PORT VALE 3-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Another poor performance saw City beaten at Port Vale.
Well the last pre-season friendly of 2005 arrived and saw us again board a Sky Blue Trust coach and set off up the traffic heavy M6 to Port Vale. After a unscheduled tour of most of the towns that make up Stoke On Trent,we got into the ground with minutes to spare.
With Jonny Tuffey back in Belfast on international duty and Clayton Ince on the bench after over-coming bruised ribs and fluid on the lung sustained in the defeat at Rushden on Sunday.,a new keeper was fielded in the form of Moroccan Khald. There was also another Moroccan on the bench in Seresay.
Vale were forced into a change in the opening seconds when Andy Whing clattered Jim Smith. This provoked an angry exchange and in the seventh minute,Whing was ordered to be replaced when he again was involved. One Vale player tried to kick James Scowcroft but it was the scorer of the last ever goalscorer at Highfield Road who had to be taken off under the instruction of referee Bates.
In the twelth minute, City wearing the new home kit,were a goal down when Richard Duffy went across Nathan Lowndes. Referee Mr Bates pointed to the spot and and Tony Dinning fired home from the resulting spot kick. Six minutes later,the League one side went further ahead when Tony Dinning was allowed space at the far post to head in a cross from the right from a couple of yards out. If this was bad enough for the 100 or so City fans,Vale added a third goal on the half hour mark when a corner was cleared to Dinning on the left and Nathan Lowndes headed in from three yards.
City's only real efforts of a woeful first half was a 41st minute Morrell header and a Scowcroft shot which was saved by Mark Goodlad. At the break,Adams made six changes and one of those subs Dele Adebola reduced the arrears when he held off a marker before thumping the ball high into the net from seven yards in the 52nd minute. Goodlad pushed a Hughes effort round for a corner and then Jorgensen drilled wide. But in the 58th minute,some neat footwork by McSheffrey saw him strike a post.
Hughes saw a 70th minute effort parried and with thirteen minutes to go,Gary McSheffrey was pulled down for a penalty. He got up to take it but could only hit a poor effort which Goodlad dived to his right to save. It was not McSheffrey's night as he wasted two more chances at the end of another poor game for which there is no excuse.
WALSALL 2-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
The misery continues for City fans as the Sky Blues went down to a 2-0 defeat at Walsall.
For this short trip to North Birmingham,Jonny Tuffey played in goal, with Stephen Hughes returning in midfield after what was reported as flu. Walsall fielded Craig Pead at right back and were on the back foot in the early exchanges with Dele Adebola heading wide from a Scowcroft cross.
In the tenth minute,a lovely bit of control by Gary McSheffrey saw him control the ball before cutting inside and firing at Saddlers keeper Adam Oakes. Four minutes later,McShefrey went even closer rifling a fourteen yarder against Oakes left hand post before it bounced away. City's first corner came in the 18th minute but only produced a free kick for the home side who broke up the other end for Michael Standing to drill wide from twelve yards. In the 33rd minute,Walsall took the lead when a cross from Wright went straight to JORGE LEITAO on the penalty spot. Despite Robert Page and Matt Heath in close attention, he still had time to turn and lash the ball high into the net. Stephen Hughes had a volley parried away by Oakes and a probing Richard Duffy cross won a corner as a miserable half came to a close. Paul Watson replaced Marcus Hall at the break.Playing four up at times was not helping the Sky Blues who again lacked width and the abilty to hold the ball under pressure and pass to a player wearing the same shirt.
Ten minutes into the second half,Paul Watson got down the left,crossed for Scowcroft to knock back for Michael Doyle to fire high into the stand where the 300+ City fans were housed. On the hour mark, both sides made changes with Darryl Powell coming on for Dele Adebola and Paul Merson opting to replace the goalscorer with Varusso. Some of the decisions by Birmingham based referee Tony Parkes were questionable and in the 67th minute,Walsall somehow got a goal kick when Westwood headed over his own cross bar. With fifteen minutes to go and after Gary McSheffrey had squared up to the Walsall keeper,Claus Jorgensen came on for Stephen Hughes. Now Jonny Tuffey had had a decent game but in the 78th minute,the 18 year old Northern Irishman came out to clear a back pass and RUBIEN DARIO VARUSSO chipped the ball back over Tuffey's head and into the net from twenty five yards. In the last minute,a Micheal Doyle free kick sailed well wide of the goal and summed up a miserable night.
RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 2-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Stern John scored for the second game in succession but City went down to a late defeat at Rushden and Diamonds.
Back in Blighty after the trips to Ibiza and Ireland. the Sky Blue Army set out on a very rainy day to Irthlingborough in deepest Northamptonshire for a dress rehearsal of the Carling Cup tie next month. We arrived on the Sky Blue Trust coach at the ground builit by Max Griggs and his Doc Marten empire,to find that again Stephen Hughes was out but Gary McSheffrey was back. City got off to the worst possible start when they were a goal down in less than two minutes. Rushden won a corner. The ball was flicked over and from two yards, Greg Pearson was allowed to turn and fire past Ince. Stern John and Andy Morrell both had chances before Clayton Ince was carried off in the tenth minute following a collision with Rushden striker Drewe Broughton who was only booked. Ince who received bruised ribs and had fluid on his lungs,received a standing ovation from the 700 City fans. With Jonny Tuffey still on international duty, Richard Duffy took over in goal to chants of "Wales Number One".
