LUTON TOWN 3-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
When Micky Adams said that Christmas was cancelled,I don't think he was talking about giving City supporters a miserable festive period with their second consecutive away defeat in a 3-1 reverse at Luton Town.
For Luton boss Mike Newell, the visit of Coventry City to the ramshackle Kenilworth Road stadium came as a distraction from the media circus after speaking out about the not very far reaching Lord Stevens Inquiry into bungs and the abilities of female referee Amy Rayner whose ability I have also questioned in a number of City Reserve,Youth and Ladies matches that I have seen her officiate in.
Another talking point of the week was the fog which thankfully had lifted as we journeyed down the M1 and arrived at a Kenilworth Stadium in the back streets of Luton.
Micky Adams, who was without the suspended Robert Page,had taken Luke Steele on emergency loan and with Marshall out with a knee injury,the keeper who was on the bench for West Brom last week started in goal.
Mikkel Bischoff was given his first start with Leon McKenzie and Stephen Hughes also given outings.
For the opening period,City played well against a side five places below them.
Stern John might have had Coventry ahead in the ninth minute when his low drive was saved by former City youth teamer Dean Kiely as Luton relied heavily on the offside trap.
Stephen Hughes back from his exile was in fine form and delivered a 20th minute corner which Elliott Ward nodded wide.
Also in fine form was the City supporters,who numbered just under a thousand and included supporters from as far as Dubai.
When Micky Adams said that Christmas was cancelled,I don't think he was talking about giving City supporters a miserable festive period with their second consecutive away defeat in a 3-1 reverse at Luton Town.
For Luton boss Mike Newell, the visit of Coventry City to the ramshackle Kenilworth Road stadium came as a distraction from the media circus after speaking out about the not very far reaching Lord Stevens Inquiry into bungs and the abilities of female referee Amy Rayner whose ability I have also questioned in a number of City Reserve,Youth and Ladies matches that I have seen her officiate in.
Another talking point of the week was the fog which thankfully had lifted as we journeyed down the M1 and arrived at a Kenilworth Stadium in the back streets of Luton.
Micky Adams, who was without the suspended Robert Page,had taken Luke Steele on emergency loan and with Marshall out with a knee injury,the keeper who was on the bench for West Brom last week started in goal.
Mikkel Bischoff was given his first start with Leon McKenzie and Stephen Hughes also given outings.
For the opening period,City played well against a side five places below them.
Stern John might have had Coventry ahead in the ninth minute when his low drive was saved by former City youth teamer Dean Kiely as Luton relied heavily on the offside trap.
Stephen Hughes back from his exile was in fine form and delivered a 20th minute corner which Elliott Ward nodded wide.
Also in fine form was the City supporters,who numbered just under a thousand and included supporters from as far as Dubai.
A loud chorus of "The Sky Blue Song" was followed by "Gangsters" and "Twist n Shout" as a 22nd minute Marcus Heikkinen trip on Colin Cameron brought a free kick. Hughes' place kick landed right into the mixer and brought a corner.
This came to nothing and but three minutes later, Clive Clarke playing at left back,sent over a ball to the right for Richard Duffy to hit a right footed volley from the edge of the area,not that far wide of the goal.
In the 28th minute,there were concerns when Luke Steele came racing out of his goal to get the ball off Rowan Vine. Steele needed treatment to his left knee. Thankfully,Steele was patched up by Physio Michael McBride and was able to continue.
City kept pressing with Adebola going close from a John knock down and in the 33rd minute, Mikkel Bischoff nodded wide from another Hughes free kick.
Just as we reach the 45th minute, City got a free kick some twenty yards out. Stephen Hughes thumped a shot which was going into the top corner until Kiely got a hand to the ball and pushed it over for a corner.
Michael Doyle fired wide from the resulting flag kick giving the Hatters a goal kick.
Kiely banged the ball upfield. Croatian Ahmet Brkovic dispossessed Colin Cameron and cut past Bischoff to launch a right footed shot into the far corner of the net for the opening goal of the game.
At half-time, the feeling was that the best side were not winning but fourteen minutes after the restart,the Sky Blues drew level.
City had a free kick. Hughes delivered a telling kick and Leon McKenzie rose to head the ball into the far corner of the net. There may have been another touch on the ball from Brkovic but as far as we were concerned City were level and that was all that mattered.
