SOUTHAMPTON FC 2-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Two mistakes and nothing up front saw City go down to a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
Micky Adams named the same team that had beaten Sunderland on Sunderland. On the bench,he made changes. There was no Luke Steele,rumoured to be talking to West Brom about a move as part of a deal for the current Baggies number one who is expected to join Manchester United. So new boys Colin Cameron and Adam Virgo got the bench places with no sub keeper.
City started off brightly backed by a noisy Sky Blue support in a crowd of 21,088 and won two early corners.
In the eighth minute, Dele Adebola headed on for Stern John who raced through only for Kelvin Davis to block.
Six minutes later,a free kick, Adebola rose to nod a Hughes free kick against the far post.
Micky Adams,himself a former Saints player, said this would be a very tough game and so it proved.
George Burley's side were breaking down the Sky Blues and looking menacing on the counter attack with Bradley Wright Phillips and Grzegorz Rasiak always providing work for the highly capable Elliott Ward and the rest of the back line.
After Marcus Hall had been cautioned for a pointless free kick,the home side raised their game and dominated the last fifteen minutes of the half.
The Saints tactic of getting the ball into the penalty area and seeing what happens caused some concern amongst the City defence. Elliott Ward (voted the unanimous Man Of The Match in our car after the game) did well to clear for a 39th minute corner and then headed away another corner a minute later.
City went into the break, grateful for the half-time interval and came out to face more of the same from the home side.
The City fans continued to sing but the home fans in the ends to our left and right also found their voices and were able to lift their team.
McSheffrey and Birchall swapped wings but this had little effect.
Ward had to be alert to head a 56th minute Bradley Wright Phillips free kick off the line.
Four minutes later,the goal that the home side had threatened finally gave.
Stephen Hughes gave away an entirely preventable free kick on the hour mark in a central position,some twenty eight yards out.
Up stepped Gareth Bale who launched a stunning free kick which went over the wall and flew high into the net past the diving Andy Marshall.
Against Sunderland,City had showed the guile to get back in the game but tonight, the Sky Blues were lacking in terms of leadership and direction.
In the 67th minute, Micky Adams opted for a change and gave a debut to Adam Virgo who replaced Adebola and took over his role up front.
It was a role that Virgo had played in during his days at Brighton and although he won a number of headers in the air,he was often forced back into midfield to forage for the ball.
Marshall superbly saved another Bale free kick before Adams made a 72nd double substitution that saw Hutchison on for McSheffrey and Colin Cameron make his debut at the expense of Chris Birchall.
With nine minutes left, referee Grant Hegley awarded Southampton a penalty after Elliott Ward tangled with Rasiak. Whether it was harsh or not,was irrelevant as after Hutchison was booked for dissent. Grzegorz Rasiak stepped up and slotted home the penalty kick.
Many of an excellent turn out of City supporters headed for home. They missed Stern John poke a deflected shot inches wide of the goal when clean through in the dying seconds.
Two mistakes and nothing up front saw City go down to a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
Micky Adams named the same team that had beaten Sunderland on Sunderland. On the bench,he made changes. There was no Luke Steele,rumoured to be talking to West Brom about a move as part of a deal for the current Baggies number one who is expected to join Manchester United. So new boys Colin Cameron and Adam Virgo got the bench places with no sub keeper.
City started off brightly backed by a noisy Sky Blue support in a crowd of 21,088 and won two early corners.
In the eighth minute, Dele Adebola headed on for Stern John who raced through only for Kelvin Davis to block.
Six minutes later,a free kick, Adebola rose to nod a Hughes free kick against the far post.
Micky Adams,himself a former Saints player, said this would be a very tough game and so it proved.
George Burley's side were breaking down the Sky Blues and looking menacing on the counter attack with Bradley Wright Phillips and Grzegorz Rasiak always providing work for the highly capable Elliott Ward and the rest of the back line.
After Marcus Hall had been cautioned for a pointless free kick,the home side raised their game and dominated the last fifteen minutes of the half.
The Saints tactic of getting the ball into the penalty area and seeing what happens caused some concern amongst the City defence. Elliott Ward (voted the unanimous Man Of The Match in our car after the game) did well to clear for a 39th minute corner and then headed away another corner a minute later.
City went into the break, grateful for the half-time interval and came out to face more of the same from the home side.
The City fans continued to sing but the home fans in the ends to our left and right also found their voices and were able to lift their team.
McSheffrey and Birchall swapped wings but this had little effect.
Ward had to be alert to head a 56th minute Bradley Wright Phillips free kick off the line.
Four minutes later,the goal that the home side had threatened finally gave.
Stephen Hughes gave away an entirely preventable free kick on the hour mark in a central position,some twenty eight yards out.
Up stepped Gareth Bale who launched a stunning free kick which went over the wall and flew high into the net past the diving Andy Marshall.
Against Sunderland,City had showed the guile to get back in the game but tonight, the Sky Blues were lacking in terms of leadership and direction.
In the 67th minute, Micky Adams opted for a change and gave a debut to Adam Virgo who replaced Adebola and took over his role up front.
It was a role that Virgo had played in during his days at Brighton and although he won a number of headers in the air,he was often forced back into midfield to forage for the ball.
Marshall superbly saved another Bale free kick before Adams made a 72nd double substitution that saw Hutchison on for McSheffrey and Colin Cameron make his debut at the expense of Chris Birchall.
With nine minutes left, referee Grant Hegley awarded Southampton a penalty after Elliott Ward tangled with Rasiak. Whether it was harsh or not,was irrelevant as after Hutchison was booked for dissent. Grzegorz Rasiak stepped up and slotted home the penalty kick.
Many of an excellent turn out of City supporters headed for home. They missed Stern John poke a deflected shot inches wide of the goal when clean through in the dying seconds.
This was a miss that summed up City's performance. They did create chances but if you do not put them away you run the risk of being punished at the other end and so it proved.
HT SFC 0-0 CCFC
FT SFC 2-0 CCFC
ATT 21,088
Goals Gareth Bale (60), Grzegorz Rasiak (84).
Booked Hall,Hutchison
Team
Marshall,McNamee,Hall,Ward,Heath,Birchall, (Cameron 72),Hughes,Doyle, McSheffrey (Hutchison 72),Adebola (Virgo 68),John.
Subs Tabb,Thornton
Southampton
Davis,Ostlund,Pele,Baird,Belmadi,Viafara,Wright,Bale,(Cranie 91),Skacel (Surman 87),Rasiak,Wright-Phillips (Jones 81)
Subs Poke,Dyer
HT SFC 0-0 CCFC
FT SFC 2-0 CCFC
ATT 21,088
Goals Gareth Bale (60), Grzegorz Rasiak (84).
Booked Hall,Hutchison
Team
Marshall,McNamee,Hall,Ward,Heath,Birchall, (Cameron 72),Hughes,Doyle, McSheffrey (Hutchison 72),Adebola (Virgo 68),John.
Subs Tabb,Thornton
Southampton
Davis,Ostlund,Pele,Baird,Belmadi,Viafara,Wright,Bale,(Cranie 91),Skacel (Surman 87),Rasiak,Wright-Phillips (Jones 81)
Subs Poke,Dyer