Manager-Less City Start With A Point

_________________________________________

Manager-less Coventry City earned a creditable point at Burnley.

With the City Board stating that Championship survival was imperative and in their opinion, the man they had put it in charge was not up to the task of guaranteeing that, the Sky Blues travelled to a Turf Moor, we have come to know so well since we became members of the Championship, under new management.

Whilst Steve Harrison had been put in charge of the coaching side of things, Andy Thorn, who has clearly spent a fair bit of time in the sun, was in charge of picking the team and the former club scout named a side which saw a return for Jordan Clarke, Stephen O'Halloran and Carl Baker who played in the centre of midfield with Gary McSheffrey added to the front pairing of Jutkiewicz and Eastwood.

City had only won 37% of their first away matches under a caretaker manager and the Sky Blues started straight on the attack.

A stunning volley from Jutkiewicz in the third minute gave the 152 City fans including supporters from Kent and Cambridgeshire as well as some of our Manchester and Glossop based supporters the hope that a new broom would sweep clean amongst the players and the incumbents of Thorn and Harrison who could be in charge for the rest of the season, would be able to get something out of the game.

Eastwood fired into the side netting before former City loanee Jack Cork started to get the run of the midfield and dictate the play.

In the 17th minute, a poor free kick from Clingan in a central position had been fired straight into the wall, allowing the home side to break.

Richard Wood came out to try and clear but the ball fell for JAY RODRIGUEZ who lifted the ball as Keiren Westwood came rushing out and sent it into the empty net.

Chris Eagles, who had played for that Manchester United beaten by City in the League Cup, wasted a great chance after the City defence had been carved apart.

On a evening of a match played in a fine rain, Burnley were having too much freedom to do what they wanted and and it was only thanks to over hit balls or more poor finishing that kept the score at one-nil until Carl Baker danced into a good position and fired into the side netting just before the interval.

Thorn, Harrison and Ogrizovic all must have had words in shell-likes at the break as City came out for the second half, knowing they were very much in this match.

Attacking the end nearest to where the City supporters including one who was consistently calling for Jose Mourinho to be employed to, were housed, City started to get past Danny Fox who tonight did not look the player he was at City.

Gary McSheffrey and Baker, whose changing of flanks started to cause concern in a home defence led by Clark Carlisle, a player who has a great future in the media, nearly brought a goal in the 49th minute when Fox was forced to head away a few feet off the line following Jutkiewicz got his head to a Baker cross.

There were chants of "Cmon City" when Grant pushed round a Clingan free kick for a corner.

Stephen O'Halloran who had been booked in the first half, looked to have taken a knock and was replaced by Chris Hussey who was tasked with attacking more down the left.

It brought immediate effect as Hussey had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he picked out McSheffrey who from inside the area, clipped a lovely ball into the air for LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ. The striker's first header hit the bar but he was there to head the ball into the net from close range and draw City level.

We went mental and kept encouraging the team to go for the win.

McSheffrey and Baker combined for the former Stockport man to hit a shot which was deflected.

The next time, City had a deflected shot, the result was far more pleasing. A free kick had gone to McSheffrey on the right. Fox stood off, allowing GARY MCSHEFFREY to hit a wicked left foot shot which took a deflection and went into the net at the near post.

McSheffrey had to be prevented from removing his shirt by his team mates whilst celebrating in front of the City support who were going absolutely mad.

However, thoughts of an away win were wiped out four minutes later after a great tackle from Hussey had conceded a corner.

The flag kick went to the far post and the ball was bundled through a crowd of players into the net. It was difficult to see who actually had scored but the stadium announcer gave JAY RODRIGUEZ his second goal of the net.

A corner eight minutes from time, fell for McSheffrey who drove across the area. Aron Gunnarsson, who worked hard for City along with McSheffrey, jumped out of the way and the ball missed him and went out for a goal kick.

Baker sent a long ranger over the bar in stoppage time as City earned the point most of us would have taken beforehand.