LEEDS UNITED 3-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Justice and Coventry City are rarely bedfellows and probably the best City away performance of the season failed to see City get the win they deserved from a trip to Leeds United.
On a cold Boxing Day and on a ground where Micky Adams had played some of his football after leaving Highfield Road during our last successful season, the City boss kept the same team that had won at Queens Park Rangers.
In my match preview,I'd mentioned the Gestapo-like stewards that plague any trip to Elland Road and the local stewards were in fine form led by a Chuckle Brothers look-alike and a Burberry scarf wearing security officer, making lives a misery for a number of the excellent 800+ City support.
City started well winning an early corner before a fifth Richard Duffy cross from the left saw Dele Adebola rise to nod onto the far post.
Robert Page and Richard Shaw looked solid against Leeds main threat of David Healy and it was the Sky Blues who were taking the game to a Leeds side in front of their biggest gate of the season of only 24,291 mainly due to Ken Bates thinking that £35 down the sides and £25 behind the goals is a fair price to charge.
In the 25th minute, Don Hutchison who had played at Elland Road once already this season with Millwall, was booked for a trip on the edge of his own area which gave Healy an opportunity to fire wide from the resulting free kick.
With the part time fans in the end normally given to away supporters who take more than 1700 to our left continually "giving it the biggee",one City fan was dragged downstairs and given a grilling by the stewards. No crime could be placed on this individual and he was allowed back in the seated area for City supporters in the South East corner of the ground.
Don Hutchison hit a right footed volley from eighteen yards that Sullivan in the Leeds goal got down to save on the half hour mark. Then against the run of play,Leeds took a 33rd minute lead. The ball was swept over for Jonathan Douglas to stroke into the net from close range.
Four minutes later,the former Wimbledon keeper was making another diving save this time to force a McSheffrey round for a corner. McSheffrey took the flag kick,Robert Page got a header in as did Andy Whing but again it was Sullivan to the rescue.
Andy Morrell had swapped wings with McSheffrey in order to become less of a spectator and get involved in the game. On the stroke of half-time,he slammed the far post with a twenty yard effort and bounced back into play. Andy Whing got his head to the loose ball but his header grazed the crossbar as it went over.
Micky Adams side did not deserve to be behind and in the 58th minute,they were level.
Don Hutchison was on the left flank in front of the Main Stand,he looked up and sent an absolutely superb volley from thirty five yards high into the net. If it was scored by a Chelsea or Manchester United player,the media would have been ramming it down our throats for the rest of the season, such was its brilliance,but we are Coventry City so expect the briefest of glimpses.
Unfortunately,whilst we were still celebrating this wonder goal,Leeds went back in front,when Healy got down the right flank and crossed to where Robbie Blake was waiting to rifle the ball into the net.
Robert Page had a header cleared off the line before Micky Adams replaced first Andy Morrell and secondly Isaac Osbourne who in my opinion had done enough to have stayed on the pitch ahead of Michael Doyle.
It was the Irishman who was at fault when Leeds added a third in the 79th minute. Doyle lost possession,the home side broke,Richard Shaw back off and Richard Cresswell was on hand to ram the ball past the well beaten Marton Fulop.
Back came City at the Don Revie end. My view was blocked by the Chuckle Brother whose constant wandering up and down in the upper tier in front of the City fans was causing more problems than his actions solved,but referee Mr Webster saw a City player which look like McSheffrey brought down and awarded a 81st minute penalty.
Gary McSheffrey took the kick but slammed the ball firmly against the crossbar.
Dele Adebola,who for the second match running failed to display his early season form,not keeping possession when we needed him to was substituted six minutes from the end of normal time.
Michael Doyle wasted two good chances at the end but it was the City fans who were on their feet on the final whistle applauding the effort of their team who did not get the result their performance deserved.
HT LUFC 1-0 CCFC
FT LUFC 3-1 CCFC
Att 24 291
Goals Jonathan Douglas (33),Don Hutchison (58),Robbie Blake (60). Richard Cresswell (79)
Booked Hutchison,Derry,Sullivan,McSheffrey
Team
Fulop,Whing,Page,Shaw,Duffy,Doyle,Adebola (Impey 84),McSheffrey,Morrell (Jorgensen 72),Osbourne (Scowcroft 78),Hutchison Subs Ince,Heath.
Leeds
Sullivan,Kelly,Butler,Healy (Richardson 90),Lewis,Douglas,Derry,Harding,Cresswell,Kilgallon,Blake (Hulse 80) SNU Bennett,Wright,Pugh
Justice and Coventry City are rarely bedfellows and probably the best City away performance of the season failed to see City get the win they deserved from a trip to Leeds United.
