COVENTRY CITY 1-2 LEEDS UNITED BY KEV MONKS
A late ten minutes flourish was not enough to stop City crashing to a 2-1 home defeat by Leeds United.
With the flu virus not as bad as first feared, Peter Reid was able to name an unchanged team against his former club, whilst Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell kept former City striker Julian Joachim on the bench.
In front of a 19,084 crowd and a heavy police presence watching the 3,700 strong following of Leeds supporters, City won an eighth minute free kick after Stern John was pulled back as he was lining up to strike a twenty yarder.
Matthew Kilgallon was the miscreant and his was the first name in referee Nigel Miller's little black book. Stephen Hughes took the kick and found Dele Adebola at the far post who headed wide.
Matthew Kilgallon was the miscreant and his was the first name in referee Nigel Miller's little black book. Stephen Hughes took the kick and found Dele Adebola at the far post who headed wide.
As Julian Joachim was being abused as he warmed up in front of a Main Stand which housed Micky Adams who stayed for 75 minutes, Louis Carey was booked for a foul on David Healy who was also booked for a rash challenge on Michael Doyle.
Leeds first chance of the game came in the 19th minute when a cross from the left found Aaron Lennon at the far post. It looked like he must score. However, the pacy winger leant back and blasted high into the West Terrace.
The visitors continued to press with a combination of Carey and Steele blocking the first corner of the game in the 20th minute and two more corners followed four minutes later.
There had been tackles aplenty flying in and one in the 26th minute received by Eddy Johnson who was nursing a bruised toe,was enough to see the loanee from Manchester United limp off and be replaced by Graham Barrett.
The change came in the middle of two corners to the visitors who might have had a penalty if Mr Miller had thought the ball hitting Adie Williams arms was in any way deliberate.
When the kick came in, Clark Carlisle nodded the ball down,Richard Shaw was unable to get a foot to the ball and it fell for Leicester reject Nathan Blake to bang high into the net from five yards.
Blake raced over to the Leeds supporters camped in the Sky Blue stand lower tier and was promptly cautioned for his celebration.
As the police made their way into the away section to take out one Leeds supporter who clearly did not want to go, Lennon got over a superb cross which Louis Carey did well to clear.
In the 34th minute,Nathan Blake was lucky he was still on the pitch after complaining to the referee after the treatment he was receiving from Adie Williams.
Mr Miller had already given the visitors a free kick. Steele came out and missed the ball but thankfully Dele Adebola was behind him to clear the lines. When the ball came back in, Steele made amends with a lovely flying punch as he raced out.
That was the last we saw of the rejuvenated Nigerian as he was replaced at half-time by Neil Wood.
Leeds started the half wining an early corner before Danny Pugh and Kilgallon tried to sandwich Gary McSheffrey as he looked for a way through. McSheffrey fell to the ground. Stern John,Barrett and Hughes went to the referee who waved away the appeals.
A few short chants of "Reid Out" were heard in WT6 and WT3 but were drowned out as Mr Miller gave City a 55th minute corner some twenty yards out. Graham Barrett took the kick and sent the ball a foot over the bar.
Leeds have similar problems to the Sky Blues in that they have had one takeover bid flop due to a lack of cash as well as large debts,were equally as eager to join in chants of "Sack The Board" as some of the City supporters
On the hour mark,City had their best chance of the game when a lovely through ball from Neil Wood found Gary McSheffrey who tried to slip the ball past Leeds keeper Neil Sullivan, only for the Scot to save with his legs. Stern John was first to the loose ball but could only fire wide from six yards.
Just as the songs emanating out of the West Terrace were turning positive,Leeds went further ahead. A 64th minute throw-in by Stuart Giddings was cleared by Lennon upfield to David Healy. The pacy Northern Ireland international cut inside before drilling a low effort into the bottom left hand corner of Luke Steele's goal.
The disproval from the City supporters sick and tired of poor performances from a team whose players are not intrinsically bad players grew ever louder,certainly in the West Terrace where I was.
Reid made his third and final change of the game in the 68th minute when Steve Staunton came on for Stuart Giddings.
Leeds still looked dangerous and in the 73rd minute, Blake skipped past Carey and fired a long ranger onto the roof of the net.
City were also looking likely to score and three minutes later, good work by Barrett played in Michael Doyle. However, the Irishman could not find the power to beat Sullivan from eight yards as the Scot got down to save.
In the 78th minute, loud boos echoed around the ground as City, Leicester and Villa reject Julian Joachim replaced Robbie Blake.
Anyone who thought that the introduction of the injury prone forward might deflect some of the abuse away from the City manager was wrong as the Sky Blue and East Stands launched into a very loud "Reid Out" chant.
With ten minutes left, Leeds had Clark Carlisle cautioned for what was a needless challenge and the resulting free kick eventually led to a corner. Michael Doyle took the kick and sent the ball deep into the six yard box. Stern John swung and missed but Gary McSheffrey was on hand to lash the ball into the net from five yards.
The mood lifted and City's chances of getting a draw were raised even further when Carlisle elbowed Stern John as he tried to pass the defender. Mr Miller was straight over and flashed first a yellow and then a red card in the face of the centre half.
The free kick led to another City corner was knocked down by Adie Williams who was now playing in attack. Richard Shaw who had also come up for the corner, tried to connect with an over head kick but missed and the chances was temporarily cleared.
In the 86th minute,Williams played in Hughes for a shot which was deflected for a corner. Richard Shaw was up for it again but collided with Stern John as he went for the ball and the ball went out for a goal kick.
Time was now deep into the four minutes added on, City attacked through Staunton on the left who centred for Graham Barrett to get in a far post diving header which Sullivan flung himself at to save.
That was the last of the action and another defeat was accrued.
HT CCFC 0-1 LUFC FT CCFC 1-2 LUFC
ATT 19,084
GOALS - Nathan Blake (27)
David Healy (64)
Gary McSheffrey (81)
Booked Kilgallon,Carey,Healy,Blake,
Sent Off Carlisle (two yellows)
Man Of the Match - Gary McSheffrey won the votes ahead of Richard Shaw
TEAM
Steele,Carey,Williams,Shaw,Giddings (Staunton 68),Doyle,Hughes,Johnson (Barrett 28),Adebola (Wood 46),John.McSheffrey.SNU Shearer,Osbourne