COVENTRY CITY MIDDLESBROUGH BY KEV MONKS
Date 04/12/10 At the Ricoh Arena
Team
Westwood, Keogh, McPake, Cameron, Wood, Carsley, Gunnarsson (Eastwood 65), Doyle, McSheffrey (Clarke 82), King (Jutkiewicz 80), Platt SNU Ireland, Bell, Cranie, Baker
Middlesbrough
Steele, Bates, Wheater, McDonald, Bailey, O'Neill, Arca (Boyd 79), Bennett, McMahon (Hoyte 79), Lita, Emnes. SNU Coyne, Kink, Hines, Tavares.
HT CCFC 0-0 MFC FT CCFC 1-0 MFC ATT 15, 768
Goal Marlon King (pen 78)
Referee D.Whitestone Booked Bennett, Wheater, McSheffrey, Jutkiewicz
Man Of The Match Gary McSheffrey took the votes with nominations for Marlon King, Kieren Westwood, James McPake and Aron Gunnarsson.
"Not the best of games, but we got the result" were the words on the lips of Coventry City supporters as they filed out of the Ricoh Arena after the Sky Blues had beaten Middlesbrough 1-0.
With the temperatures warming up slightly and the snow being washed away by rain today, it was game on at the Ricoh Arena and considering the weather and time of year, there was a bigger than expected crowd who welcomed an unchanged City team and a Middlesbrough team wearing their historic red shirts with the white band onto the pitch.
It was a Middlesbrough side which had admitted in midweek that they were in a relegation battle and attacking the CT Stand in the first half, they quickly showed how determined they were in trying to escape from the clutches of the bottom three.
Richard Wood, again playing at left back, had a torrid time against the pace of Marvin Emnes, now back from a loan at Swansea, where he had guaranteed himself free beers whenever he wants one whilst Richard Keogh struggled to keep pace early on with the attacks down his side.
One of those attacks came in the eighth minute and saw Leroy Lita head over, after Gary McSheffrey had a shot on the turn saved at the other end.
Today, Clive Platt was the not danger man for City, that role fell to Marlon King who is improving in fitness with every game and the former Watford man, who was continually being informed by the visiting fans, some of whom were in fancy dress that "She said no", won a corner.
An unpunished bodycheck on McSheffrey led to King trying his luck with a free kick which England U21 international Jason Steele did well to get down to before Boro went up the other end and Scott
McDonald glanced a low header wide after James
McPake had superbly blocked Arca's initial effort.
City were encountering way more resistance than they had at Scunthorpe a week ago and after Doyle had fired over after King had neatly slipped his marker, Keiren Westwood who was on good form today, was forced to fist over a shot from the classy Julio Arca.
Then in the 29th minute, Middlesbrough were awarded a penalty by referee Mr Whitestone from Northampton. Leroy Lita went into the area and with Nathan Cameron coming in behind, both players went down and a penalty was given.
Up stepped Leroy Lita who already had missed a penalty at the Ricoh Arena. He showed which way he was going to hit the ball and Keiren Westwood went the right way to block the ball. The Republic Of Ireland international could not keep hold of the ball and Lita was first to the loose ball but thankfully, he smacked it straight onto the cross bar from a couple of yards out, much to the delight of the City supporters.
The Sky Blues must have been given a stern lecture at the interval as they were more positive in the second half with the likes of Carsley and Doyle trying to take the game to the visitors instead of having to chase back.
Both sides, now playing in pouring rain, won corners before Westwood made a smart stop from Emnes in the 62nd minute.
Both sides were warming up players, looking to make a substitution and it was the Sky Blues who went first, replacing Aron Gunnarsson who had picked up a knock with Freddy Eastwood and going 4-3-3.
In the 73rd minute, a great move sent Michael Doyle free but he could not repeat his goal against Burnley and fired over.
Gary McSheffrey, who ran and battled well finally got some reward in the 77th minute when he was tripped by Matthew Bates. The City players appealed for a penalty and duly got it. McSheffrey wanted to take it but relented and MARLON KING, obviously on the orders of those in on his wage deal, stepped up to take the spot kick instead.
King beat Steele and City were ahead. Middlesbrough went up the Jewson Stand end and Emnes hit the bar.
King left to good applause with ten minutes left and was replaced by Lucas Jutkiewicz, who was cautioned for his part in some blatant time wasting in the corner close to the CT and Tesco Stands.
A screamer from Freddy Eastwood was saved by Steele using his chest and Westwood made a good save in stoppage time as City delivered three more points and a third clean sheet which keeps us in the play-off places.