The Bell Tolls For City

Last updated : 21 March 2009 By Kev Monks at Ricoh Arena

COVENTRY CITY 1-0 DONCASTER ROVERS BY KEV MONKS

TEAM
Westwood, Wright, Dann, Turner, Hall, Henderson, (Simpson 84), Beuzelin (Osbourne 78), Gunnarsson, Bell, Eastwood (Best 62), Morrison SNU Ward, Marshall.

DONCASTER
Sullivan, Chambers, Mills, Lockwood, Roberts (Hird 88), Spicer, Wellens, Wilson (Fairhurst 82), Woods, Shiels, Heffernan (Hayter 74) SNU Van Nieuwstadt, O'Connor

HT CCFC 1-0 DRFC FT CCFC 1-0 DRFC ATT 18,498
Goal David Bell (20)
Referee Richard Beeby
Booked Wellens, Wright, Henderson, Morrison,
Man Of The Match Keiren Westwood took the votes with nominations for Scott Dann
___________________________________________________________________
STARTING LINE-UP
Chris Coleman brought back Aron Gunnarsson into the starting line up at the expense of Michael Doyle. Leon Best had been tipped to start but the City boss opted to start with Freddie Eastwood and Clinton Morrison up front.

Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll fielded former Sky Blue Matty Mills in his starting line up.
_____________________________________________________________

Coventry City made hard work of a victory against Doncaster Rovers on Legends Day at the Ricoh Arena.

Forty six former Sky Blues and Bantams were in the Main Stand on a sunny but hazy afternoon at the Ricoh Arena as City took to the field for their first game against Doncaster Rovers since 1950.

Normally, City opt to kick towards the Jewson Stand end but with the sun high above that stand they opted to attack the Telegraph stand for the first half.

It proved to be an entertaining opening period in front of a crowd that had been boosted by the distribution of a good number of complimentary tickets to schools and various junior clubs.

With Chris Coleman ordering the pitch to be watered prior to kick off the ball zipped off the turf early on and this was put to good effect in the second minute when a Beuzelin pass was chested forward by the lively Gunnarsson to the equally lively Jordan Henderson on the right. The Makem, who will be on England U19 duty in midweek sent over a lovely cross for Freddie Eastwood, some twelve yards out and with only Neil Sullivan to beat. Unfortunately, much to the groans of the City faithful, Eastwood sent his effort high over the bar.

The passing from City continued to be good with Henderson being involved in a couple of good runs and an 11th minute cross whilst Beuzelin and David Bell who did well on the left kept things steady against a Doncaster side playing 4-3-3 formation.

In the 18th minute, the 1400+ Doncaster fans had something to get excited about when they broke and forced Westwood into a diving save to win a corner which Matty Mills headed over.

City regained their composure and attacked once more. The ball went down the left flank and in front of the corner flag between the Main Stand and CT Stand, Neil Sullivan came rushing out to clear the ball. All he did was to kick it back to David Bell, who was in front of the City bench. A bit like Don Hutchison at Leeds, Bell looked up and perfectly sent the ball over into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The former Norwich man was swamped by his team mates whilst we celebrated a candidate for Goal Of The Season at the Club's End Of Season Dinner on May 4th. Sullivan, having experienced this before (David Beckham for Man Utd anyone?) looked bemused and when he was taunted with a chant of "Where Was You When Belly Scored?", being the decent chap when I've met him at various matches, simply smiled and pointed towards the corner flag.

Aron Gunnarsson's throw-ins against caused problems and City were denied a second goal in the 27th minute when a throw from the Icelander came back to Stephen Wright and his volley from twenty yards crashed against the foot of Sullivan's left hand post.

Bell then tried his luck a second time just before the half hour mark but after cutting inside his low drive was just got to by Sullivan as City kept pressing. Clinton Morrison and Jordan Henderson both had chances before Doncaster raised their game.

Keiren Westwood had made one good save to concede a corner in the 33rd minute and made another good save from Wellens eight minutes later for the first of two flag kicks.

Half time saw the parade of City legends and it was great to see the likes of George Hudson, Dave Bennett, Alan Green, Dietmar Bruck, David Busst to name but a few, walking round the perimeter track to the aplause of both sets of supporters.


The second half was a more nervy affair for the Sky Blues. City seemed quite happy to sit on their one goal lead and yet again there was little urgency of getting into the opposition and getting two, three or more goals which they are quite capable of doing.

Doncaster, who must be the only football club in the country where the women's team is more famous then the men's team, kept Westwood busy with Heffernan and Shiels both having chances when they attacked down Stephen Wright's side as they were having no luck getting past Marcus Hall or Scott Dann.

Rovers reminded me of Freddie Eastwood, who was replaced in the 62nd minute by the maskless Leon Best, some excellent foot work but today not displaying that much in attacking ideas. To their credit, if a player went past them, they did not haul them down as Sheffield United did in the last Championship game at the Ricoh Arena and it was a game where the play did actually flow.

The back section of the Donny fans in the away end had been pretty noisy and when the City fans found their voice, it was at times quite vocal. But there was nothing for either set of supporters to cheer in the rest of the second half bar the substitutions and a welcome three points on the final whistle which helps towards finishing as high as possible in the Championship table.