SHEFFIELD UNITED 2-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
A late penalty condemed City to a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United.
Against the side he supports,Micky Adams opted against bringing back the unsuspended Stephen Hughes with Isaac Osbourne coming into midfield.
Considering this was the fifth away game in August,there was another excellent turn out from the Sky Blues support at Brammal Lane who made plenty of noise as both sides had two corners apiece in the opening ten minutes.
Robert Page who received a standing ovation from the Sheffield United faithful captained the side and was instrumental in helping his side push forward.
Having won the last two games was having a positve effect, City won two corners, Isaac Osbourne had a long ranger saved and in the 23rd minute,the Sky Blues took the lead.
A ball from Gary McSheffrey sent James Scowcroft clear. The attacking midfielder kept his nerve and lashed a twelve yard shot past Paddy Kenny.
It was a lead that last just over three minutes as Dele Adebola burst through and saw his shot deflected off Kenny for a corner. The flag kick was cleared,Osbourne slipped and allowed United to break through Steve Kabba who raced through to fire and hit an unstoppable shot past Stephen Bywater.
The goal lifted Neil Warnock's side who kept Bywater busy as they won four corners whilst Wilo Flood who is the 672nd player to have played for City,fired wide and in the 43rd minute had an effort blocked by Jaglieka.
As the half came to a close, Chris Morgan was booked for a trip on Dele Adebola.
The second half was only 37 seconds old when Dele Adebola impeded and a Micky Doyle free kick was cleared away.
United attacked the end where the City fans were housed through Leigh Bromby who was allowed to ghost in from the right and hit a shot which Bywater pushed over the bar for a corner in the 49th minute.
The home side who knew that a victory could put them top of the league, won a number of free kicks,one of which saw Matt Heath booked for a shirt tug.
Michael Doyle missed an open goal in the 62nd minute when Kenny came out and missed an Adebola header. Now the Irishman was outside the penalty area and could not get the touch he wanted thanks to a defender and the ball went wide.
Doyle was not having the best of afternoons as he was cautioned for a trip on Paul Ifill in the 67th minute.
The next booking came two minutes later and it saw City reduced to ten men when Matt Heath tackled Ifill. Referee Colin Webster decided an offence had been committed and waved a yellow and then a red card in the face of the defender.
Andy Whing was brought on to bolster the defence.
Neil Warnock also made a change bringing on bookies mate and Leicester reject Keith Gillespie who was roundly abused as he entered the field of play.
Andy Morrell came on for Wilo Flood with ten minutes to go.
City were well worth a point but Mr Webster decided a trip by Richard Duffy on Steve Kabba was a 88th minute penalty, completely missing Andy Morrell having his ankles clipped before hand. David Unsworth on his debut slotted the winner home from ten yards.
On the final whistle, there was uproar as Paddy Kenny again came over to goad the City supporters making a number of offensive gestures.
A late penalty condemed City to a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United.
Against the side he supports,Micky Adams opted against bringing back the unsuspended Stephen Hughes with Isaac Osbourne coming into midfield.
Considering this was the fifth away game in August,there was another excellent turn out from the Sky Blues support at Brammal Lane who made plenty of noise as both sides had two corners apiece in the opening ten minutes.
Robert Page who received a standing ovation from the Sheffield United faithful captained the side and was instrumental in helping his side push forward.
Having won the last two games was having a positve effect, City won two corners, Isaac Osbourne had a long ranger saved and in the 23rd minute,the Sky Blues took the lead.
A ball from Gary McSheffrey sent James Scowcroft clear. The attacking midfielder kept his nerve and lashed a twelve yard shot past Paddy Kenny.
It was a lead that last just over three minutes as Dele Adebola burst through and saw his shot deflected off Kenny for a corner. The flag kick was cleared,Osbourne slipped and allowed United to break through Steve Kabba who raced through to fire and hit an unstoppable shot past Stephen Bywater.
The goal lifted Neil Warnock's side who kept Bywater busy as they won four corners whilst Wilo Flood who is the 672nd player to have played for City,fired wide and in the 43rd minute had an effort blocked by Jaglieka.
As the half came to a close, Chris Morgan was booked for a trip on Dele Adebola.
The second half was only 37 seconds old when Dele Adebola impeded and a Micky Doyle free kick was cleared away.
United attacked the end where the City fans were housed through Leigh Bromby who was allowed to ghost in from the right and hit a shot which Bywater pushed over the bar for a corner in the 49th minute.
The home side who knew that a victory could put them top of the league, won a number of free kicks,one of which saw Matt Heath booked for a shirt tug.
Michael Doyle missed an open goal in the 62nd minute when Kenny came out and missed an Adebola header. Now the Irishman was outside the penalty area and could not get the touch he wanted thanks to a defender and the ball went wide.
Doyle was not having the best of afternoons as he was cautioned for a trip on Paul Ifill in the 67th minute.
The next booking came two minutes later and it saw City reduced to ten men when Matt Heath tackled Ifill. Referee Colin Webster decided an offence had been committed and waved a yellow and then a red card in the face of the defender.
Andy Whing was brought on to bolster the defence.
Neil Warnock also made a change bringing on bookies mate and Leicester reject Keith Gillespie who was roundly abused as he entered the field of play.
Andy Morrell came on for Wilo Flood with ten minutes to go.
City were well worth a point but Mr Webster decided a trip by Richard Duffy on Steve Kabba was a 88th minute penalty, completely missing Andy Morrell having his ankles clipped before hand. David Unsworth on his debut slotted the winner home from ten yards.
On the final whistle, there was uproar as Paddy Kenny again came over to goad the City supporters making a number of offensive gestures.
Some City supporters were spotted making complaints to the police who moved in to quickly quell a skirmish outside the Gordon Lamb Stand,arresting two, as the feeling cheated Sky Blue Army headed for home.
HT SUFC 1-0 CCFC
FT SUFC 2-1 CCFC
ATT 17 739
Goals James Scowcroft (23),Steve Kabba (26),David Unsworth (88 pen)
Booked Morgan,Heath x2,Page,Duffy
Sent Off Heath
Man Of The Match - Robert Page just pipping a good bunch of candidates.
TEAM
Bywater,Duffy (John 88),Page,Heath (sent off 69),Hall,McSheffrey (Whing 70),Doyle,Osbourne,Flood,Adebola,Scowcroft Subs Ince,John,Morrell,Wood
Sheffield United
Kenny, Bromby, Short, Morgan (Gillespie 74), Jagielka, Ifill, Shipperley, Kabba (Tonge 80), Quinn (Kozluk 89), Montgomery, Unsworth. Subs: Barnes, Nalis.