IPSWICH TOWN 2-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Poor defending saw City go down to a late defeat at Ipswich Town.
For the second time in successive seasons,those in charge of the Football League fixture computer had sent us down the A14 for a night match at Ipswich Town and again,it evoked City's lowest league away following of the season so far.
What the two hundred of us who forked out £26 plus travel costs plus food and drink to be in the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand was a City side the same the one which had started against Norwich City.
Poor defending saw City go down to a late defeat at Ipswich Town.
For the second time in successive seasons,those in charge of the Football League fixture computer had sent us down the A14 for a night match at Ipswich Town and again,it evoked City's lowest league away following of the season so far.
What the two hundred of us who forked out £26 plus travel costs plus food and drink to be in the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand was a City side the same the one which had started against Norwich City.
New signing Leon McKenzie was on the bench along with Dele Adebola, who is rumoured to be joining Ipswich on loan. Keeper Rafael Gonzalez was signed too late to make the bench.
On a very humid evening, Kevin Thornton covered every blade of grass on the pitch swapping sides time after time in a role that saw him as chief playmaker.
The young Irishman won an early corner as did the home side.
As usual,the City support which has been belittled by those who need our backing, were in fine voice with a good repertoire of chants and humorous ditties.
Unfortunately, our support could not inspire the City forwards into scoring goals in the opening half and only a bad miss from Alan Lee stopped Jim Magilton's outfit from going ahead in the 18th minute.
Kevin Kyle should have done better at the other end when he fired over from a Whing cross seconds later.
Elliott Ward and Robert Page looked comfortable at the back but what was worrying was the standard of set pieces.
The corners and free kicks City won, were too easily dealt with by the Ipswich defence and keeper Lewis Price and with the home side hardly threatening, it was no surprise that the half finished goal less.
The goal the game had been crying out for came six minutes into the second half and went to the home team.
Ipswich attacked down the right, the ball was banged into the mixer by Jon Macken and Mark Noble charged in to steer the ball into the net from close range.
There had been chants of "Leon" from the City supporters for a good part of the game and in the 61st minute, the new boy Leon McKenzie replaced Andy Whing to thunderous applause from the City supporters and abuse from the home fans.
City's August transfer dead-line day purchase went up front as Adams changed the side to a 3-4-3 formation.
It was a tactic which for a while worked. Kevin Kyle had an attempted lob saved and then joined Doyle and Ward in the book for protesting yet another decision given against him.
In the 69th minute, referee Paul Taylor finally gave City a decision and Kevin Thornton thumped the bar with a twenty two yard free kick.
Michael Doyle, whose body language indicated that he was not that happy on the left side of midfield was replaced by Colin Cameron in the 71st minute.
The Scot had only been on the pitch for seconds when a Leon McKenzie shot inside the area went into the path of Elliott Ward stood close to the penalty area and totally unmarked. There was no flag so Ward smashed the ball into the net.
He raced over to the City support who were going ballistic and was mobbed by his team mates.
City who had sent on Don Hutchison for Kevin Thornton, now looked good for a point.
But with five minutes of normal time remaining, our hopes were dashed when Stephen Hughes failed to get to grips with Town substitute Billy Clarke who raced forward before hitting a low shot which bobbled and beat the diving Marshall on its way into the bottom corner of the net.
City needed a quick response but our passing had gone to pot and we left pointless. A bit like the ejection of a City supporter for trying to take down his CCFC St George flag on the final whistle.
HT ITFC 0-0 CCFC
FT ITFC 2-1 CCFC
ATT 16,465
Goals Mark Noble (51), Elliott Ward (71),Billy Clarke (85)
Referee Paul Taylor
Booked Doyle,Bruce,Ward,Noble,Kyle,McKenzie,Harding
Team
Marshall,Whing (McKenzie 61),Hall,Page,Ward,Hughes,Birchall,Doyle (Cameron 71), Thornton (Hutchison 83),Kyle,John.
SNU Heath,Adebola
Ipswich
Price,Vilnius (Naylor 65),De Vos,Bruce,Legwinski,Williams,Lee,Noble (Currie 84),Harding,Macken (Clarke 79),Walton
SNU Supple,Castro
