save. The flag had long gone before Denis Behan put the ball in the net.

Freddie Eastwood needs to start showing he knows where the net is. Tonight, would have been the perfect setting for a few goals to boost his confidence but his header from a Wright cross in the 56th minute went well.

Chris Turner sent on James Brown to try and make his side feel good before a move involving Walker, Eastwood and Ashley Cain saw the winger fire straight at Flinders in the 71st minute.

Adam Boyd replaced Denis Behan who had got nothing out of Jermaine Grandison all evening and in the 76th minute, the ineffective Michael McIndoe was replaced by Clinton Morrison.

Morrison may have been the hero on Sunday but tonight was not his night and he got in the way of shots more than he actually had on goal.

To be fair, the likes of Jeffers, Eastwood and Morrison were relying on scraps against a side that showed they could defend and break up the play in midfield.

Antony Sweeney wasted one good effort in the 88th minute and in stoppage time, sent a volley well over. Then Morrison had a great chance inside the area but he tried to give himself a massive turning circle and fired high over the CT Stand goal crossbar.

Extra time it was. A stunning drive from James Brown skidded past the post and saw Dimi bang his backside on the right hand post in an attempt to block the ball.

City went up the other end and won three corners. In the 104th minute, Jordan Clarke pulled up with cramp. He got himself off the field of play and was substituted by Nathan Cameron.

With news coming through that the winners would meet Burnley at home in the next round, the Monkey Hangers attacked. The ball came over to Adam Boyd on the left hand side of the area after being let in by Stephen Wright. He hit a shot first time with not much power and it looked like the keepers ball. But no! Somehow Dimi Konstantopolous allowed the ball to get past his body and into the net. From my angle, it looked a very soft goal - one that Kieren Westwood or many other keepers would have saved and one he certainly should have stopped.

Wright was replaced at the break by Callum Wilson and with the City supporters urging them on, the Sky Blues babes pushed forward.

Ashley Cain was not far wide with a drive from the edge of the area and in the 115th minute, a stunning save by Flinders who pushed the ball over the bar stopped a 25 yard pile driver from Adam Walker hitting the back of the net.

Jeffers blasted over from twelve yards as did Ben Turner in the dying seconds but it was not enough to prevent Coventry City from exiting this competition.

COVENTRY CITY 2-1 IPSWICH TOWN  BY KEV MONKS    Date 09/08/09    At The Ricoh Arena. Championship Fixture

Team

Westwood, Osbourne, Wright, Turner, van Aanholt, Bell (Clarke 62), McIndoe (Ward 82), Gunnarsson, Clingan, Morrison, Best (Eastwood 61) SNU Konstantopolous, Grandison, Jeffers.Cain

Ipswich

R.Wright, Bruce, Blakestein, McAuley, Delaney, Walter, Norris (Gervan 55), Peters (Priskin 65), Stead (Wickman 65), Martin, Trotter. SNU Supple, D.Wright, Smith, Colback

HT CCFC 2-1 ITFC  FT CCFC 2-1 ITFC  ATT 16,279 Referee R.Booth

Goals Clinton Morrison (10,23), Jon Walters (27)

Man Of The Match. So many City players could have been named, Morrison, Clingan, Westwood and van Aanholt were all immense in a superb team peformance

________________________

Coventry City got off to the best possible start with a 2-1 home victory against Ipswich Town.

I didn’t let the doom and gloom merchants cloud my vision as I made my way to the Ricoh Arena on a sunny lunchtime. Pre-season may not have been the best with Michael Doyle shipped out on loan to Leeds in the week but hopes were high after a good performance last Sunday against Everton in the Marcus Hall Testimonial.

The injured Hall missed out on a place in the side which started against Ipswich Town, who by a quirk of the Football League fixture computer, we had played in the last game of last season.

New boys Sammy Clingan, Michael McIndoe and loanee from Chelsea Patrick van Aanholt all started in a City team which saw the return of David Bell.

16,279 fans were officially in the Ricoh Arena when a man I will always associate with Ipswich Town – the late Sir Bobby Robson was given an absolute thunderous send off after his sad death.

