COVENTRY CITY 1-0 LUTON TOWN BY KEV MONKS
David Evans, Nick Owen, your boys took a hell of a beating. Erm.actually no, but when you are a Coventry City supporter and your side is third bottom in the table,any victory is something to celebrate.
David Evans, Nick Owen, your boys took a hell of a beating. Erm.actually no, but when you are a Coventry City supporter and your side is third bottom in the table,any victory is something to celebrate.
With only 22,228 in the ground,a number boosted by a large turn-out of Luton supporters,I decided to watch the game from the only stand I have not seen a first team or reserves match in this season and took up a place in the North Stand,after making my way through the traffic, something a railway station at the Arena would alleviate.
Attacking the end where the visitors were housed, the Sky Blues who had Robert Page plus Claus Jorgensen back from suspension and new loanee Marton Fulop in goal attacked first with Man Of The Match Page firing wide in the second minute. Something which Gary McSheffrey,playing against the side he had twice been loaned to,did a couple of minutes later.
The Hatters managed by Mike Newall, a chap I found very approachable last when he watched a number of City Reserve team games last season,should have been ahead in the eighth and eighteenth minutes.
The first was one where it looked easier to score than miss. Peter Holmes sent over a cross. Steve Howard whom Peter Reid had expressed an interest in last season,was unmarked and four yards out. Somehow he volleyed wide as the City defence stood and watched.
Warren Feeney fired over after a good move before the Hatters forced Marcus Hall to clear off his own line from a 20th minute corner.
City were looking this game like they wanted to attack and in the 27th minute, a free kick taken by the highly industrious Jorgensen flew just wide of the far post.
Like the defeat at Leicester,the police were again busy,this time piling into the top of the stand mob handed to deal with only one visitor. It was a scene repeated after the game, when officers were seen piling out of vans like Jack Regan in the Sweeney to deal with an incident close to the Rowleys Lane Social Club.
At times,it was difficult to see who was the side third from top as Luton's main threats all came from the pacy Carlos Edwards whilst City finished the half the stronger winning two corners and James Scowcroft sending another shot over the bar.
The first was one where it looked easier to score than miss. Peter Holmes sent over a cross. Steve Howard whom Peter Reid had expressed an interest in last season,was unmarked and four yards out. Somehow he volleyed wide as the City defence stood and watched.
Warren Feeney fired over after a good move before the Hatters forced Marcus Hall to clear off his own line from a 20th minute corner.
City were looking this game like they wanted to attack and in the 27th minute, a free kick taken by the highly industrious Jorgensen flew just wide of the far post.
Like the defeat at Leicester,the police were again busy,this time piling into the top of the stand mob handed to deal with only one visitor. It was a scene repeated after the game, when officers were seen piling out of vans like Jack Regan in the Sweeney to deal with an incident close to the Rowleys Lane Social Club.
At times,it was difficult to see who was the side third from top as Luton's main threats all came from the pacy Carlos Edwards whilst City finished the half the stronger winning two corners and James Scowcroft sending another shot over the bar.
What ever Micky Adams said at the break seemed to work as eighty seconds after the restart,City took the lead.
James Scowcroft did well to get to the byline,using his upper-body strength to get past a defender and deliver a superb cross for the incoming Dele Adebola to nod in from four yards.
Apart from the odd miskick, debutant Marton Fulop looked ok in goal and was able to push round a free kick and then was able to palm the ball away from the resulting corner.
James Scowcroft did well to get to the byline,using his upper-body strength to get past a defender and deliver a superb cross for the incoming Dele Adebola to nod in from four yards.
Apart from the odd miskick, debutant Marton Fulop looked ok in goal and was able to push round a free kick and then was able to palm the ball away from the resulting corner.
Like the rest of City's midfield,Michael Doyle was having a decent game and in the 54th minute, the Irishman was put through by Gary McSheffrey only for Marlon Beresford to come out and block with his feet.
With the St Johns Ambulance treating a supporter who had collapsed in the East Stand,(our best wishes for a speedy recovery go to them),Carlos Edwards caused a moment of concern when the former City target cut inside an thumped a shot which Page deflected with his back.
Against his former club, Gary McSheffrey had been pretty quiet,chances had not come his way and neither the way of his team mates after the Doyle chance and in the 79th minute,he was replaced by Lillian Nallis. Micky Adams who again was chanted for by a good number of supporters, made a second change in the 86th minute brining on Andy Morrell on for Claus Jorgensen who received a good ovation as he left the field of play.
With the St Johns Ambulance treating a supporter who had collapsed in the East Stand,(our best wishes for a speedy recovery go to them),Carlos Edwards caused a moment of concern when the former City target cut inside an thumped a shot which Page deflected with his back.
Against his former club, Gary McSheffrey had been pretty quiet,chances had not come his way and neither the way of his team mates after the Doyle chance and in the 79th minute,he was replaced by Lillian Nallis. Micky Adams who again was chanted for by a good number of supporters, made a second change in the 86th minute brining on Andy Morrell on for Claus Jorgensen who received a good ovation as he left the field of play.
Luton hustled and bustled towards the end of the game but Fulop's goal was not really under threat and it was the City fans and players who celebrated a much needed victory.
HT CCFC 0-0 LTFC
FT CCFC 1-0 LTFC
ATT 22,228
Goals
Dele Adebola 47
Booked
Hughes 21,Doyle 28
Ref M.Thorpe
Team
Fulop,Hall,Page,Duffy,Heath,Doyle,Jorgensen (Morrell 86),Hughes,Scowcroft,Adebola,
Fulop,Hall,Page,Duffy,Heath,Doyle,Jorgensen (Morrell 86),Hughes,Scowcroft,Adebola,
McSheffrey Subs Ince,Shaw,Thornton
Luton
Beresford,Foley,Brkovic,Coyne (Barnett 62),Nicholls,Edwards,Heikknen (Showumni 76),Morgan (Keane 46),Feeney, Howard,Holmes SNU Brill,Vine
Luton
Beresford,Foley,Brkovic,Coyne (Barnett 62),Nicholls,Edwards,Heikknen (Showumni 76),Morgan (Keane 46),Feeney, Howard,Holmes SNU Brill,Vine