CRYSTAL PALACE 1-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Four hundred hardy souls who went to Selhurst Park could accuse of Coventry City of not wanting to progress in the League Cup after a poor second half showing and a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Four hundred hardy souls who went to Selhurst Park could accuse of Coventry City of not wanting to progress in the League Cup after a poor second half showing and a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
To be honest,both sides fielded elevens not too remote from the reserve game back on August 10 with the home side having nine players who played in that game.
Injuries and players not available meant that Coventry City were down to the barebones. So non-contract players Paul Watson and Andy Impey both started,with Clayton Ince in goal but no spare keeper on the bench.
With 400+ City supporters behind the goal in the Croydon Advertiser End behind the goal, the game started at a furious pace.
Andy Morrell fired wide,Palace won a corner before City won one at the other end, all within the first three minutes.
Early on,there seemed an air of determination amongst the City players with efforts from Hughes,McSheffrey and two from Claus Jorgensen flashing over Speroni's crossbar.
At the other end,Clayton Ince was coping well with three low drives and a corner which he punched away in the 25th minute.
Ince cut out a low Black cross and in the 33rd minute,Gary McSheffrey tried his luck from 30 yards with a shot that ran out of power as soon as it reached Speroni.
Like the industrious Andy Impey,Stephen Hughes was charging round the midfield and got back to superbly block for a 36th minute corner.
Seven minutes in the second half,Stephen Hughes burst down the right byline and centred. Unfortunately, the white kitted Speroni pounced on the low cross.
Ian Dowie gave new signing Marco Reich a debut in the 55th minute replacing Tommy Black who scored a hat-trick in the reserve game earlier in the season.
In a week where the cost of match admission has been questioned. A gate of 5341 was proof that the £15 for this game was too high. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said that clubs told they must entertain in order to bring back supporters.
But by now, the entertainment level from the Sky Blues dropped and Palace had the upper hand.
In the 63rd minute,Wayne Andrews fired just over and three minutes. Marco Reich got some space after Andy Morrell had failed to deal with the danger and fired a stunning shot from 22 yards which flew over Ince and in to the top corner of the net.
Gary McSheffrey was cautioned for showing his frustration in the 69th minute,just before James Scowcroft came on Stephen Hughes.
Dele Adebola was the second City sub used when he came on for Andy Morrell with twelve to go.
Kevin Thornton who has been the man of the match in the last two reserve games, completed the changes in the 83rd minute.
Four minutes from time,Gary McSheffrey ran into trouble once more and was criticised by some supporters.
Kevin Thornton, who many there thought should have started,faired better firing wide twice and winning a corner in a late burst.
Playing a 4-5-1 formation in a cup game was always going to be negative and whilst Adams can complain about the injuries,the attitude shown by some players in the second half was not good enough and will have to be sorted out.
HT CPFC 0-0 CCFC
FT CPFC 1-0 CCFC
ATT 5341
GOAL Reich 66
Booked McSheffrey
MOM Andy Impey, closely followed by Kevin Thornton.
TEAM
Ince,Whing,Page,Watson,Impey,Hughes (Scowcroft 70),Doyle,Jorgensen,Osbourne Thornton 83),McSheffrey,Morrell (Adebola 77) Subs Webb,Davis.
Palace
Speroni,Hudson,McAnuff (Berry 84), Riihlahti,Black (Reich 55), Butterfield,Hall,Andrews (Grabban 84), Danze,Tugwell,Fray Subs Kirably,Borrowdale.
With 400+ City supporters behind the goal in the Croydon Advertiser End behind the goal, the game started at a furious pace.
Andy Morrell fired wide,Palace won a corner before City won one at the other end, all within the first three minutes.
Early on,there seemed an air of determination amongst the City players with efforts from Hughes,McSheffrey and two from Claus Jorgensen flashing over Speroni's crossbar.
At the other end,Clayton Ince was coping well with three low drives and a corner which he punched away in the 25th minute.
Ince cut out a low Black cross and in the 33rd minute,Gary McSheffrey tried his luck from 30 yards with a shot that ran out of power as soon as it reached Speroni.
Like the industrious Andy Impey,Stephen Hughes was charging round the midfield and got back to superbly block for a 36th minute corner.
Seven minutes in the second half,Stephen Hughes burst down the right byline and centred. Unfortunately, the white kitted Speroni pounced on the low cross.
Ian Dowie gave new signing Marco Reich a debut in the 55th minute replacing Tommy Black who scored a hat-trick in the reserve game earlier in the season.
In a week where the cost of match admission has been questioned. A gate of 5341 was proof that the £15 for this game was too high. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said that clubs told they must entertain in order to bring back supporters.
But by now, the entertainment level from the Sky Blues dropped and Palace had the upper hand.
In the 63rd minute,Wayne Andrews fired just over and three minutes. Marco Reich got some space after Andy Morrell had failed to deal with the danger and fired a stunning shot from 22 yards which flew over Ince and in to the top corner of the net.
Gary McSheffrey was cautioned for showing his frustration in the 69th minute,just before James Scowcroft came on Stephen Hughes.
Dele Adebola was the second City sub used when he came on for Andy Morrell with twelve to go.
Kevin Thornton who has been the man of the match in the last two reserve games, completed the changes in the 83rd minute.
Four minutes from time,Gary McSheffrey ran into trouble once more and was criticised by some supporters.
Kevin Thornton, who many there thought should have started,faired better firing wide twice and winning a corner in a late burst.
Playing a 4-5-1 formation in a cup game was always going to be negative and whilst Adams can complain about the injuries,the attitude shown by some players in the second half was not good enough and will have to be sorted out.
HT CPFC 0-0 CCFC
FT CPFC 1-0 CCFC
ATT 5341
GOAL Reich 66
Booked McSheffrey
MOM Andy Impey, closely followed by Kevin Thornton.
TEAM
Ince,Whing,Page,Watson,Impey,Hughes (Scowcroft 70),Doyle,Jorgensen,Osbourne Thornton 83),McSheffrey,Morrell (Adebola 77) Subs Webb,Davis.
Palace
Speroni,Hudson,McAnuff (Berry 84), Riihlahti,Black (Reich 55), Butterfield,Hall,Andrews (Grabban 84), Danze,Tugwell,Fray Subs Kirably,Borrowdale.