CRAWLEY TOWN 3-2 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy (GK), Christie, Adams, J Clarke, Willis (Phillips 81), Thomas, Wilson, Fleck, Baker (c), Moussa, L Clarke
Subs: Burge (GK), Barton, Daniels, Phillips, Garner, Lobjoit, Maund
Crawley Town: Jones, Hurst, Sadler, McFadzean, Alexander, Simpson, Walsh, Proctor (Drury 77), Bulman, Adams, Jones (Torres 91)
Subs: Maddison (GK), Connolly, Essam.
HT CTFC 2-0 CCFC
FT CTFC 3-2 CCFC
ATT 3454
Goals Jamie Proctor 14,Joe. Walsh 20, Callum Wilson 59, Franck Moussa 82, Mike Jones 84
Referee L.Collins
Booked none
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Coventry City battled brilliantly but went down to a 3-2 defeat at Crawley Town.
Opening day of the season and with ten points already deducted after the close season from hell, those still following the Sky Blues away from home, set off on the nightmare journey to Crawley.
Being still in the holiday season, the roads especially the M25 were choked with traffic on a warm but cloudy day meant that the quickest of journeys were not taken, especially for those on the club coach which had broken down.
Once in side the ground, the City support, which numbered over a thousand, were fine voice. There was plenty of backing for the team as well a ton of abuse for SISU and Steve Waggott, who was left in now doubt by the away terrace that he, Tim Fisher and Joy Seppala, would be better seeking another business to run into the ground.
City, fielding their strongest possible team, were straight on the attack with Carl Baker blasting over and Leon Clarke, who struggled in the air against the excellent Kyle McFadzean, having a shot blocked.
Crawley applied a bit of pressure with Murphy down to push away a cross from the right under the nose of Gary Alexander and won two corners, the second of which Conor Thomas cleared.
However, in the 14th minute, four tackles failed to go in and Jamie Proctor was able to hit a shot from 20 yards which flew into the net, making it the earliest league goal City had ever conceded.
Leon Clarke sent a header wide before the referee Mr Collins, a referee, who on previous performances involving the Sky Blues, should not have been given a game at this level, by the Football League, made a couple of decisions which sparked a pitch invasion after two corners and a free header for Joe Walsh at the far post had made it 2-0.
There were a number of pitch incursions and a bit of scuffling with the stewards and fair play to the likes of Carl Baker for trying to intervene and prevent a situation getting a lot worse.
When play did resume, Alexander headed against the bar whilst at the other end, Moussa and Wilson had chances but the Sky Blues were lucky to be two goals down at the break.
At the start of the second half, Jones, made a great save to push away a Christie shot as some of the 1080 City fans in the away end sat down, took their shoes off and bounced to demonstrate their hatred of SISU and what they have done to the club.
Leon Clarke headed wide from a corner as the City supporters tried to encourage a ponytailed muscular steward to sign as a centre half.
In the 57th minute, City fashioned a great move that saw Callum Wilson flash a header just past Paul Jones left hand post.
City had the bit between the teeth and just before the hour mark, following a corner, Franck Moussa rounded Jones and there was Callum Wilson to stab into the net from a yard or so out, sending the away end into raptures.
Two City corners were halted by Mr Collins spotting a shirt pull before Crawley went up the other end and wasted two good chances.
With seven minutes to go, the City supporters went ballistic when Franck Moussa got onto a cross and scored from six yards.
"Minus Nine", sang the City fans but, seconds later, the defence were stretched and Mike Jones got through and slipped the ball past Murphy to give Crawley the win.
If the misery of defeat was not enough for the City support, many were held up for an hour and a half some ten miles out of Crawley on the M23 following a bad accident involving a motorcyclist.