COVENTRY CITY 1-3 CREWE ALEXANDRA
City: Burge, Phillips (Odelusi 63) Johnson, Pennington (Martin 46), Stokes, Fleck, Ward, O'Brien, Barton (Maddison 46), Proschwitz, Nouble. Subs: Charles-Cook, Haynes Jackson, Tudgay.
Crewe: Rachubka, Guthrie, Davis (Stewart 50), Ray, Turton, Delle Valle, Jones, Leigh, Haber, Colclough (Nolan 79) Grant. Subs: Barrett, Inmane, Baillie, Ikpeazu, Ajose.
HT CCFC 0-2 CAFC
FT CCFC 1-3 CAFC
ATT 13,983
Goals Lauri Dalla Valle 22, Ryan Colclough 35, Marcus Haber 73, Nick Proschwitz 84
Referee C.Sarginson
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Coventry City have it all to do after losing their final home game of the season against Crewe with a gutless, spineless and totally unacceptable performance
So here we are two games of the season left and Coventry City are still need a result to avoid relegation.
City took on Crewe Alexander, who are not safe themselves, knowing that two losses in their final two matches and two wins for either Notts County and Leyton Orient would see them go down.
So plan A against a Crewe side, whom City helped to stay in the Championship ten years ago was not to get beat.
In front of a crowd, the size of which City will need every home game in order to be competitive next season under their self-sufficiency plans,
Tony Mowbray named a side which was without Jordan Willis.
Again Aaron Phillips came in at right back for a City team which attacked the North Stand for the first half, after a minute's silence to remember those who had perished in the fire at Bradford City thirty years ago.
Phillips was involved early with a cross which led to a seventh minute throw. Stokes' thrown found Fleck who curled over a shot that Paul Rachubka grabbed on the line or over it as some of those in the North Stand thought.
Barton fired wide from the edge of the area and O'Brien did the same in the tenth minute.
A minute later and Barton headed on for O'Brien at the far post, only for Rachubka to brilliantly block.
Proschwitz got through but fired wide as Tony Mowbray, today in a shirt and tie paced about in the dug-out.
In the 21st minute, Stokes sent a cross over, Proschwitz jumped and the danger was cleared up field by Leigh.
The ball came over and there was Lauri Dalla Valle to give Crewe the lead, delighting the away support who let off a red flare.
In the 35th minute, Crewe had a free kick. The ball came over and Ryan Colclough had time and space to score from inside the area.
Dalla Valle clipped the bar with a cross, Nouble sent a thirty yarder wide and O'Brien volleyed over but again City were not playing to their potential in front of a bigger than usual and it was surprise that they were booed off at the break.
A number of City supporters walked out of the ground at half time, not wishing to put up with any more of this dross and missed Adam Barton and Matt Pennington replaced for the second half by James Maddison, who has been attracting a number of scouts to matches and Arron Martin.
O'Brien who took the City supporters club's Player Of The Year awards, blasted over in the 48th minute, before Crewe were forced to replace Harry Davis who had taken a knock.
Nouble hit the side netting as those under the scoreboard did their best to make some noise.
O'Brien fired over the bar again with another shot from outside the area, something which looked to be City best hope.
Fleck did it and won a corner in the 59th minute before Samni Odelusi came on for Aaron Phillips, and there was an ejection from the away end which had an official figure of 1,126.
City went three at the back and three up front and Fleck won another corner but that too was easily cleared.
Crewe won two corners with twenty minutes left. The second flag kick
by James Jones had to punched off his line by Lee Burge.
Nouble had a shot pushed away for a 72nd minute corner but City failed to do anything with it other than let Crewe attack down the right and get over a cross which Marcus Haber at the back stick was able to head in.
Some more took that as their queue to leave. Like most of the support, they had seen too much of a performance which had seen the City players give the opposition to stroll round taking as much time as they wanted.
As Crewe warmed up former City loanee James Baillee and Liam Nolan, Reda Johnson conceded a free kick that ended up over the bar.
City won a corner in the 79th minute and in the 84th minute, they pulled a goal back when Nick Proschwitz was left totally unmarked to head in.
There was no celebration from the City fans or the players who had six minutes plus the six added on,to try and get something.
Nouble and Maddison had chances, but Crewe were too clever and saw out the time to send City to defeat.
City had planned to do a lap of appreciation for the fans who have needed the patience of Jobe to tolerate some of the dross that has been served up since City moved back to the Ricoh but it was cancelled as most City supporters had left, with some probably never to return.