This came to nothing and but three minutes later, Clive Clarke playing at left back,sent over a ball to the right for Richard Duffy to hit a right footed volley from the edge of the area,not that far wide of the goal.
In the 28th minute,there were concerns when Luke Steele came racing out of his goal to get the ball off Rowan Vine. Steele needed treatment to his left knee. Thankfully,Steele was patched up by Physio Michael McBride and was able to continue.
City kept pressing with Adebola going close from a John knock down and in the 33rd minute, Mikkel Bischoff nodded wide from another Hughes free kick.
Just as we reach the 45th minute, City got a free kick some twenty yards out. Stephen Hughes thumped a shot which was going into the top corner until Kiely got a hand to the ball and pushed it over for a corner.
Michael Doyle fired wide from the resulting flag kick giving the Hatters a goal kick.
Kiely banged the ball upfield. Croatian Ahmet Brkovic dispossessed Colin Cameron and cut past Bischoff to launch a right footed shot into the far corner of the net for the opening goal of the game.
At half-time, the feeling was that the best side were not winning but fourteen minutes after the restart,the Sky Blues drew level.
City had a free kick. Hughes delivered a telling kick and Leon McKenzie rose to head the ball into the far corner of the net. There may have been another touch on the ball from Brkovic but as far as we were concerned City were level and that was all that mattered.
The noisy City support, not helped by the low roof in the Oak Road Stand,reminded the Luton fans to our right about the state of the ground and their poor support,a turn out of 8,290 was testament to this.
But in the 65th minute,it was the home fans who had something to sing about as the home side went back in front thanks to Rowan Vine being on hand to steer home from a close range from a cross from the right.
Just over a minute elapsed and those home fans going mental did so again when Dean Morgan who should have been sent off had referee Mr A. Taylor been up to the job was allowed space to pick his spot and beat Steele with a drive which flew past his left hand.
Micky Adams, who was round Leamington on Tuesday night at City's staff party, decided the best way to get back into the game was a triple substitution.
On came Adam Virgo, Kevin Kyle and Darren Currie with all three taking up attacking roles.
Kevin Kyle who according to Adrian Heath at the AGM last week has failed to pull up any trees did nothing to enhance his reputation but did kept Kyle's hands warm with a late catch from a header
But in the 65th minute,it was the home fans who had something to sing about as the home side went back in front thanks to Rowan Vine being on hand to steer home from a close range from a cross from the right.
Just over a minute elapsed and those home fans going mental did so again when Dean Morgan who should have been sent off had referee Mr A. Taylor been up to the job was allowed space to pick his spot and beat Steele with a drive which flew past his left hand.
Micky Adams, who was round Leamington on Tuesday night at City's staff party, decided the best way to get back into the game was a triple substitution.
On came Adam Virgo, Kevin Kyle and Darren Currie with all three taking up attacking roles.
Kevin Kyle who according to Adrian Heath at the AGM last week has failed to pull up any trees did nothing to enhance his reputation but did kept Kyle's hands warm with a late catch from a header
The singing from the City fans continued to the end but it was the home fans who left with some festive spirit.
HT LTFC 1-0 CCFC
FT LTFC 3-1 CCFC
ATT 8,290
Goals Ahmet Brkovic (45),Ahmet Brkovic (56)Rowan Vine (65),Dean Morgan (66)
Booked Heikkinen,Vine, Morgan, Barnett
Team
Steele,Clarke,Ward,Duffy,Bischoff,McKenzie,Hughes,
FT LTFC 3-1 CCFC
ATT 8,290
Goals Ahmet Brkovic (45),Ahmet Brkovic (56)Rowan Vine (65),Dean Morgan (66)
Booked Heikkinen,Vine, Morgan, Barnett
Team
Steele,Clarke,Ward,Duffy,Bischoff,McKenzie,Hughes,
Doyle,Cameron (Currie 73),Adebola (Virgo 73),John (Kyle 73) Subs Hall,Birchall
Luton
Kiely,Foley,Edwards,Robinson (Coyne 62), Vine, Morgan (Feeney 80),Emanuel,Brkovic (Langley 83),Barnett,Heikkinen,Bell. Subs
Luton
Kiely,Foley,Edwards,Robinson (Coyne 62), Vine, Morgan (Feeney 80),Emanuel,Brkovic (Langley 83),Barnett,Heikkinen,Bell. Subs
Beresford,Boyd