Those assembled, plus those watching on tv sets and laptops around the world due to this game, between two sides, whose managers are tipped to be like Sir Bobby Robson and manage their country, being on Sky Sports, watched a terrific game of football that was a splendid advert for the Championship.

There was not a caution for referee Russell Booth as two sides played good attacking football from the start.

Ipswich could have been ahead inside thirty seconds but a brilliant intervention by Ben Turner stopped that. That brought the first of two corners for the visitors and then two for City. We had just got into the ninth minute when Coventry City took the lead. Richard Wright came out of his goal. Clinton Morrison beat him to the ball and turned and chipped the ball into the far corner of the net.

At the other end, new boy Patrick van Aanholt was showing that he was calm under pressure. He showed great vision for an 18 coming up 19 year old and some of his touches to get the balls away from defenders were just what this club needs.

Sammy Clingan, who had impressed against Everton worked very well with Aron Gunnarsson. His passing and ability to seek out players, allowed the Ice Man, Bell and the forwards to keep the pressure on the visitors defence.

In the 23rd minute, the City supporters who had turned out in good numbers even if some were not happy about having to collect their season ticket before the game, were in raptures when Clinton Morrison made it 2-0.

In a manner befitting Keith Houchen, Morrison dived to head an Isaac Osbourne cross from the right and Richard Wright was helpless as the ball flew into the net.

You are always at your weakest, when you have just scored and so it proved as in the 27th minute, Jon Walters was allowed the freedom of the Sky Blues defence to race through and beat Keiren Westwood with a low drive.

Morrison and Best led the line well. They held up the ball against a hard working Ipswich defence. Jamie Peters in midfield and Jon Stead were massive threats for Ipswich. Peters was always looking for the ball and had a 48th minute shot blocked for a corner. Then a minute later, only a brilliant one handed save by Keiren Westwood prevented the Canadian from getting his side level.

Ipswich, for the first fifteen minutes of the second half had the vast majority of the play whilst all the visiting defence had to deal with early on was a McIndoe free kick.

Best had got injured in a heavy tackle with David Norris and the Republic Of Ireland international limped off in the 61st minute to be replaced by Freddie Eastwood. David Bell, who had been suffering from flu during pre-season was also replaced by Jordan Clarke who went to right back. Stephen Wright took over at left back and the capable Mr Aanholt pushed into midfield.

Roy Keane went for the honour of having the youngest player on the pitch when Connor Wickman replaced Jon Stead and he also aired new signing from Watford Priskin to replace Peters who had run himself into the ground.

This lifited Ipswich for a five minute spell. Jon Walters sent a long ranger, narrowly wide and after Westwood had tipped one over, in the 72nd minute, Clinton Morrison hit the bar but it was in his own penalty area clearing the danger away.

The home support sensed that City needed lifting and the noise level in the arena raised. It seemed to do the trick. Gunnarsson won a corner, Jordan Clarke did as well before Elliott Ward came on to replace Michael McIndoe, who had had a good debut.

With seven minutes left, Morrison played in van Aanholt to get in a shot from the edge of the area which Wright saved. Jordan Clarke had a shot blocked as did Clingan inbetween an Ipswich corner. Five minutes of stoppage time were added by the referee but City were able to ground out a victory which gets their Championship season off to a great start. 

COVENTRY CITY 2-2  EVERTON BY KEV MONKSDate 02/08/09    At The Ricoh Arena. Marcus Hall Testimonial

Team

Westwood, Osbourne (Clarke 81), Wright, Hall (Gilbert 50), Turner, Clingan, Cain (Eastwood 68), Doyle, Gunnarsson, Best, Morrison (Jeffers 85) SNU Konstantopolous, Grandison, Walker.  

