COVENTRY CITY 2-2 IPSWICH TOWN BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Westwood, Wright (Hall 87), Ward, Turner, Fox, Mifsud, Gunnarsson, Tabb, Simpson (McKenzie 77), Eastwood, Morrison SNU Best, Doyle, Marshall
IPSWICH
Richard Wright, Volz, Naylor, McAuley, D.Wright, Haynes (Walters 82), Miller, Norris, Quinn (Ambrose 80), Lisbie, Stead (Counago 89) SNU Supple, Balkensten.
HT CCFC 1-1 ITFC FT CCFC 2-2 ITFC ATT 15,598.
Goals Clinton Morrison (33 seconds), Kevin Lisbie (11 & 64), Freddie Eastwood (55)
Referee Rob Styles Booked Naylor, Quinn
Man Of The Match - Keiren Westwood took the votes from Freddie Eastwood, Aron Gunnarsson and Michael Mifsud
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STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman had back Stephen Wright back in defence. He kept Aron Gunnarsson and Jay Tabb in the centre of midfield with played Michael Mifsud on the left. Leon McKenzie was a welcome sight on the bench.
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton had three players suspended and resisted the tempatation of bringing in 15 year old Conor Whickham.
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CITY SUPPORT
A crowd of 15,598 although it looked less than that, was not a surprise considering that Christmas and all the expense that entails is only five days away.
1,005 was the official number of Ipswich fans in the ground.
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Coventry City are now unbeaten in three home matches after a 2-2 draw agaiinst Ipswich Town this afternoon.
On a not too cold but cloudy afternoon, the Sky Blues who had Steve Kean barking out the instructions for the opening period, got off to the perfect start.
Danny Fox got the ball on the left and found Robbie Simpson whose header was blocked. There was Clinton Morrison who volleyed into the Jewson Stand net with one time England squad keeper Richard Wright helpless for his seventh league goal of the season.
This lifted the atmosphere in a Ricoh Arena which may provide a home to Leicester Rugby Club if rumours currently doing the rounds are anything to go by but our joy was not to last.
Keiren Westwood who again had a fine game, denied Jon Stead in the fifth minute but was left brutally exposed six minutes later as Kevin Lisbie raced through, watched by the City defence. No-one challenged the former Charlton man who picked his spot to draw his side level.
Whilst the defence may have been asleep for this goal, it did have more shape with Stephen Wright back in the side at right back. City's midfield worked hard with Aron Gunnarsson doing his best to drive the Sky Blues forward whilst Freddie Eastwood was having his best game for some time.
The Basildon Boy made a great run in the 18th minute and topped it off with an equally as great ball to Michael Mifsud who was blocked as he was about to shoot firstly for a throw and two minutes later then a corner.
Danny Haynes had a fine game for Jim Magilton's side. The winger created problems all afternoon and was only stopped from advancing on goal in the 26th minute by a good tackle from Elliott Ward.
Lisbie nodded a Quinn cross over for a corner but in the 40th minute, Freddie Eastwood was denied his first home goal for the Sky Blues when a bit of neat foot work saw him get the ball on his left and send a shot which thumped off the far post and bounced away.
Danny Fox tried his luck with a free kick from thirty yards but the curler did not have enough height and Wright was able to easily make a catch.
On the stroke of half-time, Westwood bravely denied Lisbie whose turn of speed had enabled him to get clear.
City attacked first again in the second half and had won a corner within a minute. Danny Fox took the flag kick, got the ball back and a neat shimmy saw him get in a shot which Wright did well to get down to. Clinton Morrison had been held as play was allowed to continue and with Fox's effort dealt with, he like some of the City support, directed his frustration towards the assistant on the Tescos Stand side.
With Chris Coleman now in the technical area, Freddie Eastwood raced through. Ipswich got back in numbers as Michael Mifsud created some space for himself on the left. Eastwood,now realising that his route to goal was blocked, went to his right and fed Robbie Simpson who fired well over the bar.
This waste of a gilt edge chance did not go down well with the City support but in the 55th minute, all was forgotten as Freddie Eastwood got the goal he deserved. The Welsh international burst through and as Wright came out, Eastwood thumped the ball past him before racing to celebrate with some of the support in the CT Stand.
As the Sky Blues fans danced in delight, a banner saying "Magilton Out" was immediately raised towards the back of visitors end which had just over 1,000 Ipswich fans in it. The flag did not cause any controversy amongst the visiting support and we can only assume that it was a view held by many in that end.
Jim Magilton stood staring at this white sheet with blue writing before turning his attention to the goings-on on the field of play.
I'd not long said to a friend of very long standing that this was a long time for City to hold on and our lead lasted only until the 64th minute. Haynes got in a neat run and crossed from the right for Kevin Lisbie to flick past Westwood and tie the game.
The banner in the away end momentarily came down as the Ipswich fans celebrated but it was evident as Gareth McAuley had to deflect an Eastwood cross onto his own crossbar in the 69th minute.
Lisbie had the ball in the net for the third time only to be wiped out for offside before a huge cheer went up as Leon McKenzie made his first appearance since the 4-1 win against Southampton when he came on in the 77th minute for Robbie Simpson.
Eight minutes from time, firstly Jon Stead and then Danny Haynes who injured himself and had to be replaced had two bad misses. Then they won a corner which thankfully was cleared off the line by Aron Gunnarsson.
Eastwood raced upfield and found Mifsud whose shot on the turn went inches wide of Wright's right hand post.
The City support were roaring the Sky Blues on as they won a corner. The ball came out to Ben Turner on the left and his cross was met by the head of McKenzie which just missed the far post.
Two minutes from time, Westwood had to be at his best to twice deny Miller and Lisbie and ensure that City left to good applause for a good performance and a good point.