In the 25th minute,a foul on Claus Jorgensen produced a free kick just out side the area on the left hand side. However,the Faroe Islanders kick was so wide it went out for a thrown. Rushden broken down the other end and Duffy dived to his left to save from an Andy Burgess edge of the box shot at the second attempt. In the pouring rain, Coventy offered little movement and showed that work on set-pieces is still required.
There were no changes at the break from Adams who had fumed at the injury to Ince and the lack of a red card for Broughton. A 47th minute corner was headed over by Adie Williams and five minutes later,City won two more flag kicks. In the 55th minute,City were level when Paul Watson swung in a free kick from the right and Stern John rose in a crowded penalty area to head home from six yards. On the hour mark,Rushden had a sub booked for a foul on Jorgensen (I didn't get the name due to the poor pa system at Nene Park). With twenty minutes left, Adams made five changes with Matt Heath,Graham Barrett,James Scowcroft,Dele Adebola and Robert Page coming on. A further change came ten minutes later with Kevin Thornton replacing Michael Doyle.
In the last minute,a cross from the right was met by Robert Page who was clearly shoved as he deflected the ball into his own net, giving Rushden an undeserved victory and more headaches for Micky Adams.
GALWAY UNITED 0 COVENTRY CITY 1 BY KEV MONKS
An early goal from Stern John was enough to give City a win at Galway United. After the nightmare of Athlone, we got the train up to Galway. It is a city of character with a coastline, boasting fine prawns and a stack of pubs (350 in total) all offering the Irish experience. We'd been walking round a city nestled on the west coast of Ireland, spotting a growing band of Coventry City supporters and by the time we arrived in a Garda Civil Defence Land Rover with sirens wailing and lights flashing at Terryland Park, there was another good turn out of City supporters both from England and Ireland in a crowd of 1200.
Against a side once managed by Seamus McDonagh, Micky Adams again continued with his "give every player a run out" philosophy. With Clayton Ince again in goal, Duffy, Hall, Page and Matt Heath started in defence. Andy Morrell, Darryl Powell, James Scowcroft and Michael Doyle started in midfield whilst Dele Adebola and Stern John were up front. On a ground with a stand going all the way down the length of the pitch which had just been awarded a 500,000 euro grant for improvements, Galway had the first chance in the third minute when Barbadion Eric Lavine rifled wide from 23 yards with a right footed effort. In the thirteenth minute, City took the lead when a Marcus Hall cross from the left was kept in by Scowcroft. The midfielder played it back for Michael Doyle who turned and passed for STERN JOHN on the edge of the area to drive low into the net. Ince then dived low to save from John Russell before Alan Gough went to his left to collect a Powell drive. City were starting to create chances with Scowcroft on the turn, just going wide. In the 33rd minute, Morrell's header from a Hall cross was grabbed by Gough. On the stroke of half-time, Dele Adebola jinked his way through to find Morrell who stabbed wide from six yards. Micky Adams made seven changes at the break with only Clayton Ince, Powell, Duffy and Stern John stopping on. Five minutes in to the second half, Alan Gough made two fine saves. Firstly from Claus Jorgensen after a neat one two with Barrett and then throwing himself to his right to push away a Richard Duffy volley. Galway boss Steve Lalley made three changes and his side were unlucky not to be level when Barry Moran struck a right footed shot against the crossbar. In the 66th minute, Adams used his full compliment of substitutes when he brought on Kevin Thornton came on for Stern John. The Covsupport reserve team player of last season was involved straight away setting up Powell who had an effort saved and then having a go himself from ten yards to win a corner. With twelve minutes left, City should have wrapped up the match when Ryan came out of his goal and missed, Thornton fired as did Jorgensen. The ball finally fell for Richard Duffy who blasted wide from ten yards. Coventry kept it tight until the end and won quite comfortably.
