As You Were
There has never been a draw in matches between Coventry City and Cardiff City at Highfield Road and with both sides needing a victory to ease relegation worries,a draw was the result.
Micky Adams only made one change to the team that had won at Watford with Ian Bennett regaining his place in goal from Scott Shearer who has been re-loaned to Rushden & Diamonds.
There were two changes on the bench. With Eddy Johnson injuring his hamstring in the reserves 3-2 midweek win over Arsenal, Graham Barrett who scored twice in that game took his place on the bench whilst fit again Luke Steele replaced Isaac Osbourne.
For Cardiff, it has been a miserable time as the full plight of their financial situation becomes clearer. A good number of staff lost, influential Graham Kavanagh was sold to Wigan but thanks to a director putting his hand in his pocket, the South Wales side look ok to last the season.
Injuries had not helped the cause of Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence who was without a number of players that included former Sky Blue Willie Boland.
Unfortunately,Cardiff still have a problem with hooliganism and this was prevalent as reports of Cardiff supporters trying to attack City fans as they queued to get into Highfield Road,were aired by some as they made their way into the West Terrace and Stand.
As both sets of supporters in a 17,059 crowd engaged in banter, the first attack came in the 14th minute when Cameron Jerome got down the left flank and delivered a cross which miss every player in the penalty area. This was banged upfield, Gary McSheffrey raced towards the East Stand goal and hit a shot which was deflected for a corner.
A minute later, Coventry took the lead. The Sky Blues won a corner. Stephen Hughes pumped it into the penalty area, Trevor Benjamin got to the ball but could not do anything and it fell for Stern John to lash the ball into the net.
Coventry were ahead for only three minutes as the pace of Jerome forced Richard Duffy to concede a corner. When the flag kick came in, Richard Langley was allowed space to cross for Lee Bullock to glance a header past the diving Bennett and into the net.
Much to the dismay of the Coventry supporters, City were not showing the same guile and resolve that they had at Watford and indeed against Stoke,Gillingham and Reading.
Far too often,Cardiff were getting a player to the ball first and were able to let Inamoto, who drew a bigger number of supporters from Japan than we normally see at Highfield Road, thread passes to his forwards.
Thankfully,Cardiff were as poor as the Sky Blues and Bennett's goal was not unduly threatened.
Richard Duffy who was mercilessly abused by the visiting followers for having played for Swansea City, delivered a good cross in the 23rd minute which the diving Benjamin just missed and eight minutes later,Gary McSheffrey fire wide after collecting a Jorgensen pass.
It was the Faroe Islander who was on the receiving end of a 34th minute tackle from Jerome which earned the teenager a caution.
The highlight of the afternoon for me came at half-time when my two favourite City players in Tommy Hutchison and Bill Glazier along with Chris Kirkland and Willie Carr were introduced to the crowd.
Inamoto became the second Cardiff player booked in the 51st minute and three minutes later,Rhys Weston was cautioned for a trip on McSheffrey.
Marcus Hall took the free kick pumped the ball down,Benjamin knocked the ball down and Stern John from the edge of the area volleyed a good yard wide.
On the hour mark, Adams, knowing he had to do something to liven up his charges, made a double substitution.
Stern John was replaced by Graham Barrett and Claus Jorgensen made way for Andy Morrell.
The former Wrexham striker who was cheered as he entered the field of play,had only been on the pitch for just under two minutes when he was cautioned for a trip on Jerome.
In the 68th minute, Graham Barrett fed McSheffrey who raced forward before firing a shot straight at the Neil Alexander in the Cardiff goal.
City attacked once more,seconds later when a long kick from Steve Staunton won a corner.
With twelve minutes left, Graham Barrett got into the penalty area and had his shirt tugged by Danny Gabbiadon. It looked a good shout for a penalty but referee Mr Mason simply waved away the appeal.
Some of the City support had been calling for Dele Adebola and four minutes from time, they were rewarded when the Nigerian who turned a loan move to Oldham replaced Benjamin.
Cardiff might have snatched it late on when Langley got down the right and sent the ball across the face of the goal, but it was not to be and both sides took a draw from the game.
HT CCFC 1-1 CCFC FT CCFC 1-1 CCFC
ATT 17,059
GOALS Stern John (15 mins)
Lee Bullock (18 mins)
Booked Jerome, Weston, Inamoto, Morrell
Man Of the Match - Gary McSheffrey and Richard Duffy shared the votes with nominations for Michael Doyle,Adie Williams and Stephen Hughes.
TEAM
Bennett,Staunton,Duffy, Williams,Hall.Doyle, Hughes,Jorgensen (Morrell 60),McSheffrey, John (Barrett 60),Benjamin (Adebola 86)
SNU Steele,Whing