COVENTRY CITY 1-1 FLEETWOOD TOWN
City: Allsop, Webster, Martin, Pennington, Haynes, Barton, Fleck, Swanson (Jackson 73), O'Brien. Madine, McQuoid (Madison 46). Subs: Burge, Willis, Thomas, Tudgay, Finch
Fleetwood: Maxwell, McLaughlin, Andrew, Roberts, Evans, J.Hughes, Morris (Schumacher 85), Sarcevic, Proctor, M.Hughes (Forbes 78) Jordan. Subs: Dobbie, Lucas, Davies, Haughton, Hitchcock.
HT CCFC 0-1 FTFC. FT CCFC 1-1 FTFC
ATT 10,254
Goals Andy Webster OG18, Simeon Jackson 79
Referee L.Collins.
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Coventry City made it four games unbeaten with a 1-1 draw against Fleetwood Town.
The final game before Christmas and all was not well at The Wasps Nest or Ricoh Arena on days when Coventry City use the stadium.
Now City had gone into this game unbeaten in three matches and not having let in a goal either with a new pitch and a new dressing room of their very own to boot, so why City's owners have decided to file legal action against Coventry City Council for selling the shares in ACL to Wasps, which is not new legal action and action part of the judicial reivew, at this moment in time, when they have had a couple of months to do this, is open to speculation.
Being "Black Saturday", traditionally the day of the season for lowest attendances as supporters are dragged out Christmas Shopping or are in a bad way after the works party on Friday night or don't have time to get home from the game and then out for works parties tonight, City dropped the prices to a tenner for adults and there was not hoardes of people trying to get into the ground on a cold afternoon for what was an historic match.
I counted 56 Fleetwood fans in the away end just before the teams came out. They and the City support of 10,254 saw a Sky Blues side with Ryan Haynes in for the injured Reda Johnson and yet again no Frank Nouble to the number of loanees already starting, winning a corner in the opening seconds.
However, it was a deeply frustrating half for the Sky Blues. Fleetwood then won a corner before Jamie Proctor fired wide.
Jim O'Brien did plenty of running early on, which allowed himself space for a tenth minute shot which was pushed away by Chris Maxwell in the Cod Army goal.
In the fifteenth minute, Proctor won a corner after cutting in and forcing Ryan Allsop to finger-tip the ball over.
Three minutes later and City had started early on the handing out of Christmas presents when a Gareth Evans cross from the left was headed into his own net by Andy Webster.
Fleck, who again conceded possession far too often, fired from long range just over and City won two corners which culminated in Maxwell pushing over a McQuoid effor for another flag kick in the 29th minute.
City could count themselves lucky not to have been three goals after thirty five minutes. Sarcevic should have made it two when he lobbed Allsop on the half hour which was followed up by another Evans shot and with six minutes of the half left, Sarcevic was left on his own to fire wide at the North Stand end or AEH The Higgs Charity Stand as one sign, which has joined the Wasps logos which have sprung up around the ground, proclaimed.
James Maddison replaced Josh McQuoid at the break and City were straight on the attack. Ryan Haynes got into the area and was clearly tripped but Mr Collins, who has been controversial in City matches in the past, decided in stead of a penalty to flash a yellow card for simulation.
City won a 50th minute corner again a side in an Arsenal lookalike kit, which you expect from a team who play at Highbury and two minutes later. Maddison was fouled and got up to fire a free kick at Maxwell.
There was plenty of running from the livewire that is Maddison trying to close down a visiting midfield which won a 58th minute corner.
Danny Swanson did plenty of running and took a kick in the head which Mr Collins who failed to deal with an injury that saw John Fleck taken to hospital a couple of seasons ago, did nothing about.
In his jumper and shirt, Cov kid Graham Alexander was far more calmer watching on than Steven Pressley who paced about nervously, often stepping back to consult with Darren Murray.
Against a Fleetwood side which had lost all bar one of their last nine away games, Pressley decided to make his second change in the 73rd minute, sending on Simeon Jackson.
Maddison sent a twenty yard 77th minute daisy cutter. Coventry attacked again, Gary Madine got in a header to send the ball but before it got there, Simeon Jackson came in and finished the job.
The goal gave City a bit of urgency and Madine went close with an 84th minute header.
Maddison showed a neat bit of skill as did Jackson and Haynes but City were unable to fashion a second goal and had to settle for a point.