COVENTRY CITY 1-2 SWINDON TOWN
City: Murphy, Christie, Webster, Clarke, Willis, Baker (McGeough 70), Thomas, Prutton, Fleck, Delfouneso,(Eccleston 68) Wilson. Subs: Burge, Adams, Seaborne, Marshall, Robinson
Swindon: Foderingham, Thompson, Byrne, Luongo, Pritchard, McEveley, Smith, Branco, Galdwin (Storey 87), Stephens, Archibald-Henville. Subs Belford, Harley, Walden, Barthram, Cox, Baker
HT CCFC 1-1 STFC FT CCFC 1-2 STFC Att 3091
Goals Alex Pritchard 8, John Fleck 42, Michael Smith 93
Referee C. Sarginson Booked McEveley, Clarke
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Coventry City went down to a late defeat in a Good Friday game against Swindon Town.
One year ago, Coventry City played their last game at the Ricoh Arena. A year on and still there seems no sign of the stalemate abating even if the Judicial Review on June 10th in Birmingham does bring a result and those still bothering with the club are having to make trips down the M1 to the currently outdated hovel that is Sixfields, rather than being able to see the team play in the city which bears its name.
Those staying away from City 'home' matches, or not contributing to the club's finances are not immune to the criticism which has been flying around of late, with what has been seen by some as sly digs in some sections of the media, inferring that their non-attendance has brought about a budget cut for the manager, who will have to bring in more desire and passion lacking loanees, on a restricted budget, south of the one he has had this season.
Losing players like Leon Clarke whose ability to hold up the ball, whilst bagging a few goals, meant that City went into this game at Sixfields on a day which is not a Bank Holiday in Coventry, needing a win to preserve their League One status.
Steven Pressley changed his team from the side which lost to Peterborough and brought Nathan Delfounseo into the attack with Callum Wilson. Conor Thomas who has been putting in extra training this week also returned after a spell of absence.
On a cloudy but windy afternoon, Swindon attacking the North Stand which is being closed next season much to the disgust of those who use this end, were straight on the attack. The Robins won a corner in the first minute and then Michael Smith was allowed to get in a free header from five yards which Murphy pushed over for the first of two more corners.
Wilson blasted over but in the eighth minute, the City defence were ball watching and Alex Pritchard had all the time he want to drill a low shot past Murphy and low into the net.
The City supporters in both stands and the twenty or so in the hill including Gary Hoffman, who were flanked by four police officers watched in silence, listening to the taunts from the 1,092 Swindon fans who had behind the goal and a quarter of the East Stand, which will be developed as part of the much needed redevelopment plans for Sixfields, which are being undertaken by County Builders.
An eighteenth minute City corner came to nothing and was followed by Pritchard going down like he had been shot under a challenge from Christie which brought the Swindon bench into the technical area.
Steven Pressley who had donned a coat over his red t-shirt, was scribbling away before the Robins won a 26th minute corner which Christie cleared. Another followed two minutes later as did one in the 31st minute.
Conor Thomas worked well in a midfield which had Baker just behind the front two, with David Prutton. However, some of City's passing was appalling and as those on the Hill had a 'Why' protest, the crowd, which was bigger due to the Football League initiative "Kids For A Quid Day" let their feelings be known.
Murphy brilliantly pushed away a Luongo shot for a 38th minute corner which was cleared in a game where City needed a spark to get them back in the game and it came in the shape of John Fleck who got the ball twenty yards out and sent a lovely shot past Foderingham in to the bottom of the net.
Delfounseo wasted a good chance when he sent the ball wide in stoppage time but to go in not losing at the break was acceptable.
Four minutes into the second half, Wilson won a free kick on the edge of the area and McEveley was booked for squaring up to him. That was cleared by a Swindon side which had Pritchard, who was booed by some in the Main Stand, doing most of the play making.
Pritchard's team mate Michael Smith, who for me, had a fine game, fired wide in the 55th minute after Delfounseo had lost possession. Swindon attacked again with a great ball to Byrne who got past Willis before being stopped by Webster.
Pressley went for two changes with Nathan Eccleston and Dylan McGeough coming on for the last twenty minutes, taking off Delfounseo and surprisingly Carl Baker, who had worked hard.
Pritchard and Christie fired wide and Jordan Willis made a cracking tackle whilst McGeough, who had scored for City U21's was certainly lively.
Eccleston wasted three more chances and one that saw the Sky Blues go down to defeat when Michael Smith headed home in the 92nd minute after Willis allowed his marker to get in a cross after a free kick which had to be conceded due to Dylan McGeough not putting in a tackle.
Swindon Boss Mark Cooper went ballistic giving the fist to the Directors in the Main Stand which annoyed some City supporters and may have contributed to the confrontation outside the ground by the away coaches, which was not allowed to get out of hand, due to the numbers of Northamptonshire Police about.
Yet again, City had played well in patches but not being able to play well for the whole game means that defeats like this will inevitably continue.