COVENTRY CITY 1-0 MILLWALL FC BY KEV MONKS
A first half goal from Claus Jorgensen was enough to give the Sky Blues a win over Millwall.
Both sides had injury problems going into the game with Micky Adams not being able to select skipper Stephen Hughes, James Scowcroft,Matt Heath,Marcus Hall and Neil Wood.
Richards Duffy played at left back with Andy Whing at right back, Richard Shaw also started in defence,Isaac Osbourne came in midfield and Craig Reid who has been in fine form for the reserves was given a place on the bench.
Millwall who were bottom of the table going into the game were without the suspended Barry Hayles and Tony Craig. Another change from the Lions side who only got a draw from a game they should have won at Crystal Palace seven days ago,was Adie Williams who had returned to Lady Godiva's City after a successful three month spell at the New Den and was on the bench for the Sky Blues.
Millwall who were bottom of the table going into the game were without the suspended Barry Hayles and Tony Craig. Another change from the Lions side who only got a draw from a game they should have won at Crystal Palace seven days ago,was Adie Williams who had returned to Lady Godiva's City after a successful three month spell at the New Den and was on the bench for the Sky Blues.
With Police in the CET Stand in order to protect the stewards,the lowest home crowd of the season saw Coventry have the early momentum.
A neat move in the ninth minute started by Dele Adebola,a player Millwall boss Colin Lee was reported to be interested in,brought City their first corner.
Alan Dunne fired over for the Lions in the 17th minute but in the 32nd minute,the game sprang to life when City took the lead.
Another neat move saw Gary McSheffrey lay the ball inside for Claus Jorgensen to stroke the ball past Colin Doyle the Lion's on loan keeper and in to the net from ten yards.
With City controlling the game,both sides won a corner before the half ended.
Now whilst I don't wish to pick on referees and assistants, I must mention the poor performance of the assistant referee on the East Stand side.
A notice in the programme had warned about the cost of standing up but his actions were encouraging supporters to stand up and berate him as time and time again, his flag was either late or wrong.
The first example of this game came straight after half-time when Andy Whing found Adebola who squared for the unmarked Michael Doyle to hammer a shot which the other Doyle on the pitch clearly tipped over for a corner. Both the shot and save were applauded but a goal kick was given.
Marton Fulop who is starting to look nervy in goal since his "punch" against Norwich City pushed over a Braniff shot seconds before Gary McSheffrey was harshly pulled up for being offside when he fired just wide from a Doyle through ball.
In all,nine chances were created by City in the second half against a Millwall team which today looked there for the taking.
In the 65th minute, the Lions were down to ten men when there was a skirmish after Matt Lawrence flattened Gary McSheffrey then sparked a skirmish by elbowing Michael Doyle. Referee Mr Leake calmed things down and then sent off the Millwall skipper.
This was the last of Mr Leake who limped off with an injury to be replaced by the fourth official Mr Dexter.
This dismissal had not been well received by the Millwall fans who charged towards the City supporters in Blocks 16 & 17,attacking stewards before police reinforcements were called for. Some of those in Block 17 piled towards the away supporters who numbered around 400 (mainly due to a strict membership scheme) but again the police and stewards were able to maintain order.
In the 75th minute, there was a huge cheer as Kevin Thornton came on for Claus Jorgensen. The young Irishman was as lively as ever and played in Dele Adebola who had the ball taken off his feet by the Lions keeper in the 80th minute.
City's next attack saw the Sky Blues go even closer when Gary McSheffrey turned inside the area to get in a shot which Zak Whitbread who was Millwall's best player cleared off the line.
Andy Impey came on against his former club replacing Richard Duffy with nine to go.
Two minutes from time, Kevin Thornton weaved a bit of magic inside the penalty area and hit a lovely shot only for Doyle to get down and palm the ball away.
Richard Shaw cleared his lines late on but City were too good and win with a smaller margin than they should have had.
After the game, there were a number of arrests when the windows on a double decker bus taking Millwall fans back to Coventry station were kicked in.
HT CCFC 1-0 MFC
FT CCFC 1-0 MFC
ATT 16,156
Goal
Claus Jorgensen (32)
Sent off
FT CCFC 1-0 MFC
ATT 16,156
Goal
Claus Jorgensen (32)
Sent off
Matt Lawrence (65)
Team
Fulop,Whing, Page, Shaw, Duffy (Impey 81),
Team
Fulop,Whing, Page, Shaw, Duffy (Impey 81),
Jorgensen (Thornton 75),Osbourne,Doyle, McSheffrey,Adebola, Morrell. SNU Ince,Williams,Reid
Millwall
Doyle,Lawrence (sent off 65),Elliott,Robinson,Dunne,Livermore, Whitbread, Morris,Braniff (Asaba 72),Wright (Williams 83),Dyer. SNU: Philips; Simpson; Hendry