Everton

Nash (Howard 46),Hibbett (Baxter 71),Barnes, Yobo, Jo (Jutkiewicz (88), Vaughan (Agard 77), Cahill (Wallace 71), Neville, Osman, Fellaini, Rodwell SNU Duffy, Forshaw

HT CCFC 1-1 EFC FT CCFC 2-2 EFC ATT 8,000ish Referee Pete Walton Goals Tim Cahill (15), Michael Doyle (34), Jose Baxter (84), Aron Gunnarsson (88)

Man Of The Match Keiren Westwood, Aron Gunnarsson and Stephen Wright were amongst the nominees

________________________

Coventry City ended their pre-season campaign on a positive note with a 2-2 draw against Everton in the Marcus Hall Testimonial.Chris Coleman, who has a bid in for Bristol City winger Michael McIndoe,  named trialist and ex Sheffield Wednesday defender Peter Gilbert on the bench.

Marcus Hall on his special day, in front of a Ricoh Arena crowd of around 8,000, was captain and led a Coventry side that included the one summer signing so far in Sammy Clingan. A very strong Everton side featuring many of those who had played in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea, attacked City early on.

Keiren Westwood was forced into a great save, diving to his left, in the sixth minute to get to a Jo header and five minutes later, Westwood dived the other way to push a Jo shot out for a corner. On a pitch that has been narrowed, Everton took the lead. Vaughan had a shot inside the area. Westwood did well to save with his feet. The ball rebounded to the edge of the area for Tim Cahill who fired home.

The former Millwall man, like the rest of his Everton team mates in their black and neon pink away kit, displayed some lovely passing and good movement in the first half and it was not hard to see why The Toffees, under David Moyes are expected to be a strong side again in the coming Premier League season.City, who have also changed dug-outs at the Ricoh Arena, were nearly level two minutes after the goal.

Carlo Nash, he who kept us in the Championship and sent Leicester down during his final days at Stoke City, made a brave stop from a Clinton Morrison shot. The ball fell to Leon Best but Jack Rodwell was on the line to clear the danger.The Sky Blues grew stronger as Gunnarsson and Clingan took a hold in midfield whilst right back Isaac Osbourne at the back tackled really well.A couple of corners were won and in the 34th minute, City drew level when Michael Doyle got to the far post to finish off a cross from the right flank.

Maroune Fellaini, is my sort of player, highly talented and with his unique Afro hairstyle - easy to spot from a reporting point of view. In the 36th minute, he smacked a shot from the edge of the area. Keiren Westwood was on it and got down to his right to push it round the post for a corner.

American international Tim Howard replaced Nash at the interval on a warm lunchtime and City came out for the second half, looking positive.Immediately, Howard came out of his goal as Best ran goalwards. Then a throw in from the Ice Man led to a corner.Westwood got a touch to deny Jo at the other end before Marcus Hall left to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters and all the players on the pitch.

Peter Gilbert took over from Hall and did a solid job at left back. With Sammy Clingan, whipping in some good balls, City pressed forward but were caught in the 63rd minute. Fellaini was the man for whom the ball fell some 25 yards out. He launched an exocet but Keiren Westwood dived high to his right to make a fantastic save.The keeper, who had been watched by Everton last season, did require a bit of treatment when he went down three minutes later but there was relief all round as he got to his feet and carried on.  

Freddie Eastwood was sent on for the lively Ashley Cain before Howard saved a powerfully struck Doyle volley in the 69th minute.David Moyes shuffled his pack and with six minutes remaining, one of his substitutes Jose Baxter put the visitors back in front.A good move had taken the ball into the penalty area and as the City defence were caught static, Jose Baxter blasted the ball high into the net.

Sean Jeffers was sent on for Clinton Morrison who worked hard and City went for broke.Two 88th minute corners were won and seconds later, there was Aron Gunnarsson about ten yards out to get in a header. It was not a very forceful header but with Howard flat-footed, the pace on the ball was enough to see it trickle over the line and give Coventry City a share of the spoils and Cov kid Marcus Hall some reward for his ten years of service.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 1-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Team

Konstantopolous,Wright,Grandison (Osbourne 57),Clingan (Jeffers 75),Clarke (Walker 57),McPake (off 86),Cain,Doyle,Eastwood,Morrison (Best 46),Gunnarsson SNU Westwood

Dunfermline

Fleming,Ross,Glass (Bell 66), Holmes (Graham 66),Higgins,McGregor, Willis (Gibson 59),Phinn (Burke 66),McDougall,Kirk (Bain 59),Cardle

HT DAFC 1-0 CCFC  FT DAFC 1-0 CCFC ATT 1162  Referee J,McKendrick Goals Andy Kirk (38)

Man Of The Match McPake,Clingan and Best got the votes

________________________

Coventry City lost James McPake as they crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Dunfermline.

