COVENTRY CITY 2-1 IPSWICH TOWN BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Marshall,Osbourne,De Zeeuw,Turner,Borrowdale,Tabb (Thornton 50),Hughes (Ward 88),Doyle,Gray (Davis 46),Mifsud, Adebola SNU Hildreth,Simmonds
IPSWICH
Alexander,Wilnis,Wright,De Vos,Casement (Trotter 88),Walters,Garvan,Miller (Sent off 85,Haynes,Lee (Rhodes 81),Counago (Williams 70). SNU Supple,Richards
HT CCFC 1-1 ITFC FT CCFC 2-1 ITFC
GOALS Julian Gray (10),Danny Haynes (40),Dele Adebola (63)
Referee I.Williamson Booked De Zeeuw, Miller X2,Haynes,Borrowdale
Man Of The Match - Kevin Thornton took the votes for his part in changing the game. Marshall and Stephen Hughes were also nominated.
______________________________________________
STARTING FORMATION
Iain Dowie had to make changes with the injury to David McNamee and the suspension of Leon Best, so Julian Gray and Dele Adebola came in. With a flu bug going round, Dowie was forced to name a very young bench with Liam Davis,Lee Hildreth,Kevin Thornton and Donovan Simmonds all named alongside Elliott Ward.
Mifsud Adebola
Gray Doyle S.Hughes Tabb
Borrowdale Turner De Zeeuw Osbourne
Marshall
_____________________________________
CITY SUPPORT
Rarely for a home game, there was something to sing about,come the final whistle. The gate, not helped by the appearance of the Sky TV cameras and a stupid kick off time, was boosted by free tickets and a Ladies Day although I did not spot anybody crossing dressing in order to obtain cheaper admission price.
________________________________________________
WEATHER
Cold, windy and spitting with rain
___________________________________
You could have written the script, Coventry City with no home wins since Colchester in October against Ipswich, no away wins so far this far. Ipswich go and win. But no, not today as Coventry City beat Ipswich Town 2-1 at the Arena and take full points in their final game of 2007.
At the end of a week where rumours have included missing monies, Ranson to Birmingham and Keegan to Cov, it was good to get into the Arena and concentrate on the footballing product of Coventry City rather than the business side, which if you believe Alki David, is ruined by supporters and others having too much of an emotional attachment.
Over 17,100 of us with an emotional attachment cheered as the City players entered the pitch and promptly lost the toss. This sent Andy Marshall down to the Jewson Stand end where he encountered the wrath from the 1100 Ipswich followers who tend not to abide anyone who leaves them for Norwich City.
City attacked the CT Stand first and should have ahead in just over one hundred seconds when Michael Mifsud was sent clear. With only Alexander to beat, the Maltese international went for a net buster but only succeded in firing into the crowd behind the goal.
Eight minutes later and Mifsud was involved again. Dele Adebola did some great work to turn his man and clip the ball into Mifsud. City's top scorer hit a low drive which Alexander got down to block. The ball ran loose and there was Julian Gray to bang the ball into the net.
Too often City have failed to score in the first period and a goal this early on was duly celebrated. For a while, it raised the atmosphere in the ground, a couple of degrees.
But that soon died down as the visitors hit back. Ipswich had over twenty miutes of the game. Gary Borrowdale was having a torrid time as the Tractor Boys pressed down the right and started to win corners.
They might have had a 21st minute penalty but referee Mr Williamson waved away the protests after former Malaga player Pablo Counago had gone to ground.
Just after two supporters had been ejected in the CT Stand, Andy Marshall made an absolutely tremendous save to push over a header by Counago following a cross from the impressive Danny Haynes.
A corner and a Tommy Miller blocked shot ensued but in the 40th minute, the pressure from Jim Magilton's side drew them level. Andy Marshall did well to force a cross from the right onto the crossbar. However, as the ball headed towards terra firma and with Marshall or his defence nowhere, there was Danny Haynes waiting to score.
De Zeeuw then headed off the line from a corner. In the 44th minute, Mifsud then broke and decided to let fly from 23 yards. It was a lot closer than his chance at the start of the game but yet again it was off target.
Two minutes of stoppage time were added and this was enough time for Arjan De Zeeuw to be cautioned for a foul on Alexander after he had come out for a corner.
Iain Dowie must have chucked a wobbler at the break as Julian Gray, who had done little apart from score and sent over one decent cross, was replaced by Liam Davis.
The winger had only played one reserve game since coming back from injury, but seemed fit enough to cope with forty five minutes of demanding football. Now one player who has been playing for the reserves recently is Kevin Thornton and in the 50th minute, the young Irishman came on for Jay Tabb.
A huge cheer again heralded his arrival and there were more to come as Thornton went on to change the game.
Thornton ran and battled, ably assisted by the rest of the midfield who had worked out how to stop Ipswich attacking.
In the 63rd minute, he played a short ball to Liam Davis who went on a great run down the left. A quick check from the player known to his team-mates as Dwiss (blame Alan Cork for that one) saw him know that Dele Adebola was waiting on the far side of the six yard box. Davis' ball was precision itself and Adebola created himself a bit of space and slotted the ball past Alexander.
Thornton and Davis combined for a 67th minute corner. Arjan De Zeeuw was first to the flag kick and got in a header. Unfortunately, for the Dutchman and us, Northern Ireland U21 international Chris Casement was on the line to hack the ball away.
Tommy Miller was booked for a 70th minute foul and was joined there by Gary Borrowdale eight minutes later. Danny Haynes joined them for a trip on Davis and with five minutes of normal time remaining,Mr Williamson produced his first red card in seven matches this season. Tommy Miller was the man who saw yellow then red after clattering Michael Doyle.
Elliott Ward became the third substitute used by Dowie when he took over from Stephen Hughes. The centre half helped solidify City's defence and allowed the Sky Blues to hold on to record their first home victory since October 27th.