Team
Westwood,Fox,Dann,Ward,Hall (Doyle 71) ,Beuzelin,Gunnarsson,Tabb,Mifsud,Eastwood (64),Morrison (McKenzie 69)
SNU Turner,Marshall
Doncaster
Sullivan,O'Connor,Mills,Hird,Chambers,Coppinger,Stock,Wellams (Byfield 80),Hayter,Taylor (Lockwood 81),Guy (Wood 64)
SNU Heffernan,Woods,Wilson
HT DRFC 1-0 CCFC FT DRFC 1-0 CCFC
Ref R.Shoebridge
Att 11806 Goals Richard Wellams (30)
Man Of The Match Ben Turner,warmed up well as no votes were cast for any of those who played.
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CITY SUPPORT
1682 doing a new ground and made plenty of noise,early on. A lot were clearly unhappy by the final whistle.
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GROUND
A half size Ricoh Arena, tidy with reasonably good facilities. Single tier stands all the way round.
Couple of pubs and eateries within easy walking distance of the ground.
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STARTING FORM
Chris Coleman brought back Freddie Eastwood and Keiran Westwood
Matty Mills started for Doncaster.
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In 1952, Coventry City lost at Doncaster and some 56 years later,the Sky Blues were beaten by the same score.
The City support had been in good humour in the pubs and eateries close to the ground in this Yorkshire town,best known for its racecourse, before they entered the ground.
When they got into this single tier arena and the game kicked off,the mood amongst the City support behind the goal changed.
With no recognised right back,Coventry struggled to cope with Sean O'Driscoll's sides long ball tactics.
Danny Fox, whose dip in form whilst defending,has become highly noticeable, was often being bypassed by Wellens and the home right back.
Retaining the ball was also a major problem early on and one instance in the eighth minute saw Elliott Ward and then Marcus Hall have to clear a James Coppinger cross.
Slowly the Sky Blues settled. Corners were won in the 11th and 22nd minute just before Westwood had to grab after a initial error by Fox.
It was the Sky Blues who had the ball in the net in the 28th minute when Michael Mifsud,who was used in this match on the left flank, finished smartly from an Eastwood ball.
However,two minutes later,Doncaster, actually, took the lead through Richard Wellams,who smashed the ball high into the net from 25 yards after collecting a Guy pass.
The City support started to vent their spleen at what was a very poor performance from the Sky Blues.
A Scott Dann header was cleared a yard or so off the line just before a break which saw the team booed off.
After laughing at the Keep Moat Stadium announcer praising the home fans for their noise, the smile never returned to my face or the rest of the Sky Blue Army in the second half.
Michael Mifsud had a shot on the turn in the 49th minute tipped over by Neil Sullivan but that was as good as it got.
Even Aron Gunnarsson's mega throw in's failed to produce a goal to get City back in the match.
It was clear that Chris Coleman had to do something. His failure to get a right back on loan was one of the reasons for this inexcusable performance and with today's news that City will not be signing anyone before the transfer deadline, sections of the City support to my right were calling for him to ship up and sort it out or get out.
Coleman, first sent on Leon Best, then Leon McKenzie and thirdly Michael Doyle. This briefly lifted the other players with McKenzie forcing Sullivan into a save from a 76th minute Gunnarsson throw.
Michael Doyle fired wide, two minutes later as Michael Mifsud was shoved inside the area. Nothing was given but the ball was back in the Doncaster six yard box when Leon McKenzie got a touch to send a shot just past the far post.
The match was now coming to a close as a very loud chorus of "What a load of rubbish" came from the right hand section of the away end.
Then the final whistle went. Chris Coleman bolted down the tunnel, quickly followed by the rest of the players who did not even look at the City support who had spent good amounts of money to watch this drivel.
Elliott Ward was the last player off the pitch. Some in the right hand section starting gesturing at the former West Ham defender. Ward started pointing back and made gestures inviting those making the gestures to discuss the matter outside the stadium in a stand off which lasted around thirty seconds.
With it looking unlikely that any new players will brought in to soothe tempers, a fortnight's break should hopefully be long enough for this sorry tale to be put to bed before we all re-unite to take on Preston North End.