BURY 3-1 COVENTRY CITY
TUE AUG 09 At Gigg Lane, Bury,
TEAM:Murphy, Keogh, Hussey, Christie, Wood (McPake 46), Cranie, Bell, Bigirimana, McSheffrey (Thomas 80), O'Donovan, Jutkiewicz. SNU Dunn, Jeffers, Wilson, Cameron, Ruffels
Bury: Belford, Skarz, Worrall, Hughes, Jones, Bishop (Lewis 83), M.Jones, Mozika, A.Jones, Sodje, Lowe (Harrop 93). SNU Futcher, Haworth, Branigan, Rothwell
HT BFC 1-1 CCFC FT BFC 3-1 CCFC ATT 2,428
REFEREE J.Waugh
BOOKINGS Bigirimana, Worrall, Sodje, Mozika
GOALS Roy O'Donovan (25), Andy Bishop (32), Ryan Lowe (75 & 86)
MAN OF THE MATCH The City supporters for watching this garbage.
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REPORT BY KEV MONKS
When a club newly promoted to League One takes off a striker who has scored two goals so that he can get an ovation off the home support, you know you have problems and Coventry City caused their long suffering support more heart-ache with a 3-1 defeat to Bury.
The Sky Blue Army was out in good numbers for this cup tie including supporters from as far away as Kent and including celebrity fan Graeme Hawley to get to Gigg Lane to see City's first visit to this part of Lancashire since 1967.
Andy Thorn, who was without Sammy Clingan and Carl Baker fielded his strongest possible team. That mean Richard Wood and Roy O'Donovan coming back into the team.
Against a side which featured former Sky Blue Cameron Belford in goal, the Sky Blues in their green/black away kit, started lively. Jutkiewicz had a header saved, O'Donovan fired in to the side netting, whilst Murphy blocked a Mozika shot for a corner.
In the 20th minute, the City support which looked to be around 700 strong, thought City had scored when a McSheffrey ball found Jutkiewicz who laid it off to Roy O'Donovan who tapped home. However, the grey haired assistant referee on the South Stand where the City support which was advising SISU that it was time to go, had his flag up and the goal ruled out.
Five minutes later, there was a goal to cheer when the ball came over, Richard Keogh headed towards the goal, Lukas Jutkiewicz got in a header as well and ROY O'DONOVAN made sure the ball went into the net.
Bury didn't let their heads drop and they were level within seven minutes thanks to Andy BISHOP being allowed all the time he wanted to beat Murphy with a low drive.
City stopped doing the things they were doing. Gael Bigirimana had had plenty of the ball but he began to get closed down and the runs forward from Hussey and Christie stopped.
James McPake came on for Richard Wood at half-time. The Scot watched on as Peter Sweeney rifled a shot that Murphy had to push over for a corner, six minutes into the second half.
In the 61st minute, Bigirimana got down the left and cut back for Gary McSheffrey via Jutkiewicz. McSheffrey leant back and blasted over to howls from the City supporters.
Had McSheffrey scored, City would have probably won the game but Bury stuck to their guns.
Murphy saved from Bishop but in the 75th minute, the summer signing from Scunthorpe was picking the ball out of the net when RYAN LOWE drove home from the edge of the area being allowed all the time he wanted to score.
There were more calls for SISU to go from the clearly disgruntled City support who started singing "We're sh*t and we're sick of it" before heading home when Murphy fumbled an 88th minute shot and RYAN LOWE banged home the loose ball.
Lowe went off to a standing ovation from the home fans whilst the City support were left to make their way from another embarrassing cup exit which clearly highlights the need for the manager to be given funds to improve a squad which is clearly not strong enough.