We'd flown up on the day of the game whilst others had driven or made a few days of it, like the team which was without David Bell and minus Elliott Ward and Marcus Hall who had knee injuries.

After drinking with City old boys Kevin Drinkell, Ian Wallace and Roy Barry, we joined the other 120 City fans in the right hand side of the Main Stand at East Ends Park.

Keiren Westwood got injured in the warm up again and was replaced by Dimi Konstantpolous in a City side which saw a debut for Sammy Clingan.

The midfield quartet which included the Northern Irish international played some good balls early on. Joe Cardle had the first chance after 70 seconds when he fired at Dimi.

Doyle and Morrison had chances but in the 38th minute of a dreadful opening half, City found themselves a goal down.

A throw in, in front of the City fans fell to Greg Ross, His cross from the right found Andy Kirk who sidefooted home from seven yards. The City support were incensed as Kirk looked well offside but the referee and his assistant who are sponsored by Specsavers allowed the goal to stand.

Chris Coleman sent on Leon Best for the second half. He was involved straight away winning a 49th minute free kick. Clingan who looked good with his feet picked out Eastwood but his header went over.

In the 51st minute, Best collected a Cain cross on the edge of the area. He rifled a shot which beat the keeper but it rattled the centre of the cross bar. Adam Walker and Isaac Osbourne were sent on. Dunfermline started to gain the upper hand in midfield for the first time in the match.

Wright tried his luck with an over head kick from a corner and in the 75th minute, Clingan fired over before he was replaced by Shaun Jeffers in the 75th minute.

Best headed wide in the 83rd minute but four minutes later, James McPake jumped up and fell to the ground. A stretchered was called for. McPake was sat up, with what looked like a collarbone problem, as he was carried off before he was taken to hospital.

It ended a bad night for the Sky Blues

______________________________________________________________________________________________

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0-0  COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 25/07/09       AT The Galpharm Stadium.  

Team Westwood, Wright (Grandison 61), McPake, Ward (Turner 75), Clarke, Doyle (Walker 72), Gunnarsson, Cain, Morrison, Best (Jeffers 61) SNU Konstanopolous, Hall

Huddersfield

Smithies, T.Clarke, Williams (Skarz 61), N.Clarke, P.Clarke, Berrett (Robinson 46), Kay (Goodwin 72), Collins, Roberts (Ainsworth 72), Simpson (Novak 75), Plikington SNU Glennon,Butler

HT HTFC 0-0 CCFC  FT HTFC 0-0 CCFC  ATT 3886 Referee M. HeywoodMan Of The Match Aron Gunnarsson took the votes with nominations for Ward, Doyle, Westwood, McPake and Wright.

Coventry City are still unbeaten in their pre-season campaign after a 0-0 draw at Huddersfield Town. With Danny Fox sold to Celtic for anything from £1.5m to £3m depending on which media source you believe, it was hard to know what the reaction from the 250 City supporters who had made their way to the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield would be. Silence was the answer. There was applause for the City team, which had Keiren Westwood back in goal with McPake and Ward in the back four, when they came out and when Robbie Simpson was introduced to the crowd but that was it.

The silence treatment continued on a sunny afternoon in a stadium with curved roofs on their stands. City looked attack minded but against a side, which was managed by Lee Clark and included three Clarke's, one of whom was former City loanee Peter, the Sky Blues struggled to find any rhythm early on.

Stephen Wright worked well on the over lap and one 11th minute run lead to a corner. Ward headed Osbourne's flag kick back to Morrison but the chance went wide. Huddersfield went up the other end and were awarded a free kick, some 18 yards out. Robbie Simpson took it but curled it wide of the far post at the end where the 250 City fans, some of whom had travelled on the well organised Trust coach, were housed.

