Another boring 0-0 draw Between City and Bradford City

Last updated : 01 April 2014 By Covsupport News Service

COVENTRY CITY 0-0  BRADFORD CITY 

City‎: Murphy, Christie, Adams, Webster, Willis, Baker, Prutton, Marshall (McGeouch 79), Robinson (Thomas 77), Eccleston (Delfounseo 77), Moussa. Subs: Burge, McGeouch, Garner, Haynes, Finch 

Bradford; McLaughlin, Darby, Dolan (Atkinson 79), Davies, McHugh. Jones, McLean, McArdle, Reach, Bennett (Thompson 85), Stead. Subs: Bentley, Thompson, Yeates, Bates, McBurnie, Pollard. 

HT CCFC   0-0 BCFC  FT CCFC 0-0  BCFC ATT 1673
Goals. None

Referee L.Probert

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In a game that won't stay long in the memory, Coventry City and Bradford City drew 0-0‎. 

On a day where a court in Birmingham heard of concerns by Coventry City Council that SISU would liquidate the club, a concern that many supporters have, if the Judicial Review on June 10‎ goes against those who took the Sky Blues out of its home city in a basic act of kidnapping, Coventry City took on Bradford City in a re-arranged League One fixture. 

With City more or less having booked their place in League One for next season, Steven Pressley, tonight in a black tracksuit, ‎ was without Callum Wilson, Danny Seaborne and the suspended John Fleck, so Cyrus Christie, Mark Marshall, Carl Baker and Nathan Eccleston came in to face a Bantams side which fielded former City loanee Jon Stead in their starting eleven. 

Again, there was another pitiful crowd inside Sixfields, which will be City's venue for first team league and cup matches next season with season tickets going on sale on April 19th as a bunch of American girls read out the teams which saw Jordan Clarke omitted from the squad due to illness and Conor Thomas dropped to the bench. 

Amongst those who were there, was Tim Fisher who sat leaning on a barrier looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and ‎he probably did after Sisu's defeat in court which saw their counter claim thrown out, Sandra Garlick, Nuneaton Town Chairman Ian Neale as well as a crop of scouts. 

On a pitch showing clear signs of too much usage, Bradford City, whose shiny white numbers on their shirts were not the easiest to read, started the better with a Dolan shot from a free kick and a 25 yarder from Gary Jones inside the opening ten minutes.  

Dolan had a short deflected for a 20th minute corner and a minute later, Joe Murphy dived to his left to make a great save from a header from Aaron McLean.

Five minutes later and Murphy was called into action again to make ‎a great save from Jon Stead. 

City, whose use of two deep midfielderS and two attacking ones which was leaving a gap that the Bantams were exploiting, won a 28th minute corner which was easily headed away. 

As those on The Hill, probably around twenty including about a couple of Bradford City fans, launched into a chorus of "In Our Coventry Homes", a Baker cross was just missed by Nathan Eccleston.  

‎Just before the break, Bradford City, who were backed by 327 fans, won a corner. McLean got in a shot and Blair Adams blocked brilliantly off the line.  

On the stroke of half time, there was a huge ironic cheer when Cyrus Christie fired in a tame shot at McLoughlin at the end of what had been a very poor half of football which was not too dissimilar to that game at Highfield Road on November 5th when the only talking point was the fireworks.  

In the 51st minute, we had finally something of note but it was Adam Reach planting a header against Joe Murphy's right hand post\crossbar. 

Jordan Willis and Andy Webster did well at the back to keep things tight and after a neat header by a photographer had received some applause from a crowd who sat and watched balls being over hit and Eccleston giving the ball away, Eccleston did have one chance from a Baker ball in the 58th minute. However, his effort was blocked and there was a flag was up on the far side.  

One lone voice in the left hand side of the Main Stand told Pressley‎ to make a change. Ian Foster came up and conferred with the Scot and his assistant but nothing happened. 

With twenty minutes left, a change was decided upon with Steve Ogrizovic handling the paper work which was given to the fourth official as Thomas, McGeough and Delfounseo warmed up. 

Thomas and Delfounseo ‎finally came on seven minutes later  with Dylan McGeouch also coming on with Mark Marshall, who was not good but at least tried before he went off injured, Robinson and Eccleston who seems to have conceding possession down to a fine art and getting caught offside, although he did keep battling to his credit, all being replaced. 

These changes were to no avail and this match finished, leaving those who attended or followed the game with two hours of their life they won't get back although it means City are unbeaten in three matches and take a point from a game they could well have lost.

 

Match report in memory of Maureen O'Neill.