Teams
Schmeichel,Duffy (Mifsud 46),Ward,Dann,Fox,Gray (Thornton
88),S.Hughes,Doyle,Osbourne,Simpson (Hines 72),Best.
Subs not used: Marshall, Hall
WATFORD
Lee,Shittu,Sadler,McAnuff (Stewart 82),Doyley (Demerit
86),Williamson.Kabba,Ellington (Mariappa),Bromby,Smith,O'Toole
Subs not used: Poom, John
HT WFC 1-0 CCFC
FT WFC 2-1 CCFC
Goals Nathan Ellington (6).Leon Best (59),Tommy Smith (79)
Ref D.Deadman
Booked Shittu
Att 17,118
Man Of The Match Leon Best took the votes..
_________________
STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman made two changes from the team that had drawn at
Hillsborough. Flu victim Jay Tabb missed out and Micheal Mifsud was dropped to the bench so Leon Best could start.
Former Sky Blue John Eustace missed the game through suspension.
Coleman opted to start with a 4-4-2 formation.
Best Simpson
Gray Hughes Doyle Osbourne
Fox Dann Ward Duffy
Schmeichel
________
CITY SUPPORT
The Sky Blue Army was again out in force, with the local pubs doing a
roaring trade.
Good to see a lot of our London and The Home Counties based support.
_____________
GROUND
A load of different stands put together. The main stand comprises of
three alone.
The away end is fine though, although very cramped behind the stand.
______
Coventry City went down to a 2-1 defeat at Watford.
Despite the noise from the City support, who taunted the home fans from the start, who responded by waving yellow flags. Watford went ahead inside seven minutes.
Scott Dann failed to cut out the ball on the right from Kabba and the
ball fell to Nathan Ellington on the edge of the area. He drove a daisy
cutter which beat the slow to react Schemeichel on his left hand post.
Watford continued to pressurise the City goal and in the 19th minute, a
mistake by Julian Gray, saw an incoming shot punched down by
Schmeichel. When the ball came back in, Richard Duffy made a superb headed clearance a yard off the line.
To their credit, City showed some resilliance, and started,along with the weater, srated to improve.
Leon Best worked hard up front and for the second half, he had another
line of supply in Michael Mifsud who came on at the break for Richard
Duffy.
City, attacking the end where the Sky Blue support was housed, got into
the home side. Mifsud worked hard and earned himself large amounts of space on the right flank.
Julian Gray had a poor first period but rallied after the restart. The
winger forced Richard Lee into a parry in the 53rd minute and six
minutes later, he set up the equalising goal.
The winger got the ball on the left and delivered a sublime cross for
Leon Best to head into the bottom corner and give the City support some
reward for their outlay of up to £30 to get in and for those suporters who travelled by train, having to find another way home after an electrical failure in the Rugby area.
Danny Shittu headed a Mifsud drive away from the line before Zavon
Hines was sent on.
The former QPR defender who will be remembered for his actions in
Ibiza which led to him being the first player sent off at the Ricoh Arena,
pulled down Mifsud in the 76th minute.
Now 2-1 to City would have been a fair reflection of the second half
but in the 79th minute, it was 2-1 to Watford.
A long ball was pumped forward. Danny Fox failed to keep a tight rein
on Tommy Smith and he was allowed room to slip the ball past the
advancing Schmeichel and into the far corner of the net.
Zavon Hines wasted a good chance near the end and City's poor away form
continued with a tenth defeat in twelve matches.