COVENTRY CITY 0-1 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Westwood, Osbourne, Dann, Fox, Ward, Simpson, Gunnarsson (Beuzelin 67), Doyle, Tabb, Morrison, Best (Eastwood 65) SNU Marshall, Hall,Wright
PLYMOUTH
Larriou,Doumbe,Cathcart,Seip,Barker, Mackie (Noon 67), Summerfield, Duguid, Clark, Fallon, Mpenza (McLean 73) SNU Paterson, Folly, Marin
HT CCFC 0-0 PAFC FT CCFC 0-1 PAFC ATT 18,528
GOAL Craig Noone (86)
REFEREE N.Miller
BOOKED Gunnarsson, Osbourne, Dann, Mackie, Clark,
MAN OF THE MATCH Danny Fox had a good game
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STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman made two changes with the injured Michael Mifsud being replaced by Robbie Simpson and Guilly Beuzelin being swapped for Michael Doyle. Coleman decided against fielding fit again Stephen Wright and put him on the bench.
Former Sky Blue David McNamee was injured and missed the game as did the suspended Paul Gallagher.
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CITY SUPPORT
The club had deemed this "Family Fun Day" and handed out tons of tickets to at least six Coventry based schools boosting the official crowd to 18,528. 829 of this figure were made up by Plymouth supporters.
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Some poor defending cost Coventry City a point at the Ricoh Arena against Plymouth Argyle.
Much had been said after last week's defeat to Crystal Palace with the players and the actions of sections of the City support providing many comments from City boss Chris Coleman, who lost Michael Mifsud to a training ground injury in midweek.
City attacked the CT Stand for the first half against a Plymouth side, clad in orange shirts and green shorts and early on there was plenty of effort and committment from the Sky Blues with a block denying Aron Gunnarsson after only five seconds.
The Iceman and Clinton Morrison both drove across the face of the goal as City looked for an early advantage.
Unfortunately, fellow Parkinsons Disease Sufferer Paul Sturrock had organised his side well. They kept the midfield closed down and on numerous occasions, Michael Doyle found himself forced to turn the ball back to Ward or Dann to hoof forward.
Keiren Westwood denied Emile Mpenza in the ninth minute by pushing the former Club Brugge striker's shot away for a corner.
By now, the clouds over the Ricoh Arena had turned black and the rain started to get heavier. With Fox and Osbourne pushing forward, the Sky Blues started to win corners. One inswinger in the seventeenth minute, was cleared off the line by Summerfield.
Robbie Simpson, who has scored three times for the reserves in their last two matches, won another corner and should have put City ahead on the half hour mark when he headed the wrong side of the post from a Fox free kick just in front of the press box.
A minute later and Larrieu in the Plymouth goal, had to make his only real save of the half when Danny Fox got in a drive from twenty five yards. Not being well positioned, the keeper who started pre-season as The Plilgrims second choice custodian, palmed the ball over the bar when we all thought he was going to catch it.
Morrison and Leon Best both suffered from a lack of real service all game but the former Palace man failed to make the most of a chance in the 37th minute when he headed wide from the corner.
Robbie Simpson, who was being pushed further and further wide, did get the ball in the net with a stunning finish from the edge of the area. Unfortunately, the assistant on the Tesco's Stand side had his flag up as soon as the ball went forward.
In to the second half and we laughed as James Mackie ran through and swiped at the ball, missing it and sending it out for a goal kick.
Whilst, there was not much in the way of singing from the Sky Blue Army, the only booing was thankfully reserved for referee Nigel Miller who did not caution a couple of Plymouth players for petty fouls.
The Plymouth support in the Jewson Stand were enjoying some of their supporters doing a topless conga up the stand steps as Chris Coleman went for a change. Leon Best was the man replaced and he was applauded off the pitch as he made way for Freddie Eastwood in the 65th minute.
Aron Gunnarsson had been treated after falling heavily on his hand and two minutes after Best's exit, he headed for the tunnel with Guilly Beuzelin taking over in his position.
With twenty minutes left, Clinton Morrison wasted a great chance to put City ahead when a long ball from Fox was fed to him via Eastwood and Simpson. Morrison was only ten yards out but blasted over without Larrieu even having to move.
Both sides won corners, sensing that a win was a definite possibility. However, in the 86th minute, substitute Craig Noone raced forward. He got past Osbourne and then was allowed by Scott Dann to skip round the City skipper. Keiren Westwood came off his line but as he did, Noone fired the ball past him and into the net.
Many City supporters got up and left whilst others sat staring at the players in disbelief. One block behind the CT Stand goal, decided to take their frustration out on Keiren Westwood,who responded with a few words of his own to those abusing him.
In the dying seconds, City won a corner. Westwood went up but Plymouth won the flag kick and cleared up to Noone who had the whole of the goal to aim at. However, as Jay Tabb got towards him, he paniced and fired into the side netting meaning that Plymouth had won for the second time at the Ricoh Arena with a one goal victory.