Battling Sky Blues Beaten At Sunderland

Last updated : 05 February 2007 By Kev Monks

SUNDERLAND AFC 2-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS (assisted by Mark Taylor aged 8)

In games between Sunderland and Coventry the home side invariably wins and so it proved as a spirited City team wentdown to a defeat at Sunderland.

A rare trip to the North East saw a good number of City fans travel up the day before.This was something the team did as well.

On his former stomping ground,Adrian Heath named a side which saw Michael Doyle back in midfield plus Kevin Thornton with former Makem Kevin Kyle up front with Leon McKenzie.

Roy Keane named new signing Stern John in his starting line-up after City had forgotten to put in the clause not allowing the Trinidad striker to play once the deal to sign Stephen Caldwell had fallen through.

John was booed when the Mackem team which saw Clive Clarke and Marton Fulop on the subs bench were read out.

City were straight on the attack. Inside two minutes,McKenzie won a corner and Thornton fired wide.

Under the close watch of the gestapo ish stewards at the Stadium Of Light,the City support were in good voice with plenty of backing for the team who were defending well when called upon.

Those who had backed Stern John to score the first goal were unlucky as in the 18th minute,a ball from the right was knocked to the far post for Darryl Murphy who headed back across the goal for Dwight Yorke to head in from three yards.

Kevin Thornton who was crocked setting up a good chance in the 33rd minute had to be stretchered off with what looked like a serious right ankle injury.

Jay Tabb came on and at the break,Adam Virgo replaced Marcus Hall at centre half.

This was spirited stuff from the Sky Blues. Straight after the restart,Michel Mifsud crashed a shot against the bar,followed by a Whing free kick sailing inches wide.

Michael Mifsud was getting in some great positions cutting back for Kyle who was suffering from a hand injury to force Ward into punching away in the 69th minute.

A minute later, a Stephen Hughes free kick saw another Ward punch.

With the City support getting behind Kevin Kyle and Dele Adebola on for Misfud, City kept plugging away but were powerless to stop a stunning 83rd minute drive from Carlos Edwards flying into the net.

It finished off a match that City did not deserve to lose.

HT SAFC 1-0 CCFC
FT SAFC 2-0 CCFC
ATT 33,591

Goal Dwight Yorke (18), Carlos Edwards (83)

Booked Whing

Team
Steele,Whing,Hall (Virgo 46),Hawkins,McNamee,Hughes,Doyle,Mifsud (Adebola 81),Thornton (Tabb 34),McKenzie,Kyle
Subs Lee-Barrett,Birchall

Sunderland
Ward,Edwards,Whitehead,Murphy (Murphy 60),Nosworthy,Collins,Stern John,Varga,Wallace (Hysen 60),Yorke,Leadbetter (Simpson 72).
Subs Clarke,Fulop