COVENTRY CITY 1-1 READING FC BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City remain unbeaten at the Arena after Robert Page snatched a late goal to earn City a draw against Reading.
City who disgracefully failed to mark the death of former manager Noel Cantwell with a minutes silence,fielded the same side that had draw with Southampton whilst Reading boss Steve Coppell was without three key players.
Wilo Flood who is looking to extend his loan crossed in the second minute for the first of two corners on a very rainy afternoon.
The side formerly nicknamed "The Biscuitmen" brought with them,the sort of following you would expect from a side second in the league and they watched on as the pacy Kevin Doyle raced past the City defence and whipped in a shot that Stephen Bywater pounces on.
Despite swathes of empty spaces in the Main Stand,the atmosphere was the best of the three home games played at Rowleys Green,with both sets of supporters in the 22,074 crowd making some noise.
In the 22nd minute,Claus Jorgensen was cautioned by Birmingham based referee Andy Legg,Reading's resulting free kick came to nothing.
City who disgracefully failed to mark the death of former manager Noel Cantwell with a minutes silence,fielded the same side that had draw with Southampton whilst Reading boss Steve Coppell was without three key players.
Wilo Flood who is looking to extend his loan crossed in the second minute for the first of two corners on a very rainy afternoon.
The side formerly nicknamed "The Biscuitmen" brought with them,the sort of following you would expect from a side second in the league and they watched on as the pacy Kevin Doyle raced past the City defence and whipped in a shot that Stephen Bywater pounces on.
Despite swathes of empty spaces in the Main Stand,the atmosphere was the best of the three home games played at Rowleys Green,with both sets of supporters in the 22,074 crowd making some noise.
In the 22nd minute,Claus Jorgensen was cautioned by Birmingham based referee Andy Legg,Reading's resulting free kick came to nothing.
City went up the other end, Dele Adebola,who had been the target for Sheffield United and Millwall,got the ball,turned and thumped a shot which crashed off the far post before being cleared.
Seconds later,City were back on the attack,a good move saw the ball flicked over to Gary McSheffrey who used the outside of his boot to cross for James Scowcroft to head at the visiting keeper.
Robert Page became the second caution of an entertaining opening period for a clumsy clatter on Kevin Doyle in the 35th minute.
Five minutes from half-time,Leroy Lita went down in the penalty area,pushing was one reason put forward and a spot kick was given. Lita stepped up to take the kick but Stephen Bywater threw himself on the goal-line to his right to superbly push the ball away.
Attacking the North Stand,City won the first corner of the second half which Robert Page headed wide
In the 54th minute, attention focused off the pitch as a large presence of police charged into the away section making a number of arrests.
Four minutes later, Micky Adams made a change with Andy Whing replacing Richard Duffy.
City had not made the most of the few changes they had created and in the 68th minute,a mistake,saw Bywater only parry the ball as far as Kevin Doyle who rammed home from six yards.
In the 78th minute,the City supporters and the one behind us who thinks it is fine bullying women stood up to applaud the efforts of City players, were complaining when two good penalty appeals for deliberate handball were denied by Mr Hall who then provoked more controversy by booking Michael Doyle.
With five minutes to go,Coventry City were level when an Andy Morrell shot was superbly pushed over by the visiting keeper. This produced two corners,the second of which brought out another good save from Hahnemann. McSheffrey took the third flag kick and sent over a ball to the far post where Robert Page rose to head home.
Seconds later,City were back on the attack,a good move saw the ball flicked over to Gary McSheffrey who used the outside of his boot to cross for James Scowcroft to head at the visiting keeper.
Robert Page became the second caution of an entertaining opening period for a clumsy clatter on Kevin Doyle in the 35th minute.
Five minutes from half-time,Leroy Lita went down in the penalty area,pushing was one reason put forward and a spot kick was given. Lita stepped up to take the kick but Stephen Bywater threw himself on the goal-line to his right to superbly push the ball away.
Attacking the North Stand,City won the first corner of the second half which Robert Page headed wide
In the 54th minute, attention focused off the pitch as a large presence of police charged into the away section making a number of arrests.
Four minutes later, Micky Adams made a change with Andy Whing replacing Richard Duffy.
City had not made the most of the few changes they had created and in the 68th minute,a mistake,saw Bywater only parry the ball as far as Kevin Doyle who rammed home from six yards.
In the 78th minute,the City supporters and the one behind us who thinks it is fine bullying women stood up to applaud the efforts of City players, were complaining when two good penalty appeals for deliberate handball were denied by Mr Hall who then provoked more controversy by booking Michael Doyle.
With five minutes to go,Coventry City were level when an Andy Morrell shot was superbly pushed over by the visiting keeper. This produced two corners,the second of which brought out another good save from Hahnemann. McSheffrey took the third flag kick and sent over a ball to the far post where Robert Page rose to head home.
The Reading keeper pulled off a stunning save from a McSheffrey long ranger in the final minute and give both sides a share of the spoils.
HT CCFC 0-0 RFC
FT CCFC 1-1 RFC
ATT 22,074
Goals Kevin Doyle (68),Robert Page (86)
Booked Jorgensen,Page,Shaw,Doyle
Team
Bywater,Duffy (Whing 58), Hall,Page, Shaw,Flood (Morrell 65), Doyle, Jorgensen (Wood 76),Adebola, McSheffrey,Scowcroft Subs Ince,Heath.
Reading
Hahnemann,Murty,Sonko,Gunnarsson,Little (Oster 85),Lita (Obinna 86), Harper,Ingimarsson, Convey,Doyle,Makin Subs Hunt,Stack,Baradji
HT CCFC 0-0 RFC
FT CCFC 1-1 RFC
ATT 22,074
Goals Kevin Doyle (68),Robert Page (86)
Booked Jorgensen,Page,Shaw,Doyle
Team
Bywater,Duffy (Whing 58), Hall,Page, Shaw,Flood (Morrell 65), Doyle, Jorgensen (Wood 76),Adebola, McSheffrey,Scowcroft Subs Ince,Heath.
Reading
Hahnemann,Murty,Sonko,Gunnarsson,Little (Oster 85),Lita (Obinna 86), Harper,Ingimarsson, Convey,Doyle,Makin Subs Hunt,Stack,Baradji