PRESTON NORTH END 3-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Micky Adams first league game in charge Coventry City were their own worst enemies as they went down to a 3-2 defeat at Preston North End.
Against a Preston side who knew that victory would see them in the play-off spots, City's preparation was hampered by injury.
In a team that was changed three times before finally being announced,Adams made the most of a trip to watch the reserves at Ipswich, bringing in Andy Whing,Claus Jorgensen and sticking Graham Barrett,Isaac Osbourne and Coventry kid Craig Reid on the bench.
Micky Adams first league game in charge Coventry City were their own worst enemies as they went down to a 3-2 defeat at Preston North End.
Against a Preston side who knew that victory would see them in the play-off spots, City's preparation was hampered by injury.
In a team that was changed three times before finally being announced,Adams made the most of a trip to watch the reserves at Ipswich, bringing in Andy Whing,Claus Jorgensen and sticking Graham Barrett,Isaac Osbourne and Coventry kid Craig Reid on the bench.
Preston boss Billy Davies also had a Coventry kid in his starting outfit in the form of former Canley kid Graham Alexander but left former City keeper Gavin Ward on the bench.
Adams opted for a 5-3-2 formation and in the eleventh minute, referee Russell Booth in his first ever Championship game, cautioned Richard Duffy for dissent after he awarded a corner to the home side. From our lofty position in the Bill Shankly Kop,Duffy looked to have every right to protest the decision.
Luke Steele rose to punch away Eddy Lewis' kick and caught the second with ease.
This allowed City to clear their lines,Gary McSheffrey nipped onto a through ball, got through two defenders and crossed for CLAUS JORGENSEN to stroke into the net from ten yards.
The 700 strong Sky Blue support including a good friend from Norway went ballistic but our celebrations proved to be rather premature as a 20th minute Cresswell back heel found Patrick Agyemang who went over inside the penalty area.
The home fans appealed for a penalty and were duly rewarded with a spot kick. GRAHAM ALEXANDER took the kick and beat Steele with a powerful shot.
A minute later, Preston attacked down the left,Andy Whing got caught allowing a cross to be delivered into the penalty area.
Adie Williams made a complete hash of a ball which fell to RICHARD CRESSWELL. The Leicester reject was clearly offside but his tap-in from close range was allowed to stand.
The City support was livid and chants of "2-1 to the referee" replaced those of "Twist n Shout" and "The Sky Blue Song".
Billy Davies side had the ball in the net in the 28th minute when Agyemang tapped in from a Lewis cross. Thankfully,the linesman on the far side had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.
Although City were hampered by their inability to win the second ball and the amount of passes that went straight to an opponent, they won a 32nd minute corner through McSheffrey and a minute later, Jorgensen sliced over.
As the half drew to a close and Mr Booth missing a string of elbows and arms going when Jorgensen blasted over from a Hughes free kick.
There were no changes at the break and as many City supporters were getting back to their seats after a half-time pint,the home side increased their lead when Chris Lucketti scrambled the ball home from a 48th minute free kick for which Andy Whing was booked.
A minute later, only a good bit of thinking from Dean Leacock saved City as he got back to clear off the line as Eddy Lewis waltzed through the Coventry defence and fired over Steele.
After McSheffrey had been booked for a trip on Youl Mawene,Micky Adams made his first change on the hour mark when he replaced Richard Shaw with Graham Barrett.
The cause was not given up by the Coventry players and in the 72nd minute,they reduced the arrears.
Claus Jorgensen swung the ball in from the left, Dele Adebola knocked down and GARY MCSHEFFREY rammed home from close range.
Urged on by the Sky Blues support,City tried to get to get an equaliser and had a very late header from Barrett gone in after a Hughes cross gone in then City would have got a lucky point.
However, it was not to be as the close range header went wide.
Micky Adams who is trying to sign two players for the game against Burnley next week,admitted afterwards that this was not good enough and he was spot on.
Adams opted for a 5-3-2 formation and in the eleventh minute, referee Russell Booth in his first ever Championship game, cautioned Richard Duffy for dissent after he awarded a corner to the home side. From our lofty position in the Bill Shankly Kop,Duffy looked to have every right to protest the decision.
Luke Steele rose to punch away Eddy Lewis' kick and caught the second with ease.
This allowed City to clear their lines,Gary McSheffrey nipped onto a through ball, got through two defenders and crossed for CLAUS JORGENSEN to stroke into the net from ten yards.
The 700 strong Sky Blue support including a good friend from Norway went ballistic but our celebrations proved to be rather premature as a 20th minute Cresswell back heel found Patrick Agyemang who went over inside the penalty area.
The home fans appealed for a penalty and were duly rewarded with a spot kick. GRAHAM ALEXANDER took the kick and beat Steele with a powerful shot.
A minute later, Preston attacked down the left,Andy Whing got caught allowing a cross to be delivered into the penalty area.
Adie Williams made a complete hash of a ball which fell to RICHARD CRESSWELL. The Leicester reject was clearly offside but his tap-in from close range was allowed to stand.
The City support was livid and chants of "2-1 to the referee" replaced those of "Twist n Shout" and "The Sky Blue Song".
Billy Davies side had the ball in the net in the 28th minute when Agyemang tapped in from a Lewis cross. Thankfully,the linesman on the far side had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.
Although City were hampered by their inability to win the second ball and the amount of passes that went straight to an opponent, they won a 32nd minute corner through McSheffrey and a minute later, Jorgensen sliced over.
As the half drew to a close and Mr Booth missing a string of elbows and arms going when Jorgensen blasted over from a Hughes free kick.
There were no changes at the break and as many City supporters were getting back to their seats after a half-time pint,the home side increased their lead when Chris Lucketti scrambled the ball home from a 48th minute free kick for which Andy Whing was booked.
A minute later, only a good bit of thinking from Dean Leacock saved City as he got back to clear off the line as Eddy Lewis waltzed through the Coventry defence and fired over Steele.
After McSheffrey had been booked for a trip on Youl Mawene,Micky Adams made his first change on the hour mark when he replaced Richard Shaw with Graham Barrett.
The cause was not given up by the Coventry players and in the 72nd minute,they reduced the arrears.
Claus Jorgensen swung the ball in from the left, Dele Adebola knocked down and GARY MCSHEFFREY rammed home from close range.
Urged on by the Sky Blues support,City tried to get to get an equaliser and had a very late header from Barrett gone in after a Hughes cross gone in then City would have got a lucky point.
However, it was not to be as the close range header went wide.
Micky Adams who is trying to sign two players for the game against Burnley next week,admitted afterwards that this was not good enough and he was spot on.
HT PNE 2-1 CCFC FT PNE 3-2 CCFC
ATT 13,691
GOALS Claus Jorgensen (14)
Graham Alexander (21 pen)
Richard Cresswell (23)
Chris Lucketti (48)
Gary McSheffrey (72)
BOOKED Duffy,Whing,McSheffrey,Cresswell
Man Of The Match Claus Jorgensen and Dele Adebola took the votes
TEAM
Steele,Leacock,Whing,Shaw (Barrett 61),Williams,Duffy,Doyle,Jorgensen (Wood 85),Hughes,Adebola,McSheffrey