If Coventry City FC. Sisu & Otium were not aware they are in a civil war with City supporters, then they firmly do now after the Sky Blues went down to a 2-1 defeat against Sheffield United in a protest marred match.
With the Sky Blues looking to bring in a new manager (John Hartson the latest to be rumoured) and the penny still not dropping with Mark Venus that he and the rest of his Otium co-horts are no longer wanted by the support, high flying Sheffield United rolled into town for a game that was live on Sky Sports.
The televising of this game meant a window for City supporters to call for change and boy was this chance taken.
The campaign groups, one of whom organised a well supported carol concert, which for reasons known only to themselves attracted six police officers, plus others had called for all the protests to be legal but inside the ground, the mood was hostile and you knew that something was going to happen.
City fielded the most of the team that had lost at Southend on Saturday with Reece Charles-Cook deputising for the injured Lee Burge and as soon as the game started there was a tremendous crescendo of whistles and tons of Sisu Out chants, most of could have been avoided if Mark Venus had moved aside and let Nicky Eaden take the team.
Five minutes in and the game had to be stopped for a mini pitch invasion as City fans charged down the East Stand to try and get on the pitch only to prevented by the police and stewards who were out-numbered but did their best to keep everyone off the pitch.
Fans in white t shirts with each having a letter which made up Sisu Out on it, took to the top of the main stand, whilst the stewards had to go into the directors box as things got heated when those in there started a few chants.
We reached the 22nd minute when there was another hold up when balloons which were due to be released in the ninth minute to mark the nine years that Sisu Capital Limited have been in charge of the club.
All the balloons on the pitch were burst mainly by United players stamping on them and play had just restarted when BILLY SHARP was left unmarked and his low drive went into the net.
United gave it the "We Love Sisu" chants which riled up the City support who kept the match ball and then threw it on to break down a United move.
Andy Rose was putting in a decent shift but it was too easy for the visitors who were able to ping the ball round with ease.
Charles-Cook did make one good save and Andre Wright hit it on the volley, which went over from what looked a good save from where I was.
Gael Bigirimana, who again flattered to deceive, fired over and in the three minutes added, United won a corner and the Sky Blues had the same but they were losing at the break.
However, six minutes into the second half and after some of the Main Stand support had calmed down after being allowed a cigarette in the toilets as there was not enough stewards to let them go out, and the Sky Blues were level. There had been a City corner which had been cleared and seconds later, DANNY AGYEI got down the right and a lovely shop which looped over the keeper and into the net.
The goal boosted City in front of a crowd given as 8,801, although that figure does include many season ticket holders who had stayed away and were less than happy at being counted at a game they were boycotting.
Sordell had one shot at Moore as Fleck continued to give away fouls in midfield against a City side which had Agyei fire wide in the 67th minute before the loanee was replaced by George Thomas.
Lavery, who had come on for the Blades, curled wide before Lameiras came on for Wright with former City striker Leon Clarke coming on to boos and deserved abuse.
Suddenly, there were huge cheers as fans started moving round the stadium and into the North Stand. The numbers got bigger and onto the pitch they went.
Immediately, the referee took the players off the pitch with Mark Venus, who has to take much of the blame for City's recent form, was one of the first down the tunnel.
Several City players stayed on the pitch and came to no harm what so ever. This protest was not about them, it was about those running the club and getting them out as soon as possible before they completely kill the club which many fear is the only logical outcome for the club.
The protest lasted about five minutes and the United fans were not happy with one group down the front requiring the attention of the police.
However, when the game restarted, there was a scramble and Billy Sharp fired home to send City to another defeat.
