COVENTRY CITY 1-1 HULL CITY
SAT DEC 10TH AT The Ricoh Arena, Coventry
City: Murphy, Keogh, Cranie, Wood (Christie 78), Cameron, Baker, Gardner, Thomas, McSheffrey (Bigirimana 66), Jutkiewicz, McDonald (Platt 46). SNU Dunn, Bell.
Hull: Gulacsi, Rosenior, Dawson, McKenna, Chester, Hobbs, Stewart (Garcia 77), Evans (Dudgeon 67), McLean, Koren, Fryatt. SNU Bassio, Cairney, McShane.
HT CCFC 0-0 HCFC FT CCFC 0-1 HCFC ATT 12 652
Referee Paul Tierney. Assts Geoff Law and David Naylor.
Booked – Gardner,
Goals – Corey Evans 59
Man Of The Match – Nathan Cameron took the votes with nominations for Keogh, Cranie, Jutkiewicz and Bigirimana.
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CITY SUPPORT: A lot less than 12,652 officially announced. There were a lot of school tickets especially in the CT Stand, which boosted the crowd. Nearly all the songs sung were SISU Out ones and it is blatantly obvious that City supporters are not happy with those running the club.
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CITY TEAM NEWS
Andy Thorn had the services of Gary Gardner after the loanee over-came an ear infection. With Sammy Clingan now being reported as injured, Gary McSheffrey replaced him with Cody McDonald getting an outing up front in place of Clive Platt.
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The pathetic shell of a club after years of abuse, gross neglect and mishandling that is Coventry City at the moment, remains firmly at the bottom of the Championship table following a 1-0 home defeat to Hull City.
With Andy Thorn, who had ‘Director Of Soccer’ to coin Deputy Chairman’s John Clarke’s phrase, Ken Dulieu, a man who has not even played at Sunday League level, scandalously with him on the bench, not having the bottle to listen to the supporters, some of whom have many more qualifications in the game than him, and drop keeper Joe Murphy after his string of howlers which have cost the Sky Blues a good number of points including last week’s defeat at Portsmouth, City took to the field on a bitter afternoon against a Hull side in something of a purple patch.
Thorn, along with Steve Harrison who is now receiving criticism for his tactical nous from some supporters, sent out a team, which seemed to lack any desire or will to win.
Richard Wood and Lukas Jutkiewicz who both tried were nothing more than square pegs in round holes along with Carl Baker who was struggling in his central midfield role.
There were hoots of derision from the City supporters everytime that Joe Murphy caught a ball and some applause when McSheffrey, who also struggled to find any real width, had City’s first shot on target at Peter Gulacsi. However, in the tenth minute, the mood changed when “SISU Out” banners started appearing in all three stands containing City supporters and “SISU Out” chants were sung by much of the home support including those on schools tickets who thought this was part of the atmosphere.
Hull, whose supporters were treated like international criminals and heavily searched on entry to the ground as part of security tests for the Olympic matches next year, were happy to play the waiting game. They played short balls and picked out their players well and this occurred in the 25th minute when Cameron Stewart, who was keen to display his love of step-overs ala Leigh Jenkinson, hit a low drive which Murphy dived to his left to push away.
After Carl Baker had a shot on target, referee Paul Tierney did well to ignore the protests and pushing and shoving from Hull players and only booked Gary Gardner for a 31st minute lunge.
Four minutes later and City created their best change of the game when a deep cross from Conor Thomas went to the far post and had to be scrambled off the line after Wood headed against the post.
The half ended with Robert Koren who has seen World Cup action, having two efforts and the City support less than happy with an insipid first half.
Cody McDonald, who had two passes and a header, came out for the second half but signalled to the bench and was replaced before the second half started by Clive Platt.
Talking of changes, there was another in the 56th minute after Stewart had shown that he probably should have taken Robbie Savage’s place in Strictly Come Dancing when he danced through before curling wide, when the assistant referee on the Tescos Stand side limped off and was replaced by fourth official Mr Blackledge.
Then in the 59th minute, a good move set up the unmarked Corey Evans and his powerful drive flew into the net to delight the 884 travelling supporters.
Gardner and Thomas had efforts on goal before Gael Bigirimana was sent on for Gary McSheffrey. The Burundi born midfielder started to breathe some life into the City team, which badly needed some new impetus.
James Chester was forced to clear away after Gulasci had blocked from Jutkiewicz who then headed a Bigirimana cross over.
Cyrus Christie became the third City substitute and in the 89th minute, he cut inside only to fire narrowly wide.
Four minutes of time was added on and although a cross went wide of the far post, City did not look like scoring and were deservedly booed off on the final whistle.