COVENTRY CITY RESERVES 0-1 DERBY COUNTY BY KEV MONKS
A performance from City Reserves as bad as that of the referee saw them beaten 1-0 by Derby County.
For his first home game in charge, manager Alan Cork and his assistant Darren Richards made three changes to the team that had won at Ipswich eight days ago. Stuart Wall replaced Andy Whing in defence whilst Academy team winger Liam Davis deputised for Claus Jorgensen and Ben Mackey returned for Graham Barrett who was on international duty.
For Derby, City legend Mo Konjic started his first game since picking up a knee injury in September and there were places for Paul Boertin,Junior and Paul Peschisolido.
On a cold night at Manor Park,Nuneaton, the game started with the new City manager falling unceremoniously on his backside when he attempted to kick the ball back to a Derby attacker after it had gone out of play.
City won a sixth minute corner which came to nothing in a scrappy game and had to wait another twelve minutes before Ben Mackey found Craig Reid who shrugged off Konjic to hit a left footed shot which Derby keeper Lee Grant dived to push round the post for a corner.
In the 21st minute,Derby took the lead when James Meredith got down the right before lobbing the ball over the advancing Scott Shearer. The City keeper got a touch to the ball but could not prevent it dropping down over the goal-line as Lionel Ainsworth raced him to make sure the ball had crossed the line, delighting the six Derby fans.
Derby who have won the reserve league twice since the format was changed had the ball in the net in the 24th minute thanks to an overhead kick from the impressive Junior. However, assistant Carl Henry who was in charge of Coventry City Ladies 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday back in October had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.
Cork and Richards were not happy about some of the decisions from referee Amy Raynor and were less than impressed when Liam Davis was cautioned for persistent misconduct in the 32nd minute.
Four minutes later, Craig Reid sped past Konjic who had hardly touched the ball and rifled a shot past the helpless Grant into the net. Unfortunately,Reid was offside when the ball was played to him and the goal was again ruled out.
Andy Hall tried his luck from 45 yards with a free kick which dipped just over the bar before Kevin Thornton became the second player in the book of Ms Raynor for yet another niggly foul.
Cork looked annoyed by this and was seen berating the referee for yet another decision which even the assistant was not to sure why she had given it,as the game reached the half-time interval
That was it for Mo Konjic and he did not re-appear for the second half and was replaced by Mitchell Booth. After getting changed, the Bosnian joined the City supporters sat in the Main Stand.
On the hour mark, Kevin Thornton was replaced by Ryan Lynch. Andy Hall moved to left of midfield with Liam Nicell moving to right back.
Seconds later, Isaac Osbourne was fouled by Ainsworth. No action against the Derby players was taken by the referee who cautioned Andy Hall for disagreeing with the decision.
Derby cleared the resulting free-kick and won a free kick which Peschisolido fired just wide. Another free kick to the Rams was awarded a minute later. This time,Junior stepped up and rifled a twenty yard effort against the foot of the post.
In the 68th minute, Scott Shearer was forced into action when he dived to save a shot from the edge of the area from Paul Boertin.
Two minutes later, the City bench were given their final warning by the referee and the fourth official when a foul on Osbourne again saw no action against the miscreant. Yet again, this was another bad decision as the comments which the referee took exception to, came from disgruntled supporters to the left of the dug-out rather than in it.
With Rikki Bains replacing Stuart Wall in the City defence, City started to push forward and a through ball from Lynch was slammed against the foot of the post from the hard working Craig Reid from a tight angle.
Reid was involved again with ten minutes left when some good approach play saw Reid lay the ball back for Andy Hall to hit a shot from twenty five yards which Grant dived to save.
As the scouts which included one from Bolton and John Deehan started to make their way out of the ground, Cork made his final change with Gary O'Toole coming on for Liam Davis.
Craig Reid, who again is expected to be involved with the first team for their game against Burnley on Saturday, had two chances before the end, firing into the side netting after beating two players in the 82nd minute and having an over head kick saved five minutes later.
This was a hugely disappointing performance from a City side who seem to struggle on an over used Manor Park pitch and Cork will have to get it sorted out before the trip to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next Tuesday.
HT CCFC 0-1 DCFC FT CCFC 0-1 DCFC
ATT 145
GOAL James Meredith (21)
Booked Davis,Thornton, Hall
Man Of The Match - Andy Hall, the unanimous choice
Shearer, Hall, Nicell, Osbourne, Cooney, Wall (Bains 74), Davis (O'Toole 81), Wood, Reid, Mackey, Thornton (Lynch 60). SNU Tuffey,Gooding
DERBY Grant, Doyle, Martin, Turner; 5. Mo Konjic (Booth 46), Young, Ainsworth, Boertien, Junior, Peschisolido, Meredith. SNU Kirby, Nix, Llewellyn, Arnold.