CARDIFF CITY 0-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City did enough to earn a goal-less draw at Cardiff City.
At the end of a week where Geoffrey Robinson had taken over the club on what could be a temporary basis if his restructuring plans are successful and a woeful performance,the Sky Blues Army crossed the border into Wales to face Cardiff City at Ninian Park.
The home of the Bluebirds is the only one in the division with terracing and a chance to stand at a league game was taken up by some of the Sky Blue 400 strong support whilst others took the option to sit down at one is most of the notorious grounds in the country where the choice of pre-game music included the Damned classic "Smash It Up".
Coventry City did enough to earn a goal-less draw at Cardiff City.
At the end of a week where Geoffrey Robinson had taken over the club on what could be a temporary basis if his restructuring plans are successful and a woeful performance,the Sky Blues Army crossed the border into Wales to face Cardiff City at Ninian Park.
The home of the Bluebirds is the only one in the division with terracing and a chance to stand at a league game was taken up by some of the Sky Blue 400 strong support whilst others took the option to sit down at one is most of the notorious grounds in the country where the choice of pre-game music included the Damned classic "Smash It Up".
Micky Adams was without Michael Doyle who was missing only his eighth game since he joined City. Kevin Thornton was give his first start whilst Dele Adebola was dropped to the bench after allegedly speaking out of turn at half-time during the home defeat by Stoke and back came Gary McSheffrey.
Cardiff, managed by former Sky Blue David Jones had one change from their last game with Alan Lee replacing Michael Rikketts.
After the patriotic Welsh anthems had blasted out of the tannoy to be met with chants of "Eng er land",the noisy Coventry fans watched on as Jerome blasted over in the first minute and James Scowcroft won a third minute corner.
Marton Fulop looked good in goal and his handling was competent enough to deal with efforts from Jerome and Jason Koumas.
Standing always encourages singing and the City fans were in fine voice giving their Welsh counterparts as good as they got.
Some of the songs coming out of the terracing on our right was aimed at Welshman Richard Duffy. The defender was getting a fair bit of stick due to his allegiance to Swansea City but he did not let it affect his game as he played his part along with Heath,Page and Shaw in keeping things tight at the back.
Kevin Thornton, who was cautioned in the 28th minute, set up the best chance of the game so far passing to Scowcroft whose attempted lob flew a foot over the bar from the edge of the area.
There had been some good banter between the two sets of fans but in the 38th minute, the tone lowered with a chant from the home supporters that Coventry was just a "small town in Asia".
Six minutes before the break, Lillian Nallis who was playing for what could be the last time unless Neil Warnock at Sheffield United decides the Coriscan needs more match experience in Lady Godiva's City, sent a cross to Gary McSheffrey at the far post. Unfortunately,the angle was too tight and the City striker's header went into the side netting.
Claus Jorgensen had taken part in a half time challenge where he had to hit the ball into the net from the centre circle without it bouncing. The Faroe Islander missed the target but came on as a 56th minute substitute for Kevin Thornton.
Jorgensen got stuck in straight away and was taken down by Jeff Whitely for the game's second caution.
This gave City a free kick on the hour mark.Stephen Hughes sent the ball long,it was knocked down for Nallis to volley wide.
That was the last City effort of note and not to have a shot on target the whole game is a sign of how much the Sky Blues have sunk in recent years and how much there is to do to recover.
Matt Heath who had his best game in a Sky Blue shirt did well to get in a clearing header to give Cardiff a 73rd minute corner.
Fulop dealt with the flag kick easily and with City's defence and midfield keeping things tight,the game ended goal-less something the City supporters would have accepted at the start.
HT Cardiff 0-0 Cov
FT Cardiff 0-0 Cov
ATT 11,424
Booked
Thornton (28),Whitely,Lee
team
Fulop,Duffy,Hall.Page,Shaw,Heath,Nallis,Hughes,Thornton(Jorgensen 56),McSheffrey (Adebola 70), Scowcroft
Subs Not Used Ince,Whing,Morrell
Cardiff
Alexander,Barker,Whitley,Purse,Koumas,Lee (Parry 75),Jerome,Weston, Loovens, Ledley,Cooper (Ferretti 84)
Subs not Used Margetson,Cox,Ardley