COVENTRY CITY 2-3 QUEENS PARK RANGERS BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City let a two goal lead slip and lost the Copa Ibiza by three goals to two.
After three nights of trouble in San Antonio mainly instigated started by Queens Park Rangers,there was a strong police and steward presence at the Municpal Stadium for a crowd of 1300.
Both Micky Adams and Ian Holloway made empassioned pleas for all supporters to behave before the game started.
Micky Adams made three changes to the side that had beaten Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.
In came,Matt Heath for his debut,Richard Duffy and Andy Whing, whilst Ian Holloway made a number of changes.
City in last season's home shirt started lively. Gary McSheffrey missed with a third minute header before rifling an effort at Jake Cole,thirteen minutes later.
In the 23rd minute, Coventry took the lead when Dele Adebola latched onto a one on one with Cole and raced through to score.
It was two-nil to City seven minutes later. Chris Day saved from Paul Furlong at the other end, the ball went up to Gary McSheffrey on the right. The striker who signed a three year contract in the summer,kept his cool and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.
Liam Davis came on for James Scowcroft,but with seconds of the second half starting,it was stopped due to Queens Park Rangers starting fights in the crowd. The Police piled in with batons smacking fans and hooligans indiscriminately.
When the game restarted after a four minute delay, Ian Holloway got the response as Matt Heath allowed Dean Sturridge to blast past a helpless Day from ten yards.
New Zealander Mark Paston in ther City goal then pulled off a stunning one hand save from a Lee Cook header.
With order restored and the atmosphere, postively moon like,it was the very young Spanish assistant referees who were annoying the crowd with a number of questionable off side decisions.
Dele Adebola was replaced by Graham Barrett in the 73rd minute and four minutes later,the Irishman raced down the right and crossed for McSheffrey to nod agonisingly wide.
The mood amongst the City changed when Gary McSheffrey had a goal ruled and then Dean Sturridge netted in the 81st minute followed by Kevin Gallen giving Rangers the cup with a strike three minutes later.
CITY
Day (Paston 46),Whing,Duffy,Heath,Page,Doyle,Jorgensen,Osbourne,Adebola (Osbourne 73),Scowcroft,McSheffrey SUBS Shaw,Barrett,Webb,Thornton
QPR
Cole,Bignot,Rose,Santos,Evatt,Miller,Chambers,Bircham,Furlong,Gallen,Brown. SUBS shimman,Royce,Shi tu(on 46),Ukah (on 46) ,Docherty (on 46),Bean,Cook (on 46),Sturridge (on 46),Moore (on 46).
Coventry City let a two goal lead slip and lost the Copa Ibiza by three goals to two.
After three nights of trouble in San Antonio mainly instigated started by Queens Park Rangers,there was a strong police and steward presence at the Municpal Stadium for a crowd of 1300.
Both Micky Adams and Ian Holloway made empassioned pleas for all supporters to behave before the game started.
Micky Adams made three changes to the side that had beaten Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.
In came,Matt Heath for his debut,Richard Duffy and Andy Whing, whilst Ian Holloway made a number of changes.
City in last season's home shirt started lively. Gary McSheffrey missed with a third minute header before rifling an effort at Jake Cole,thirteen minutes later.
In the 23rd minute, Coventry took the lead when Dele Adebola latched onto a one on one with Cole and raced through to score.
It was two-nil to City seven minutes later. Chris Day saved from Paul Furlong at the other end, the ball went up to Gary McSheffrey on the right. The striker who signed a three year contract in the summer,kept his cool and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.
Liam Davis came on for James Scowcroft,but with seconds of the second half starting,it was stopped due to Queens Park Rangers starting fights in the crowd. The Police piled in with batons smacking fans and hooligans indiscriminately.
When the game restarted after a four minute delay, Ian Holloway got the response as Matt Heath allowed Dean Sturridge to blast past a helpless Day from ten yards.
New Zealander Mark Paston in ther City goal then pulled off a stunning one hand save from a Lee Cook header.
With order restored and the atmosphere, postively moon like,it was the very young Spanish assistant referees who were annoying the crowd with a number of questionable off side decisions.
Dele Adebola was replaced by Graham Barrett in the 73rd minute and four minutes later,the Irishman raced down the right and crossed for McSheffrey to nod agonisingly wide.
The mood amongst the City changed when Gary McSheffrey had a goal ruled and then Dean Sturridge netted in the 81st minute followed by Kevin Gallen giving Rangers the cup with a strike three minutes later.
CITY
Day (Paston 46),Whing,Duffy,Heath,Page,Doyle,Jorgensen,Osbourne,Adebola (Osbourne 73),Scowcroft,McSheffrey SUBS Shaw,Barrett,Webb,Thornton
QPR
Cole,Bignot,Rose,Santos,Evatt,Miller,Chambers,Bircham,Furlong,Gallen,Brown. SUBS shimman,Royce,Shi tu(on 46),Ukah (on 46) ,Docherty (on 46),Bean,Cook (on 46),Sturridge (on 46),Moore (on 46).