The ball was in the net in the 16th minute when Elliott Ward lashed in from a Best knock-back. However, the flag had gone up as Ward came in and the match remained goal-less. After a bad foul on Gunnarsson went unpunished but left the Icelander needing help to get back on his feet,

Ashley Cain nipped in to beat Doyle to get in a header which Alex Smithies, who has been linked with a move to Coventry, caught. Cain played a great 34th minute ball to pick out Leon Best who won a corner after McPake had atoned for a rare Ward error.

Robbie Simpson who was used as a lone striker for The Terriers, did get through five minutes before the breal but a combination of Ward and Westwood, who has been rumoured to be linked to moves to Liverpool and Blackburn, stopped him. The second half had even less excitement than the first half.

Jordan Clarke and Ashley Cain played the game out of position on the left. Both worked hard with Cain showing some pace whilst Doyle and Gunnarsson kept the midfield tight.  Two youngsters in the team became four in the 61st minute when Jermaine Grandison and Jackson Grundy Cup Winner Shaun Jeffers came on.

With Freddie Eastwood and David Bell injured, it became five eleven minutes later when Adam Walker replaced Doyle and Coleman completed his changes when Ben Turner came on for Elliott Ward. Simpson went off just before Elliott Ward came on and got a standing ovation from many of the City support, a good number of whom were northern based.

Cain had a couple of runs towards the end which gave Smithies two catches but neither side could find a way to the goal and the match ended in a draw.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 21/07/09       AT Sixfields Stadium. Attendance  1975

TEAM

Konstantopolous, Wright, Fox, Turner (McPake 67), Clarke, Doyle, Osbourne (Hall 82), Gunnarsson (A.Walker 68), Cain, Morrison (Jeffers 78), Best (Eastwood 71) SNU Quirke

Northampton

Dunn,Jackman, Guttridge, Hinton, Osman (Beckwith 78),Guinan (McKay 61), Akinfenwa (Harris 61), Dyer (Jacobs 81), Holt, McCready, Curtis (Rogers 70) SNU P.Walker, Benjamin

Half Time Score: NTFC 0-0 CCFCFull Time Score:  NTFC 1-2 CCFCGoals Leon Best (51), Billy McKay (83), Shaun Jeffers (87)Referee D.Whitestone Man Of The Match: Leon Best and Ashley Cain got the votes

Coventry City picked up the Jackson Grundy Cup with a late 2-1 victory at Northampton Town. With Keiren Westwood still nursing a knee injury and Danny Ireland still ill, City started with Dimi Konstanopolus in goal and Academy keeper Michael Quirke on the bench.

It was a dire first half. Although City were the better team in the opening half, Northampton found it too easy to bypass the midfield when they wanted to attack. An excellent turn out of 686 City supporters in the away end, that included former player Kevin Thornton, at Sixfields were clearly disgruntled early on. Some demanded to know where the signings were and when Mr Ranson was going to splash the cash as a flap from the City keeper saw Ben Turner hastily clear inthe 8th minute.

Saves from the Greek led to ironic cheers from some of the City support and in the 18th minute, he smothered a low drive from Dyer.

Ashley Cain was again a threat and in the 26th minute, he got inside on the right and hit a shot, which produced a wonderful reaction save from Chris Dunn. Best, Gunnarsson and Doyle fired over before the break.

City were unchanged for the second half and came out fired up. Within six minutes of the restart, they took the lead thanks to Leon Best,who got to the edge of the area before thumping a low drive into the net. Cain was again denied by the home keeper and City a penalty when McCready handled.

James McPake, Adam Walker whose dad Rik joined Northampton after playing for City Reserves, and Freddie Eastwood were sent on. Best was the man taken off for the former Wolves striker and he was met with great applause from the City fans as he applauded them.

Eastwood came on to a tongue firmly in cheek chant of "Where's Your Rubbish Gone". He was soon getting the “Freddie” chants as he provided City with more of a threat than Clinton Morrison could muster. Shaun Jeffers and Marcus Hall also got good applause but just after Hall came on, Northampton equalised.

