COVENTRY CITY 1-0 BURNLEY BY KEV MONKS
If Coventry City could put away their chances then this would have been the Sky Blues biggest home win of the season,however one goal was enough to beat Burnley.
"More of the same" had been the message by Burnley boss Steve Cotterill to his charges as they arrived at the Arena in sixth place. It was one echoed by Micky Adams whose side were unbeaten in four matches.
The Coventry boss named a side that saw a recall for Stern John and Clive Clarke switching back to left back due to Marcus Hall being suspended.
The opening exchanges were lively, with the Sky Blues attacking the Jewson Stand,winning an early corner.
Andy Marshall was again in fine form,superbly blocking with his feet from a Steve Jones effort in the sixth minute.
Again,the Ricoh Arena which will officially be opened on Saturday February 24th, was not well attended with only 18,362 in the ground but in the 28th minute,it was the City fans on their feet when Stern John flicked on for Dele Adebola who was shoved over.
The industrious Colin Cameron in his best game in a City shirt, stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick and City were ahead.
Three attacks from the visitors were well defended before Marshall got down to a Lafferty right footer from sixteen yards.
Right from the outset of the second half, City pushed forward.
Dele Adebola and Leon McKenzie ran at the visitors whilst Darren Currie went close with a 52nd minute curler and then had a free kick which earned McCann a caution saved.
The livewire that is Leon McKenzie was a handful all afternoon. In the 56th minute,he curled the ball onto the crossbar from the edge of the area before rising to head over.
City were playing some of their best football in a home game for a while but were not putting the ball in the net.
A fine example of this came in the 65th minute when some lovely skill by McKenzie kept the ball in play only for the former Norwich striker to blast over.
If Coventry City could put away their chances then this would have been the Sky Blues biggest home win of the season,however one goal was enough to beat Burnley.
"More of the same" had been the message by Burnley boss Steve Cotterill to his charges as they arrived at the Arena in sixth place. It was one echoed by Micky Adams whose side were unbeaten in four matches.
The Coventry boss named a side that saw a recall for Stern John and Clive Clarke switching back to left back due to Marcus Hall being suspended.
The opening exchanges were lively, with the Sky Blues attacking the Jewson Stand,winning an early corner.
Andy Marshall was again in fine form,superbly blocking with his feet from a Steve Jones effort in the sixth minute.
Again,the Ricoh Arena which will officially be opened on Saturday February 24th, was not well attended with only 18,362 in the ground but in the 28th minute,it was the City fans on their feet when Stern John flicked on for Dele Adebola who was shoved over.
The industrious Colin Cameron in his best game in a City shirt, stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick and City were ahead.
Three attacks from the visitors were well defended before Marshall got down to a Lafferty right footer from sixteen yards.
Right from the outset of the second half, City pushed forward.
Dele Adebola and Leon McKenzie ran at the visitors whilst Darren Currie went close with a 52nd minute curler and then had a free kick which earned McCann a caution saved.
The livewire that is Leon McKenzie was a handful all afternoon. In the 56th minute,he curled the ball onto the crossbar from the edge of the area before rising to head over.
City were playing some of their best football in a home game for a while but were not putting the ball in the net.
A fine example of this came in the 65th minute when some lovely skill by McKenzie kept the ball in play only for the former Norwich striker to blast over.
Back in the side, Stern John did not have many chances but he sent his best one wide two minutes after McKenzie's effort.
In the 78th minute,City won a corner. Robert Page rose to head the ball but Kyle Lafferty was on the line to clear.
Seven minutes from time, Reserve team star Stephen Hughes made a cameo appearance.
What his future is, time will tell but if City can continue to play like this,then who knows what 2007 will bring.
HT CCFC 1-0 BFC
FT CCFC 1-0 BFC
ATT 18,362
Goal Colin Cameron (29 pen).
Booked O'Connor,McCann,Harley,McKenzie
Team
Marshall,Duffy,Page,Ward,Cameron,Doyle,Clarke,Adebola,McKenzie (Kyle 90),John,Currie (Hughes 83)
Subs Virgo,Bischoff,Birchall.
Burnley
Coyne,Thomas,Harley,McGreal,Duff,O'Connor (Mahon 78),Jones (Foster 90),Elliott (Branch 75),Lafferty,Noel-Williams,McCann
Subs Sinclair,Hyde
In the 78th minute,City won a corner. Robert Page rose to head the ball but Kyle Lafferty was on the line to clear.
Seven minutes from time, Reserve team star Stephen Hughes made a cameo appearance.
What his future is, time will tell but if City can continue to play like this,then who knows what 2007 will bring.
HT CCFC 1-0 BFC
FT CCFC 1-0 BFC
ATT 18,362
Goal Colin Cameron (29 pen).
Booked O'Connor,McCann,Harley,McKenzie
Team
Marshall,Duffy,Page,Ward,Cameron,Doyle,Clarke,Adebola,McKenzie (Kyle 90),John,Currie (Hughes 83)
Subs Virgo,Bischoff,Birchall.
Burnley
Coyne,Thomas,Harley,McGreal,Duff,O'Connor (Mahon 78),Jones (Foster 90),Elliott (Branch 75),Lafferty,Noel-Williams,McCann
Subs Sinclair,Hyde