PORT VALE 3-2 COVENTRY CITY
CITY Murphy, Christie, J. Clarke, Webster, Adams, Baker (C), Thomas (Manset 84), Fleck, Moussa, L. Clarke, Wilson. Subs: Burge (GK), Willis, Haynes, Barton, Garner, Maund.
Port Vale: Neal (GK), Yates, Robertson, Dickinson, Chilvers, Loft, Dodds (Williamson 46), Myrie-Williams (Birchall 46), Pope, Lines, Griffith. Subs: Johnson (GK), Shuker, Davis, Mohamed, Duffy.
HT PVFC 1-2 CCFC FT PVFC 3-2 CCFC ATT 9812
GOALS Callum Wilson 33, Tom Pope 40,Franck Moussa 43, Doug Loft 59, Chris Birchall 82
REFEREE M.Naylor Booked Adams, Birchall
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Coventry City were beaten 3-2 at Port Vale by a late goal from former Sky Blue Chris Birchall.
After a quiet week, where promising defender Stuart Urquhart had been signed, around three thousand City supporters, who have been reduced to derogatory labels such as scabs, muppets, halfies, and plastics by some clueless individuals who are not helping anyone's cause, set off for Port Vale for City's first competitive game since 1964.
Personally, it was a nightmare journey after our car over heated and to cooled down in the services and then dumped over a mile away from the ground which it started over-heating again. Thankfully to a couple of helpful Vale fans, I was in the ground, a minute or so after kick off.
City were unchanged for the third game in a row against a Vale side which has a City fan as Chairman, two ex-players in the technical area and started with former loanee Carl Dickinson whilst two more in Duffy and Birchall were on the bench with Lee Hughes apparently 'ill'.
The Sky Blues were straight on the attack with Baker having a shot deflected for a corner before Leon Clarke picked up a knock that required treatment.
As the Sky Blue Song rang out from the Hammil Road end, Wilson was pulled up for offside and there was a ridiculous decision when Mr Naylor somehow contrived that Conor Thomas had committed a foul which led to a corner for Micky Adams side.
That was easily dealt with as was a City corner at the end.
There was plenty of good movement and passing from City in their yellow away kit as Christie won Coventry a corner as did Wilson in a flag kick that Jordan Clarke headed wide.
The pressure deserved a goal and it came when Christie lobbed a 35th minute ball over to Callum Wilson on the right. Wilson turned Chilvers and then former City trialist Chris Neal in the Vale goal and turned the ball into the empty net, sparking a wave of delight throughout the Hamil End.
We were still celebrating and laughing at a home fan being ejected when Tom Pope rose to head Vale level in the 40th minute.
This sparked the home fans on a warm day into life and they were halfway through a chorus of "It's All Gone Quiet" when Franck Moussa got the ball and hit a simply stunning shot high into the net at the GMB Stand End to delight the biggest turn out of City fans for a league game this season just before the half ended.
Micky Adams sent former Sky Blue Chris Birchall on, as part of a double change for the second half which started with two early corners for Steven Pressley's side and one for Vale following a good save from Murphy.
Pope twice flashed wide but in the 59th minute, Vale levelled for a second time when Loft got the ball on Murphy's right and slipped it past him.
When the goal celebrations calmed down there was a nice touch from the stadium announcer who got the Vale fans to thank the City supporters for coming and to show their support for the fans who have been affected by the move to Northampton from the Ricoh. Arena, by giving us a standing ovation.
Greatly appreciated gestures done with, the game was finally poised but Vale were the more dangerous.
With seventeen minutes left and following a Birchall foul that rightly earned him a booking, Leon Clarke sent a free kick over the bar.
Great work by Christie, who worked hard in defence with Jordan Clarke, Webster and Adams, won City a corner.
In the 83rd minute, the 9.218 crowd watched on as Vale were allowed to attack yet again down the right side of City's defence. A shot came in and Murphy did well to get down to the effort and beat it away but he could not hold it and Chris Birchall was there to score from close range.
Four minutes were added on but it was not enough to stop City who had been poor in the second half from going down to defeat.