A Dimi fumble was cleared by Fox. When the ball came back in, Billy McKay was on hand to volley into the net.Six minutes left and our thoughts turned to penalties which would happen if this game was level at the ninety minute mark.But with three minutes to go, the game was decided by a peach of goal.

Ashley Cain burst down the right and sent a superb ball over towards the far post. There was Shaun Jeffers and City’s U18’s top scorer from last season met the ball with a neat header to flick it into the net.This silenced the Northampton fans to our left in the Main Stand who had been slightly vocal towards the City support and it was the Coventry City supporters who cheered when the Jackson Grundy (apparently they are a firm of estate agents) Cup was lifted.

HINCKLEY UNITED  0-2  COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 18/07/09       AT The Greene King StadiumAttendance 866

TEAM Konstantopolous, Wright (Clarke 70), Hall, Grandison, Turner, Bell (Doyle 66), Osbourne, Gunnarsson (Walker 66), Fox (Cain 56), Best (Jeffers 75), Eastwood 

Hinckley

McKenzie (Jupp 82), Mace, Giddings, Gooding (Roberts 79), Green (Lister 70), Platneur, Hall (Hamilton 75), Dillon (Lavery 27), Lourougnon, West (Taylor 46), Franklin (Dozie 57)

Half Time Score: HTFC 0-1  CCFCFull Time Score:  HTFC 0-2 CCFCGoals Leon Best (24), Freddie Eastwood (85)

Referee Mick Murphy Assistants Andy Stickley, Scott PostinMan Of The Match: Marcus Hall took the votes from Jermaine Grandison and Leon Best.

Coventry City won their second consecutive friendly with a 2-0 victory at Hinckley United this afternoon.City boss Chris Coleman was without Elliott Ward, James McPake and goalscorer from the win at Nuneaton – Clinton Morrison but had Danny Fox and Aron Gunnarsson both pass last fitness tests.

One person who didn’t start was Keiren Westwood. The Republic Of Ireland international injured his knee and was withdrawn as a precaution, meaning that Dimi Konstantopolous took over in goal.Not that it was a problem as the Sky Blues with Danny Fox playing some good balls from the left of midfield dominated against a side which included former Sky Blues – Stuart Giddings, Andy Gooding, Andy Hall, Ange Lourougnon and Matty West and former Coventry Sphinx defender James Mace.

City wore their black away kit for the game on a sunny day with some cloud whilst many of the City support which made up most of the 866 crowd were wearing the new home shirt that was launched yesterday.David Bell looked good early on as he delivered some good crosses but stout defending ensured that Leon Best and Freddie Eastwood either put the chance wide or were stopped.

In the 24th minute, Coventry took the lead thanks to a long Aron Gunnarsson throw from the Main Stand side and there was Leon Best lurking at the far post to put City ahead from four yards. City’s midfield were involved in a heady battle all afternoon and much of the match was played in the middle third.

One crunching tackle saw Dan Dillon limp off before Konstantopolous flapped at a free kick to give Hinckley a rare corner.Leon Best made some good runs during his time on the pitch. He had to go out wide right to get the ball and one 33rd minute run through the middle brought City a corner.  Today, Danny Fox was not finding the man he wanted with his corners and his over hit kick went out of play.Andy Gooding was for me,

Hinckley’s best player. The son of former Sky Blue Ray, got into the area in the 38th minute but could only fire a tame effort straight at City’s Greek keeper.Hinckley boss Dean Thomas replaced Matty West who had worked hard up front for the Conference North side at the break but yet again, it was City who had most of the play.

A 48th minute foul on Leon Best gave City a free kick some twenty eight yards out. Fox played it to Eastwood who picked out Gunnarsson from twenty yards. The Icelander hit it well but McKenzie spotted it and moved across to catch the ball.Best got down the right four minutes later and delivered a lovely cross for Eastwood.

From fourteen yards out, the City striker headed over the bar when really he should have put the chance away.Danny Fox became the first City player to be replaced when he was substituted in the 56th minute for Ashley Cain. The winger took over on the left and got in some good runs to put pressure on the home side.Coleman and Steve Harrison who was shouting out most of the instructions, made a double change in the 66th minute when Adam Walker replaced Aron Gunnarsson and Michael Doyle came on for David Bell.

