SWINDON TOWN 2-2 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy; Clarke, Wood (Edjenguele 65), Cameron, Reckord; Baker, Bailey, Moussa, Fleck (Hussey 72); Ball, McGoldrick. Subs: Dunn, Jennings, Elliott, Christie, C.Henderson
Swindon: Foderingham; Thompson, Flint, Ward, McEveley; Ritchie (Navarro 63), Ferry, Miller, Roberts; Bostock (Rooney 51), Benson (Collins 58). Subs: Bedwell, Archibald-Henville, Bessone, De Vita.
HT STFC 0-2 CCFC FT STFC 2-2 CCFC ATT 9808
Goals David McGoldrick 12,37, Gary Roberts, James Collins 79
Referee L.Collins
Booked Murphy, McEveley, Thompson, Ball, Flint, Collins, Roberts, Moussa.
Man Of The Match David McGoldrick with a nomination for Wood
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Team News City fielded an unchanged team. Swindon had three changes.
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Weather. A sunny autumn day, few showers.
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Two lapses in concentration saw Coventry City throw away a win at Swindon Town and have to settle for a 2-2 draw in a very hard fought game.
Our first visit to the County Ground for a league game since both sides met in a Premier League fixture in 1993\1994, prompted a good turn out of around a thousand City supporters, despite the extortionate £25 admission prices.
City travelled with an 85% results record after a four goal away win and Sky Blues boss Mark Robins who had been involved in a mutual bit of back slapping with the charismatic Paulo Di Canio, named an unchanged side.
Who decided on a sit anywhere policy for the City support, in the main stand at the County Ground, who abusing Di Canio at any opportunity, after telling them to sit in their seats, wants their head looking at as it was still causing problems by the time, Swindon with Cov Kid James Collins on the bench, went too close with an early header from Matt Richie that hit the post.
In the 11th minute, a foul gave City a free kick. John Fleck took the kick and David McGoldrick brilliantly headed in to give the Sky Blues the lead.
The chants for McGoldrick, who scores when he wants, to be signed up were aired before Di Canio incensed the City support catching a ball that had not gone out of play.
John Fleck sent a 20 yarder in to the side netting, Bostock had a chance at the other end before a bit of skill from McGoldrick again had the City fans singing his name.
And in the 37th minute, the City fans were going mad when McGoldrick scored with a deflected shot following a corner.
Murphy saved at the other end and McEveley and Thompson joined Joe Murphy in the book as a great first half which had the likes of Moussa bossing the midfield and Nathan Cameron controlling the defence, came to an end.
Three minutes into the second half and Callum Ball missed a great chance in the 48th minute, to give City a third goal when he fired wide after a Moussa shot had been blocked.
Di Canio brought on Adam Rooney who had played against City for Birmingham in the League Cup as the home fans berated the referee Lee Collins for only cautioning Callum Ball for an off the ball shove.
In the 58th minute, James Collins was booed as he came on for Benson.
The rain started again as the referee missed Richard Wood go to ground with a bang on his nose, adding to his already black eyes, from a stray arm. The injury was enough to force Wood off and on came William Edjenguele and three minutes later, three minutes later, Mr Collins was missing again as John Fleck was knocked out in what looked to be an act of retaliation for his part In the drama that led to earlier caution of Callum Ball. Paramedics came on and as did a stretcher which Fleck was carried off and taken to hospital with a suspected fractured skull.
This deeply unsettled the City side who had Chris Hussey involved in the action and Swindon came at City. Collins had a goal ruled out and Murphy pushed a shot over for a corner.
Then, Swindon got another corner in the 77th minute and Gary Roberts swept in to set up a grandstand finish.
Swindon stayed with eleven players after the referee bottled out off giving McEveley another yellow card for a foul on Baker. The Robins won a corner and there was James Collins, who scored right footed from six yards before running over and giving it the biggie to the City fans, making a gesture and removing his shirt.
Six minutes of stoppage time were played by a City team, whose defending had gone to pot against a Robins side, which also had a player stretchered off after a collision with Nathan Cameron and the Sky Blues could only take a point from the game. Whilst it was the point many of us would have taken before kick off, it still felt like a case of City being denied a win.