PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Team
Westwood, Wright, Hall, McPake, Cranie, Baker, Gunnarsson, Clingan (Deegan 46),McIndoe, Stead, Morrison (Sears 86) SNU Konstantopolous, Hussey, Grandison, Eastwood, Wynter.
Peterborough
Lewis, Morgan, Zaukani, Lee, Dickinson, Frecklington, McLean (Mackail-Smith 74),Whelpdale (Simpson 59), Little, Green. SNU McKeown, Day, Torres, Koranteng, Geohagon.
HT PUFC 0-1 CCFC FT PUFC 0-1 CCFC
ATT 10,469
Referee R.Booth Booked Clingan
Goal Jon Stead (24)
Man Of The Match James McPake took the votes.
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Coventry City moved up to eighth in the table with a 1-0 victory at Peterborough United,
A year ago, the Sky Blue Army was out in force for the FA Cup tie against Chelsea and the City supporters were again out in numbers for the short trip to London Road, Peterborough.
A following of 3126 City supporters from places as far away as Wales, Nottinghamshire and Poole took advantage of the only opportunity to stand at a Championship game this season whilst our seating section of 736 to our right was sold out.
The noisy City supporters, who provided a carnival atmosphere, saw a City team that included Marcus Hall at left back and Martin Cranie at centre half.
Against a team bottom of the table on a sunny afternoon and on a mess of a pitch, this was not going to be a game for the purists. Not that that bothered the Sky Blue Army who taunted the Posh fans with a chant of "Your Ground's Too Small For Us" before leading the applause to mark the passing of Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander.
Peterborough should have been ahead after only eleven seconds when Chris Whelpdale fired across the face of the goal.
Attacking the end where the City supporters were housed, Chris Coleman's side won a fifth minute corner through the persistence of Jon Stead.
Marcus Hall, who did well in his first game back, got forward in the 11th minute and whipped over a cracking ball which the lanky keeper that is Joe Lewis beat away.
Peterborough through Whelpdale, Frecklington and Dickinson briefly threatened the City defence but why Posh are bottom of the table became evident when Clinton Morrison sent a 24th minute through ball to Jon Stead. The ball bounced kindly for the loanee in front of his marker and he thumped the ball past Lewis into the net.
The City support went absolutely mental and the chants were asking who was Leon Best.
Although, City were ahead, they were stilll giving the ball away too easily, allowing Posh to get to the first and second ball.
In the 35th minute, a Whelpdale header from a corner had to be cleared off the line before the City support, who were providing the best atmosphere at an away game since Southend United, launched into a couple of Specials classics in 'Enjoy Yourself and Gangsters'
At half time, Sammy Clingan who had done well in the first half despite playing with the effects of a virus that had kept him out of Northern Ireland's midweek friendly, had to be replaced at the break.
Apart from an Posh early corner, City controlled the play even if they did not create anything really meaningful until the 60th minute when Carl Baker danced round five defenders before finding Jon Stead, who crossed to Morrison who wasted a good chance with a poor effort.
Michael McIndoe put in the odd good cross but the winger who had said that he desperately wanted his first City goal, skied a free kick onto the white roof of the stand.
Baker and Deegan both had chances before Peterborough had their best chance of the game when Frecklington sent a drive just over the bar with nine minutes left.
Clinton Morrison was replaced by Freddy Sears as City, who had defended well when required, let the clock run down for a victory well celebrated by the players, management and supporters alike.