COVENTRY CITY 2-1 DERBY COUNTY BY KEV MONKS
Date 21/08/10 At The Ricoh Arena
Team
Westwood, Keogh, Cranie, Cameron, Turner, Carsley, Doyle, McSheffrey, Bell (Clarke 75), Eastwood (Gunnarson 80), Jutkiewicz (Platt 37), SNU Quirke, Clingan, Baker, Wood
Derby
Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Leacock, Barker, Green, Savage (Porter 85), Bailey, Doyle (Cywka 72), Moxey, Commons SNU Deeney, Martin, Buxton, Pringle
HT CCFC 1-0 DCFC FT CCFC 2-1 DCFC ATT 13,169
GOALS Lukas Jutkiewicz (31 pen), Dean Moxey (51), Ben Turner (79)
Referee E.Ilderton Booked Roberts, Leacock, Cameron, Eastwood, Clarke
Man Of The Match Ben Turner took the votes.
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Coventry City went temporarily top of the Championship table after a 2-1 win over Derby County at the Ricoh Arena.
A game live on Sky TV with an early kick off and in pouring rain - does not make for a good attendance and there looked around eleven thousand actually in the ground, including Marlon King and Tony Mowbray, to see Aidy Boothroyd (or Camp Commandant as he was jokily nicknamed by one wag, after his stay out of Ryton training ground comments to supporters), name the same City side that started at Watford with Keiren Westwood back in goal.
Derby who have picked up fourteen points in recent matches, gave outings to former Sky Blues Stephen Bywater and Dean Leacock and a 500th appearance for the bully and person that no young player should aspire to be Robbie Savage.
Savage was booed and jeered everytime he touched the ball or a City player, whilst a former City player Dion Dublin got a great ovation from the City supporters when he walked past the CT Stand and round into the Tescos Stand to join Alan Smith in the commentary box at the back of the stand.
Savage should have been cautioned in the fourth minute when he clattered Richard Keogh but got away with a ticking off from referee Eddie Ilderton.
With David Bell, very keen to get in as many crosses as possible, Eastwood headed over in the fourth minute.
When Derby did get the ball of a City midfielder, the Sky Blues defence dealt with any thing that Kris Commons and Moxey could dish out with Cranie and Turner making some excellent blocks whilst Nathan Cameron stood firm, allowing Richard Keogh to go on the attacking runs that he clearly enjoys.
As the rain turned to sunshine in a stadium which was so quiet on its fifth birthday that you could actually hear Aidy Boothroyd stood in his suit, barking out instructions to his players from across the ground.
In the 26th minute, City were grateful to Birthdy boy Ben Turner who saved the Sky Blues with a clearance a yard or so off the line following a poor pass by Keiren Westwood which had gone straight to a Derby player.
That produced a kiss on the head for Turner from the Republic Of Ireland international and five minutes later, it was the City supporters who were celebrating when the Sky Blues took the lead.
A corner had led to a Lee Carsley shot being cleared off the line by Roberts. The ball was cleared for a throw in. Gary McSheffrey got the ball and under the challenge of Dean Leacock, went down. A penalty was awarded.
Lukas Jutkiewicz again stepped up to take the spot kick and although Bywater got close, his powerful kick found the net and City were ahead.
The player who joined City from Everton was replaced in the 37th minute with what looked like a hamstring injury as he went off holding the back of his leg as he went straight down the tunnel after Clive "Plattini" Platt had come on.
Eastwood sent a long throw from Keogh over the bar to win the first of two corners and just before the break a great ball from Cranie, eventually came over for McSheffrey who could not get the touch he wanted and sent the ball wide.
Stephen Bywater got a good reception when he came to the CT Stand end goal for the second half and he did not cheer as Derby who were allowed too much space equalised in the 51st minute.
Robbie Savage got the ball in midfield and as Lee Carsley stood off, he was able to pass the ball wide. The cross came in from the right and Dean Moxey was left alone some ten yards out to slot the ball past Keiren Westwood.
The giving Derby too much room continued as Moxey fired wide in the 58th minute and then the striker missed a really good chance six minutes later.
When City did attack, they always looked capable of doing something, Bell and Eastwood went wide before Bell was replaced in the 75th minute by Jordan Clarke.
The Coventry born youngster who had been dismissed at Derby last season thanks to the antics of Robbie Savage, had only been on the pitch for three minutes when the City supporters were going mental when the Sky Blues went back in front.
Clive Platt had just won a corner after Bywater saved his header diving to his right. The corner kick ended going to Lee Carsley via Richard Keogh some twenty yards out. The skipper floated in a lovely ball for Ben Turner to rise up and mark an excellent performance with a header to plant the ball in the net.
It was raining and we were getting wet but we didn't care as City were back in front.
Aron Gunnarsson was sent on for Eastwood but Derby went straight up the other end and Keiren Westwood produced an absolutely brilliant one handed save to stop Moxey from levelling the match.
Savage got a load more abuse when he was replaced but it was the Sky Blues who had the last laugh today and a 2-1 victory to enjoy.