They also sent on Jordan Clarke and Sean Jeffers before a 76th minute run from Cain, saw him avoid the attention of three markers and win a corner which Jermaine Grandison, who was pushing forward more and more often, nodded over.Issac Osbourne also worked well and the midfielder put in a good cross four minutes later which Jeffers stabbed not far wide of the goal.

You could see that a second goal was coming and in the 85th minute, it arrived. Sean Jeffers on the right delivered a pin point cross to Freddie Eastwood on the penalty spot and the City striker, who was making headlines yesterday for not disposing of his waste properly, to head firmly into the net.Jeffers had a half chance late on but City took the victory by two goals to nil.     

NUNEATON TOWN  0-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 15/07/09       AT Liberty Way     Attendance 1754

TEAMWestwood (Konstantpolous 46), Clarke, Hall (Grandison 46), Turner (Wright 46), Ward (Osbourne 46), Cain, Bell (Gunnarsson 46), Morrison (Eastwood 46), Walker, Doyle, Best (Jeffers 65)  NuneatonActon (Collett), Oddy, Forsdick, Noon, Pierpoint, Armson, Spacey, Storer (Marsden 56), Dillon, Suarez (Foster 52), Blenkinsopp

Half Time Score: NTFC 0-1 CCFCFull Time Score:  NTFC 0-1 CCFCGoal Clinton Morrison (33) Referee David CooteMan Of The Match Jordan Clarke took the votes after a good performance.

Coventry City scraped a 1-0 victory at Nuneaton Town tonight thanks to a Clinton Morrison first half goal.On a sunny night, some of the Sky Blue Army arrived at Liberty Way to be sent half way round the ground to get in. Some were herded into the away end whilst the rest stood around the ground.

Kick off was delayed until 7.15pm and when the Sky Blues entered the pitch, it was the majority of the team that had been utilised in the second half of the first friendly at Wrexham on Saturday.

Four former City youngsters were included in Kevin Wilkins team and it was David Blenkinsopp who raced through to fire over in the opening seconds. Michael Doyle followed suit four minutes later and then had a shot at the far post blocked after Clinton Morrison had knocked on a Jordan Clarke cross.Morrison then had a go him self before playing a sublime ball to play Leon Best into the area in the tenth minute.

Best cut inside and fired but Darren Acton blocked with his body and went for a corner.Acton, whom I remember from his days at Telford United with Gerry Daly and Paul Dyson made another brave block to deny Best nine minutes laterMorrison and Cain who was causing problems on the left flank both had effort and in the 33rd minute,

it was the former Crystal Palace man, who gave the Sky Blues the lead.City won a corner. Dave Bell pinged the ball in and there was Clinton Morrison to head into the net.

Three minutes before the break, Kyle Storer had Nuneaton’s first shot on target when his long ranger fell into the hands of Kieren Westwood.The talented custodian was one of six players replaced at the break. At the other end, Nuneaton brought on Neil Collett.

The former City Academy keeper only had one save to make and that came three minutes into the second half when Leon Best got the ball on the turn inside the area and Collett used his body to good effect.Nuneaton went up the other end and Konstanopolous saved from Chris Dillon with his body.

In the 56th minute, Aron Gunnarsson reacted strongly to a tackle from Nuneaton’s number eight. Former Sky Blue and City Academy Coach Mark Noon tried to act as peacemaker but a bit of pushing and shoving saw Storer, ordered to be replaced by the referee.

Freddie Eastwood in his salmon pink boots and Leon Best struggled with Nuneaton’s offside tactics and in the 65th minute, the Irish international was replaced by Sean Jeffers, who was City U18’s top scorer last season.Jeffers played very deep with Eastwood often the loan man up front.

After the City support had demanded to know “where the signings had gone”, Eastwood volleyed from the right to give Collett an easy 80th minute catch.Gunnarsson blazed over from another good Clarke cross and two minutes from time, Dimi punched away a free kick and then caught the incoming volley to give City a win which gave the players ninety minutes work out but did nothing to raise the morale of the City support.  

