STOKE CITY 1-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Unless Peter Reid finds some money in his Christmas stocking for a goal scoring striker then City will continue to be the better side in matches but not get the points as they did in a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City.
On a day that was sunny and pleasant when we left Coventry but cloudy and cold by the time we got to Stoke, we arrived at the Britannia Stadium to find that the stewards were charging disabled people who are blue badge holders one pound more for car parking than able bodied drivers.
Peter Reid who was heavily criticised this week for falling to support the youth team who lost at Watford in an FA Youth Cup tie and City's reserve team on a regular basis, kept the same eleven players who had thrown away a two goal lead at Derby.
He did make one change and that was on the subs bench where Stern John replaced Patrick Suffo.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis was without former Sky Blues Marcus Hall and Paul Williams but was able to include John Eustace on the bench.
The home side attacking the end where the 800+ (that was the reported number of tickets sold) City supporters were housed, had the first chance of the game with Ade Akinbiyi sending a right footed volley over the bar from twenty yards in the second minute.
The Wolves and Leicester reject attacked down the right flank two minutes later and cut in, only to find Adie Williams in his path who cleared for the first corner of the game.
Richard Shaw who again was in commanding form headed away the danger.
With the City supporters in fine voice, Luke Steele caught a free kick and a long kick from the Manchester United loanee found Eddy Johnson who was flanked by two covering defenders. Johnson went down inside the area but referee Mr Penton simply allowed the Potters to clear their lines.
Gary McSheffrey was proving a handful for the home defence and in the 19th minute, he created some space to rifle a twenty yard effort a foot over the crossbar.
The first chant of the game from the Stoke fans at the opposite end had just reached our ears as a cross from Chris Greenacre on the right was nodded back across goal by Gifton Noel Williams for Ade Akinbiyi to head past Steele from close range.
The goal brought a Chorus of the Tom Jones classic "Delilah" from the Stoke fans, many of whom had benefited from cheap tickets via the local newspaper and was met by a chorus of "You Only Sing When You Are Winning" from the City supporters.
A low effort by McSheffrey in the 23rd minute won City their first corner of the afternoon but was wasted by Michael Doyle who sent the ball high and wide of the far post and out for a goal kick.
McSheffrey was involved three minutes later when he found Andy Morrell inside the area. The midfielder unselfishly played the ball back for his skipper Stephen Hughes who drove a good few yards wide from the edge of the area.
Many traditions in football have passed by the wayside, but Stoke continue with one of someone walking round the pitch holding aloft a board indicating the "Goalden Goal". Now, Stoke have come in for some fierce criticism from the politically correct brigade over allowing a reasonably attractive women to under take this task and the abuse she received from the City supporters was anything but politically correct.
With 28 minutes gone, the ball fell to Darel Russell some twenty yards out. Russell hit a right footed drive and it appeared to be going into the net until Luke Steele flung his self to his left and pushed the ball away.
At the other end,Stephen Hughes again with missed an edge of the area effort before the Sky Blues won four corners on the trot in the 33rd minute. McSheffrey had worked well wide Adebola to win the first and it was the Coventry kid who sent a flick header over the bar following the fourth flag kick.
They won another in the 35th minute which Adie Williams nodded wide. It looked like Williams was shoved as he came into meet the ball but yet again nothing was given.
As half-time approached, Dele Adebola who was working well to lay off balls rather than win headers won a free kick. Doyle predictably took the kick and won a corner which Andy Morrell headed over.
There were no changes as the teams came out for the second half.
Four minutes in, an Johnson shot was half cleared and fell for McSheffrey who forced Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen into a diving save,pushing the ball out for a corner.
This time,Doyle's kick was met by Morrell who volleyed over from eight yards.
With the City supporters now practicing their volley ball skills, Russell was allowed room in the 53rd minute to break through the City midfield and defence. His run left him with only Luke Steele to beat. Amazingly,Russell took his eye off the ball slipped and a grateful Steele was able to gather the ball.
Steele gathered a Stoke corner two minutes later,Doyle played it upfield to Johnson but then stood still as Johnson played it in the space, he was expecting Doyle to run into and Stoke were able to clear.
Adie Williams picked up a knock after a crunching tackle,giving City a free kick that Staunton kicked out of play much to the disgust of the Coventry fans who continued to sing.
That was the last of Williams and on the hour mark, he limped off to be replaced by Florent Laville.
Staunton who was only in the side following a training ground injury to Stuart Giddings, lost possession in the 64th minute but immediately redeemed himself by sending over a cross that just missed direction and forcing the Stoke keeper to dive to his right and pounce on the ball.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis made his first change of the game bringing on Gareth Owen in place of Lewis Neal in the 67th minute and seconds later, Gary McSheffrey advanced, found Hughes who got in a shot which Simonsen got a touch to,conceding a corner in the process.
Coventry desperately needed a goal and so with twenty minutes left, Peter Reid and his assistant Adrian Heath who was a popular figure at the Victoria Ground during his playing days took off Eddy Johnson and brought on Stern John.
As a very loud chorus of the Sky Blue Song pierced the ear drums of those in the away end, Stern John knocked the ball back for Morrell to hit a shot which was deflected thanks to a combination of keeper and defender for the first of two corners.
With 73 minutes on the clock,Doyle took the kick and Laville flashed a header wide.
Three minutes later, John Eustace became the second Stoke player to be brought on. He received a mixed response from the City supporters with a few "City Reject" taunts equalling the numbers who applauded him.
Stoke were now hanging on for dear life as McSheffrey won another two corners.
We had reached the eight minutes mark as Stern John who has not played since the home win over Reading, got in a left footed shot some eight yards out but under pressure from a defender could not get the direction he wanted and sent the ball out for a goal kick.
More chants of "City Reject" were hurled at Eustace in the 82nd minute as he was cautioned by Mr Penton for a foul on Doyle who still seething from the challenge found himself in the book following a pointless challenge two minutes later.
In between the cautions,Laville had missed again this time from an Adebola knock down after good work from Morrell.
Coventry's new Nigerian hero was involved in the 85th minute when he set up Hughes to volley over from the edge of the area.
The City fans had been pretty supportive despite their team looking like they were never going to score but three minutes from time, a few "Reid Out" were heard coming out of the mouths of some disgruntled supporters.
As quick as a flash, chants of "Peter Reid's Sky Blue Army" drowned the chants and the parties involved staring at each other.
Time was running out and Gary McSheffrey wasted another good chance flashing wide and then saw his effort from a John pass.
He returned the compliment after another good cross from Morrell and flicked it over to the unmarked Stern John who stabbed the ball from close range into the net.
We jumped up in celebration but the assistant referee on the Main Stand side had his flag aloft and the goal was disallowed.
Seats were banged and kicked by some of the younger supporters as City again failed to turn possession and chances into goals and slipped to another defeat.
HT SCFC 1-0 CCFC FT SCFC 1-0 CCFC
ATT 15,744
GOAL Ade Akinbiyi (21 mins)
Booked John Eustace,Michael Doyle
Man Of the Match - Richard Shaw with votes for Adebola and Stephen Hughes.
TEAM
Steele,Carey,Staunton,Shaw,Williams (Laville 60),Doyle,Hughes,Morrell,McSheffrey, Adebola,Johnson (John 70) SNU Shearer,Barrett,Osbourne