On a cold Boxing Day and on a ground where Micky Adams had played some of his football after leaving Highfield Road during our last successful season, the City boss kept the same team that had won at Queens Park Rangers.
In my match preview,I'd mentioned the Gestapo-like stewards that plague any trip to Elland Road and the local stewards were in fine form led by a Chuckle Brothers look-alike and a Burberry scarf wearing security officer, making lives a misery for a number of the excellent 800+ City support.
City started well winning an early corner before a fifth Richard Duffy cross from the left saw Dele Adebola rise to nod onto the far post.
Robert Page and Richard Shaw looked solid against Leeds main threat of David Healy and it was the Sky Blues who were taking the game to a Leeds side in front of their biggest gate of the season of only 24,291 mainly due to Ken Bates thinking that £35 down the sides and £25 behind the goals is a fair price to charge.
In the 25th minute, Don Hutchison who had played at Elland Road once already this season with Millwall, was booked for a trip on the edge of his own area which gave Healy an opportunity to fire wide from the resulting free kick.
With the part time fans in the end normally given to away supporters who take more than 1700 to our left continually "giving it the biggee",one City fan was dragged downstairs and given a grilling by the stewards. No crime could be placed on this individual and he was allowed back in the seated area for City supporters in the South East corner of the ground.
Don Hutchison hit a right footed volley from eighteen yards that Sullivan in the Leeds goal got down to save on the half hour mark. Then against the run of play,Leeds took a 33rd minute lead. The ball was swept over for Jonathan Douglas to stroke into the net from close range.
Four minutes later,the former Wimbledon keeper was making another diving save this time to force a McSheffrey round for a corner. McSheffrey took the flag kick,Robert Page got a header in as did Andy Whing but again it was Sullivan to the rescue.
Andy Morrell had swapped wings with McSheffrey in order to become less of a spectator and get involved in the game. On the stroke of half-time,he slammed the far post with a twenty yard effort and bounced back into play. Andy Whing got his head to the loose ball but his header grazed the crossbar as it went over.
Micky Adams side did not deserve to be behind and in the 58th minute,they were level.
Don Hutchison was on the left flank in front of the Main Stand,he looked up and sent an absolutely superb volley from thirty five yards high into the net. If it was scored by a Chelsea or Manchester United player,the media would have been ramming it down our throats for the rest of the season, such was its brilliance,but we are Coventry City so expect the briefest of glimpses.
Unfortunately,whilst we were still celebrating this wonder goal,Leeds went back in front,when Healy got down the right flank and crossed to where Robbie Blake was waiting to rifle the ball into the net.
Robert Page had a header cleared off the line before Micky Adams replaced first Andy Morrell and secondly Isaac Osbourne who in my opinion had done enough to have stayed on the pitch ahead of Michael Doyle.
It was the Irishman who was at fault when Leeds added a third in the 79th minute. Doyle lost possession,the home side broke,Richard Shaw back off and Richard Cresswell was on hand to ram the ball past the well beaten Marton Fulop.
Back came City at the Don Revie end. My view was blocked by the Chuckle Brother whose constant wandering up and down in the upper tier in front of the City fans was causing more problems than his actions solved,but referee Mr Webster saw a City player which look like McSheffrey brought down and awarded a 81st minute penalty.
Gary McSheffrey took the kick but slammed the ball firmly against the crossbar.
Dele Adebola,who for the second match running failed to display his early season form,not keeping possession when we needed him to was substituted six minutes from the end of normal time.
Michael Doyle wasted two good chances at the end but it was the City fans who were on their feet on the final whistle applauding the effort of their team who did not get the result their performance deserved.
HT LUFC 1-0 CCFC
FT LUFC 3-1 CCFC
Att 24 291
Goals Jonathan Douglas (33),Don Hutchison (58),Robbie Blake (60). Richard Cresswell (79)
Booked Hutchison,Derry,Sullivan,McSheffrey
Team
Fulop,Whing,Page,Shaw,Duffy,Doyle,Adebola (Impey 84),McSheffrey,Morrell (Jorgensen 72),Osbourne (Scowcroft 78),Hutchison Subs Ince,Heath.
Leeds
Sullivan,Kelly,Butler,Healy (Richardson 90),Lewis,Douglas,Derry,Harding,Cresswell,Kilgallon,Blake (Hulse 80) SNU Bennett,Wright,Pugh