COVENTRY CITY 4-1 SOUTHAMPTON BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Westwood, Osbourne, Fox (Hall 80), Ward,Dann,Doyle, Gunnarsson,Tabb, Eastwood (Mifsud 88), Best (Morrison 80) SNU Marshall,Beuzelin
Southampton
Davis,Perry,Wotton (Wright Phillips 59),Surman,McCormack,Lellana (Pekhart 59,James (Gillett 59),Lancashire,Cork, Miles,Robertson
SNU White,Bialowski
HT CCFC 2-0 SFC FT CCFC 4-1 SFC
GOALS Jay Tabb (18 & 86),Leon McKenzie (32),Leon Best (47)
REFEREE M.Jones
BOOKED Best,Davis, James
MAN OF THE MATCH Leon McKenzie took the votes for a superb performance although everyone had good games
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STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman had Elliott Ward recover from a groin injury sustained at Cardiff and made only one change with Leon Best coming in for Clinton Morrison.
Southampton were without the injured Stern John.
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CITY SUPPORT
Whilst the game being on Sky may be great for many of you from around the world, such matches have a disasterous effect on attendances.
The club introduced schemes such as three games for £50 and Kids For A Quid as well as tickets for school and a 15,518 gate with 637 visiting supporters on a wet evening was about what could be expected for a game live on TV.
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Coventry City are into the top six after a stunning home performance against Southampton entertained the television viewers and those at the game with a 4-1 victory.
It had been a cold day in Coventry and as we entered the ground the rain started to come down forcing supporters towards the back of the stands.
This was where the noise came from and the Sky Blue Army were in good voice as City arrived on the pitch with Leon Best up front against his former club instead of Clinton Morrison.
Against a very young Southampton side, beset by financial problems which has seen the sale of their big name players all sold off, City let Jan Poortvliet's side have the early play.
They had conjured up nothing to worry Keiran Westwood and were made to pay in the 18th minute when City took the lead thanks to a delightful cross from Leon McKenzie picking out Jay Tabb at the far post to head home.
The ball was in the Southampton net in the 25th minute and a minute later,we were all wishing that it was, when Elliott Ward made a complete hash of a spot kick. It had been awarded after Leon Best was sent tumbling in the area and although there was a bit of confusion about what referee Mr Jones had actually given. Elliott Ward stepped forward.
His last penalty saw him go for power, but this time,Ward decided to place his effort and gave Davies a very easy catch.
This delighted a section of the away support, who charged towards the City support under the scoreboard, only to be met by a wall of stewards who prevented them from gaining any ground and sending them back to their seats.
"Sit Down,Shut Up" sang some of the City support to the Southampton fans who were squirming in their seats when Scott Dann hit the post in the 31st minute and a minute later, the long throw of Aron Gunnarsson brought huge rewards.
The Iceman got the ball on the Tescos Stand side and launched an exocet right into the six yard box. As it came earthwards,following a Ward flick on, there was Leon McKenzie to thump into the net for the Sky Blues second goal.
McKenzie celebrated by punching the corner flag with a couple of jabs that his Uncle Duke would have been proud to land and then got on with tormenting a sorry looking Saints side.
Three minutes before the end of the half, only a good reaction save from Davis prevented Aron Gunnarsson from giving City a three goals lead at the break.
Southampton were out before the Sky Blues for the restart and after ninety seconds, Davis was picking the ball out of the net for a third time.
McKenzie got the ball from Eastwood on the left and spotted Danny Fox who had made a good run inside a defender. The Scouser got towards the byline and cut back for the unmarked Leon Best to arrive and drive the ball into the net from four yards.
Best, did not celebrate the goal against his former club,who tried to change things with a triple substitution.
It did bring a goal in the 62nd minute when Bradley Wright Phillips, who was one of the three brought on,centred and Westwood pushed the ball into Andrew Surman and into the net.
The Sky Blues went straight down the other end through Eastwood who whipped in a good cross to pick out the incoming Michael Doyle. Davis was nowhere near it, but from twelve yards,Doyler fired over to the agonising groans of the City support.
The Sky Blue Song and "Shoes Off If You Love City" were belted out by sections of the home support, clearly enjoying this spectacle that by now could have seen the Sky Blues six or seven goals to the good.
Westwood did have to make a good save before Leon Best left to a standing ovation when Clinton Morrison got a run out for the final ten minutes.
it was a ten minutes that saw the Sky Blues wrap up a fine victory with a fourth goal. Freddie Eastwood was again the provider getting down the left and sending over a delivery to Jay Tabb who smacked a volley past Davis from the right hand side of the penalty area.
Eastwood, who again deserved a goal, left to a standing ovation when he was switched for Michael Mifsud, just before time was called on a highly enjoyable game and a thoroughly well executed victory that sees City into the play-off places.