WREXHAM  1-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 11/07/09       AT The Racecourse Ground    Attendance 1359

TEAM

Konstantopolpous (Westwood 46), Wynter (Clarke 28),Hall (Grandison 46), McPake (Ward 46),Turner (Wright 46), Fox (Cain 64), Doyle (Gunnarsson 46),Osbourne (Walker 46), Cain (Bell 46), Morrison (Eastwood 60), Eastwood (Best 34) 

WrexhamMaxwell, Spann, Williamson, Kempson, Mike Williams, Cieslewicz, Jones, Fleming, N.Taylor, Marc Williams, Gareth Taylor Subs Used Smith, Medinilla-Cabotti, Fairhurst, Brown, Baynes, Kearney, Assoumani, Taboubi, Abbott, Edwards, Tor Naes, McCluskey, Moss

Half Time Score: WFC  1-0   CCFCFull Time Score:  WFC  1-1   CCFCGoals Marc Williams (23), Jermaine Grandison (64)Referee C.Lo FaraMan Of The Match Plenty of choices today but Danny Fox took the votes from Jermaine Grandison.

Coventry City started their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at Wrexham. With the prospect of catching up with friends, rather than seeing any new players thanks to SISU's tightness with the purse strings, we arrived at The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham for City's opening pre-season friendly.

193 City fans, some of whom travelled on a highly organised coach run by the Sky Blue Trust, plus Ray Ranson, Joe Elliott and Gary Hoffman had made their way over the border into North Wales and took their place in the Yale Stand. Coventry attacked the left hand goal in the first half and were almost ahead after ninety seconds when Danny Fox who played in midfield floated in from the left and hit a shot which thumped the bar. 

Unfortunately, it was the Dragons who had the better of the play in the first half.  Adrian Cieslewicz and Mark Jones showed some good touches to put pressure on the City defence. In the 14th minute, Konstantopolous dived to his left to deny Gareth Taylor. But nine minutes later,the Greek keeper was greeted by howls of laughter from the home fans and abuse from some of the Sky Blue Army.

Dimi dropped on a ball inside the area and slipped. The ball was past inside to Wrexham’s number ten which on the teamsheet, kindly supplied to me by a Wrexham fan was Gareth Taylor, but it later transpired was Marc Williams, who fired into the empty net from thirteen yards. It got worse as Curtis Wynter, who had been playing well up until this point, felt his hamstring pop and went down in a heap. He was stretchered off and replaced by another youngster Jordan Clarke.

Clarke, the U18’s skipper for this season, slotted in at right back well and had a solid game alongside Turner and McPake.  Leon Best also came on to try and get City going forward but too often he found his route to goal blocked. At the break, the grey suited Chris Coleman and his new sidekick Steve Harrison made seven changes.

Only Danny Fox and Clinton Morrison stayed on,  There was more purpose to this new look City side as Fox and Gunnarsson started to find the forwards. Adam Walker and Clinton Morrison both fired over before Best was fouled in the 63rd minute. Fox whipped the ball over only for Chris Smith to dive and head out for a corner. The second of which, was met by Jermaine Grandison some sixteen yards out and his well met header flew into the net through a crowded penalty area to get City level.

Danny Fox, who played well but upset some of the locals with a couple of his tackles, was replaced to good applause by Ashley Cain. Two minutes after the goal, Stephen Wright, who had taken over as captain from James McPake, made a splendid goal-line clearance. 

Then as time ticked away, Keiren Westwood made two cracking saves, diving to his left on both occasions to stop a Wes Baynes free kick and then a 27 yard pile driver from the same man. Eastwood had one chance in stoppage time but the substitute keeper was able to smother and City, in their new kit, left with a draw.

As pre-season matches go, this was a good opener for City. Dean Saunders side were no mugs and could play some good football.  The youngsters Clarke, Cain, Walker, Wynter and Grandison all put in a good shift whilst there were solid performances from Bell, McPake, Turner and Westwood.