COVENTRY CITY 2-0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
City: Allsop, Willis, Webster, Phillips, Haynes, Barton, Fleck, Finch, O'Brien, Madine (Thomas 76), Maddison (Nouble 60). Subs: Charles-Cook, McQuoid, Swanson.
Plymouth: McCormick, Smalley, Cox, Nelson, Blizzard (Norburn 84), Kellett, McHugh (Morgan 67), O'Connor, Hartley, Alessandro, Reid (Thomas 80). Subs: Bittner, Harvey.
HT CCFC 0-0 PAFC FT CCFC 2-0 PAFC
ATT 7,121
GOALS Gary Madine 61, Frank Nouble 84
REFEREE James Adcock
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Coventry City are through to the JPT Area Semi-Finals after a 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle.
The game after the nightmare that was the FA Cup exit to Conference North members Worcester City, saw Coventry City taking on Plymouth Argyle in a JPT Southern Area Quarter-Final.
City boss Steven Pressley, who had tried to apportion some of the blame for the defeat on the players, many of whom he brought into the club as make dos for those who left or were shown the door as in Carl Baker's case who tonight was at the Ricoh Arena working for local radio.
Pressley who clearly needs to be reminded along with the players and his backroom staff, that poor results cause far more harm to the club than any column inches or social media posting, made an expected fiery outburst at the pre-game press conference and this meant that the visit of the most southern Football League club to the Ricoh Arena was now a vital game, both in terms of keeping the season alive and giving the supporters a reason to continue to attend matches.
Pressley, tonight, wearing a City scarf, fielded another strong team with no place for Simeon Jackson in the sixteen or Arron Martin who was cup-tied against a Pilgrims side that included Cov Kid Luke McCormick.
As the corporates were herded into the lower tier of the main stand, Ryan Haynes made a great last ditch tackle to deny Ruben Reid.
O'Brien, who was doing plenty of running in the first half whilst wearing the captain's armband, sent a free kick high into the black netting next to where those from Devon before the Pilgrims won a ninth minute corner and had another two minutes later following Allsop diving to his right to push Reid's drive away.
City, who had James Maddison booked for trying to seek an unfair advantage, had Gary Madine have a run and shot in the 38th minute and Aaron Phillips fire over from an O'Brien cross.
Yet this was grim stuff for a bigger than expected crowd on a cold night.
City started brighter with a good move finishing with John Fleck on the left striking McCormick's right hand post and McCormick then getting a touch to concede a 48th minute corner.
As we approached the hour mark, Lee Cox blasted into the 769 away fans. With the game stopped for a goal kick, Pressley sent on Frank Nouble for Maddison.
City attacked from the goal kick and won a corner. When the ball came over from Jim O'Brien's flag kick, there was Gary Madine to head into the net from close range for his first goal for the Sky Blues.
Nouble fired at McCormack as did Barton after John Sheridan had changed McHugh for Morgan.
In the 74th minute, Allsop made a super save diving to his right to conceded a corner which ended up as a City throw.
Two minutes later and Pressley made his second change taking off the goalscorer and bringing on Conor Thomas.
With seven minutes left, Barton was booked and the Pilgrims had a free kick which was hit a Plymouth player and was cleared forwards to Frank Nouble, who was deep in his own half.
The loanee from Ipswich got the ball on his left and lashed it past McCormack, who could only palm it into the net to send City in to the Area Semi-Finals, where they will face either Bristol City, Gillingham or Leyton Orient.