ATHLONE TOWN 1-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Pre-season results might mean nothing to Micky Adams but it was little comfort for the hundred plus City fans who travelled to see City lost at Athlone Town. After finally arriving back from the the experience that was the Copa Ibizapart two of the pre-season tour saw us leave Coventry at a very early hour and make the trek to Athlone for City's first game in the Irish Republic since the draw at Bray four years ago. As per pre-season, it took a taxi to find our accommodation and another hike to find St Mels Park. When we eventually found the ground, it was not the finest stadia ,many of the 100+ strong Sky Blues support had ever seen. Micky Adams who spoke to me regarding the "abuse" of Liam Davis in Ibiza named an experimental side for the first half. Clayton Ince took the keepers shirt, Matt Heath and Adie Williams got the nod in the centre of defence. Trialists Darryl Powell and Paul Watson also featured whilst Andy Morrell and Stern John led the attack. For a side at the bottom of the Eircom League Division One Athlone did not look too bad a side as they forced two early corners. City's first chance came in the 26th minute when Andy Morrell fired over from eight yards. Paul Watson looked quite good going forward and after Alan O'Connor had curled a 29th minute free kick wide,he sent over a lovely cross which Neil Wood could only drill wide. At the interval, Micky Adams made ten changes with Clayton Ince who was dealing nicely with the bread and butter stuff. Padrig Mehan fired at Ince straight after the restart before Athlone's sub keeper Tad Murphy did well to gather an Andy Whing cross. Athlone continued to press and took the lead in the 63rd minute when substitute Jon Geirnan stroked the ball home from eight yards. Four minutes later, Irishman Graham Barrett blasted at Murphy as City tried to get back in the match. In the 70th minute, Adebola chipped the ball over Murphy but Michael Collins was back on the line to clear. Murphy made two good catches to thwart City who twice went very wide through Gary McSheffrey.
COPA IBIZA FINAL: COVENTRY CITY 2 QUEENS PARK RANGERS 3 BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City let a two goal lead slip and lost the Copa Ibiza by three goals to two. After three nights of trouble in San Antonio mainly instigated started by Queens Park Rangers there was a strong police and steward presence at the Municipal Stadium for a crowd of 1300. Both Micky Adams and Ian Holloway made impassioned pleas for all supporters to behave before the game started. Micky Adams made three changes to the side that had beaten Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night. In came Matt Heath for his debut, Richard Duffy and Andy Whing, whilst Ian Holloway made a number of changes. City in last season's home shirt started lively. Gary McSheffrey missed with a third minute header before rifling an effort at Jake Cole thirteen minutes later. In the 23rd minute, Coventry took the lead when Dele Adebola latched onto a one-on-one with Cole and raced through to score. It was two-nil to City seven minutes later. Chris Day saved from Paul Furlong at the other end, the ball went up to Gary McSheffrey on the right. The striker, who signed a three-year contract in the summer, kept his cool and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net. Liam Davis came on for James Scowcroft but with seconds of the second half Starting, it was stopped due to Queens Park Rangers hooligans provoking fights in the crowd. The Police piled in with batons smacking fans and hooligans indiscriminately. When the game restarted after a four minute delay, Ian Holloway got the response as Matt Heath allowed Dean Sturridge to blast past a helpless Paston from ten yards in the 49th minute. With order restored and the atmosphere, positively moon like, it was the very young Spanish assistant referees who were annoying the crowd with a number of questionable off side decisions. Dele Adebola was replaced by Graham Barrett in the 73rd minute and four minutes later the Irishman raced down the right and crossed for McSheffrey to nod agonisingly wide. The mood amongst the City changed when Gary McSheffrey had a goal ruled out and then Dean Sturridge netted in the 81st minute followed by Kevin Gallen giving Rangers the cup with six minutes three minutes later.
COVENTRY CITY 1-0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN BY KEV MONKS
A goal from Gary McSHeffrey was enough to book City a place in the Copa Ibiza Cup Final
Micky Adams had been reluctant to come to the Spanish island known for it's clubs and drugs culture. Not only for the La Manga incident during the blip in his career known as a spell managing Leicester,but the fact that the heat made day-time training impractical. Kick off for the game was at 9pm local time and it was still warm as around 200 City supporters made their way into the Municipal Stadium in San Antonio for the second game in the Copa Ibiza. Adams' plans had been hampered with injuries and withdrawals,including Andy Morrell who is rumoured to be joining Swansea, leaving the erstwhile manager no choice but to bring trialists Chris Day,Mark Paston and defender Paul Watson. There was no Matt Heath,but James Scowcroft was handed a debut. Huddersfield who have City legend Terry Yorath as assistant to manager Pete Jackson,also had two new players in Martin McIntosh and Mark Hudson in their squad but no former Sky Blue Lee Fowler. City Chairman Mike McGinnity had kindly got the drinks in for some of the City support, before the opening fifteen minutes of the game saw Huddersfield earn five corners. In the 19th minute, City had their first attack with a Michael Doyle shot bringing a corner which Dele Adebola nodded wide. The City fans were in fine voice with the Sky Blue song ringing round the ground which brought a smile of Terry Yorath and Martin Booty who is a coach at the Yorkshire club. Six minutes before the break, City won a second corner and four minutes later, Gary McSHeffrey raced through to stroke the ball past Town keeper Paul Rachuba and give City the lead. Adams made six changes at the break, Patson,Duffy,Whing,Osbourne, Wood and Graham Barrett.. The second half started with more corners for Huddersfield.Chances were limited and the only thing to note was the debuts for Liam Davis who came on James Scowcroft with thirteen minutes to go and Kevin Thornton and Luke Webb. In the last minute,Andy Whing had to head off his own line as City held on to book a place in Thursday's final.