COVENTRY CITY 2-2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS BY KEV MONKS
Many had predicted a point against draw specialists Wolves at Highfield Road but it was a late bit of skill from substitute Stern John that ensured City had a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
For the penultimate league game at Highfield Road or may be not if you listen to one of the many rumours floating about our historic city, Micky Adams made two changes.
Stephen Hughes who was presented with the South Wales Supporters Club Player Of the Year Trophy before the game, was not fit enough to get a game and with Isaac Osbourne not recovered from the knock which saw him substituted early in the 3-0 defeat at West Ham last week, Claus Jorgensen came in with Steve Staunton replacing Richard Shaw in defence.
Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle,a man I helped get sacked from the England job following his disgraceful comments about disabled people,during my time with the Football Supporters Association National Committee, kept faith with most of the team that beaten Ipswich on Monday and gave a bench place to former City loanee Rohan Ricketts.
It was Hoddle's side who had the first attack when Colin Cameron broke through and fired wide with only ten seconds gone. City's counter attack was swift, Lloyd Dyer got down the left,slipped the ball inside for Dele Adebola to fire wide.
Wolves came back at City and were ahead in the 14th minute when Michael Doyle gave away a free kick. Lee Naylor curled the ball in and Leon Clarke was left totally unmarked to put a close range header past Steele.
The goal gave Adams team the kick up the back side they needed and within three minutes, Coventry were level. Gary McSheffrey who collected The Irish and City Supporters Club awards before the game, had been given a right wing role. In the 17th minute, he cut down the right inside the penalty area before being taken out.
Referee Grant Hedgely did not need to think very long about it and award City a penalty kick at the East Stand end. Gary McSheffrey stepped up and coolly smashed the ball into the net to draw the Sky Blues level.
Claus Jorgensen rose to head wide from a 23rd minute corner as the game came embroiled in a midfield battle.
With the second half underway, Wolves South Korean international who looked highly dangerous forced a stunning save from Luke Steele in the 51st minute when the custodian dived to push over a ten yard shot.
In the 55th minute, the City supporters and some of the players were calling for another penalty when Joel Lescott got his arm across McSheffrey who went to ground.
Nothing was given but three minutes later, McSheffrey was in the right place to send a header from a Richard Duffy cross onto the crossbar before it was hoofed away.
Michael Doyle was playing like a man possessed, tackling anything that moved anywhere near him, but it was Claus Jorgensen who picked up the first caution of the game when he clattered Seol.
Shaun Goater has not done much since his move to Highfield Road and after heading wide from a Marcus Hall cross, he was replaced in the 65th minute by Stern John.
Another change followed eight minutes later with the City fans who had been demanding that Andy Morrell replace the hapless Lloyd Dyer getting their way.
A chorus of "Stand Up If You Love City" had just gone round the West Terrace and Main Stand which included the not very well looking Chairman Mike McGinnity but in the 78th minute, it was the 2,000 visiting supporters or "Yam Yams" as they were being called who were on their feet.
Left back Lee Naylor got down the left side and hit a shot cum cross which took a wicked deflection off a City defender and went into the net past the wrong footed
Luke Steele.
The Sky Blues may have been down but were certainly not out of the game and after Steve Staunton had headed wide from a corner, Trevor Benjamin was sent on to boost the City attack.
The striker whose contract City have taken over until the end of the season was soon involved,forcing Oakes to react to get a hand to a close range shot from a corner which was scrambled away for another.
With supporters checking to see that their phones were still in their pockets, Rohan Ricketts came on for Clarke.
Ricketts had been on for less than a minute but lost the ball in midfield to Robert Page who found Stern John on the left. The Trinidadian got into the penalty area, got past three defenders and with the outside of his boot struck a peach of a shot which went into the net at the far corner.
The City supporters in a disappointing crowd of 19,412 went absolutely mental, knowing that a point would nudge the Sky Blues even closer to preserving their Championship status and with the final whistle coming seconds afterwards so it proved.
HT CCFC 1-1 WWFC FT CCFC 1-1 WWFC
ATT 19,412
SCORERS - Leon Clarke (14)
Gary McSheffrey (17 pen)
Lee Naylor (78)
Stern John (89)
BOOKED Claus Jorgensen
Man Of The Match - Michael Doyle
TEAM
Steele,Stanton,Duffy,Page,Hall,Doyle,Jorgensen (Benjamin 82), Dyer (Morrell 73),Goater (John 65),McSheffrey,Adebola SNU Pressman,Whing