NORWICH CITY 2-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
City
Quirke, Clarke (Wood 80), Hussey, Keogh, Cranie, Clingan, Baker (Deegan 76), Bell, Gunnarsson, Jutkiewicz, King (Eastwood 90). SNU O'Halloran, Cameron, Burge, Birgirimana.
Norwich
Ruddy, R.Martin, Tierney (Drury 72), Crofts, Whitbread, Ward, Fox, Surman (Lansbury 60), Jackson, Hoolahan. SNU Rudd, C.Martin, Lapin, McNamee.
HT NCFC 0-0 CCFC FT NCFC 2-2 CCFC ATT 26,268
GOALS Richard Keogh (52), Grant Holt (55), Dani Pacheo (61), Lukas Jutkiewicz (63),
Referee D.Deadman Booked Holt
Man Of The Match Sammy Clingan took the votes in our car from Michael Quirke
Coventry City ended their 2010/2011 Championship season with a cracking 2-2 draw at Norwich City.
The moving of this game (and every other game in the division) to a 12.45pm kick off just to placate the television companies meant a ridiculously early start for the Sky Blue Army which included members from Ireland, South Wales and The Midlands, some of whom were in fancy dress.
With Norwich having already sorted out their promotion to the Premier League on Monday at Portsmouth, there was a carnival atmosphere in the home areas of a packed Carrow Road as the team entered the pitch.
City boss Andy Thorn fielded Michael Quirke for the last time after telling the Coventry kid that he was not getting a new deal on Thursday and had Richard Keogh, who had played every league game of this season in to complete his full set.
Whilst some of the Norwich band wagon jumpers who had got tickets in the away end were not getting on with the City support who had paid the scandalous amount of £33 to get in plus £4 for a programme which The Canaries were trying to pass off as a souvenir issue, David Bell had a shot blocked, Aron Gunnarsson sent a twenty yarder wide and Ruddy went to his right to save from Clingan who was being told by the Barclays End that promotion with Norwich could have been his.
A good run in the tenth minute by Bell lead to a tenth minute corner before Norwich went up the other end and started to cause problems.
Norwich's leading scorer Grant Holt was always looking to create havoc but excellent defending by Richard Keogh and Martin Cranie kept Holt and Jackson at bay.
Marlon King in what could be his last game, was lively up front and if his touch had been better in the 28th minute, he could have fired the City ahead.
Elliott Ward had been marking King and gave a cheeky grin to the City fans after getting a bit of stick but it was Michael Quirke who had the bigger smile when he pulled off a world class save from Holt after an initial Norwich attack had been cleared.
Six minutes into the second half, the City supporters were going mental when David Bell won a corner and RICHARD KEOGH found the net in a crowded penalty area.
However, our joy was not to last as Norwich hit back. A lovely cross from the left was headed home by GRANT HOLT in the 55th minute and after the Canaries boss had made two changes, Norwich went in front.
This time, the Coventry defence stood off as substitute DANI PACHEO was left room inside the area to turn and fire past Quirke.
The Norwich fans to our right gave it the biggie but a great 63rd minute move involving Hussey saw the ball over to LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ who flicked past Ruddy to draw the Sky Blues level.
A Norwich free kick hit the bar and fell for Zak Whitbread but with the goal at his mercy, the former Millwall player fired wide much to the disgust of the home fans to whom he gestured at.
With the stewards working hard to deal with all the inflatables that the home fans were throwing on the pitch, one Norwich fan took to a bit of crowd surfing before our attention turned to the sight of Gary Deegan coming on for Carl Baker for his first appearance for 15 months.
Jordan Clarke, who worked extremely hard like everyone else in the City team was replaced in the 80th minute and in the last minute of normal time, Marlon King left to a good ovation from the City fans who stayed to cheer the team off the pitch following what was a good performance and pleasing result which we must take into next season.
Thanks to everyone for getting me to matches this season and a massive thanks to everyone for their support of me.