City At The Double

Dowie and Flowers who continue to say and do the right things and get the players of both the first team and reserves to do the same,went in to the game with Robert Page,Andy Whing and Kevin Kyle suspended.

The new City boss, who has said that he is happy with the squad he has for the minute,named a starting side that included Leon McKenzie up front with Adam Virgo at right back.

For Phil Brown's side veterans Ray Parlour and Dean Windass were named.

The cheaper admission prices and a very sunny day brought out the biggest home gate since Boxing Day and a crowd of 21,079 saw City, attacking the CT Stand, fire wide in the second minute when an Adebola back pass found Stephen Hughes.

Early on, City struggled to retain possession but took a 20th minute lead when Hughes was pulled down inside the area by David Livermore and Mr Tanner awarded the spot kick.

Up stepped Michael Doyle and the Irishman put the ball low to Myhill's left and into the net before racing to celebrate kissing the badge with the City supporters.

The goal settled City with Osbourne,Doyle and Hughes closing down the midfield whilst Hawkins and Ward commanded at the back.

Jay Tabb's pace and link up play with the strikers was causing Hull no end of problems and in the 28th minute,a lovely cut back and then a curler had to be headed by David Livermore off his own line and out for a corner.

In the 33rd minute, City went two nil up when a sublime Osbourne cross from the right was headed home by Leon McKenzie at the far post

Being on the attack so much meant that Elliott Ward was attacking more than he defended,firing over from a free kick and over from a 40th minute free kick.

For some reason, the Sky Blues played the second half as they did against Norwich and Southampton.

Things were relatively tight at the back, the midfield quartet battled superbly but up front City offered nothing.

Hull whose away support failed to match the numbers predicted, looked a poor side as they did at the KC Stadium earlier in the season.

In the 57th minute, Nicky Forster really should have scored when he raced through only to drag his shot wide of Andy Marshall's left hand post.

When he was required, Andy Marshall made some excellent saves. He pushed away a 68th minute header from substitute Dean Marney and then dived low to his left to push away a Stuart Elliott effort.

Chris Birchall,Michael Mifsud and Khalilol Fadiga were all sent on by Dowie but it was not until the 89th minute that Coventry had a decent second half effort on goal when Stephen Hughes curled one past the far post.

But the job had been done early doors and City picked up another welcome three points.

HT CCFC 2-0 HCFC
FT CCFC 2-0 HCFC
ATT 21 079

Goals Michael Doyle (20 pen),Leon McKenzie (33)

Booked Ashbee,Livermore,Forster

Team
Marshal,Hall,Ward,Hughes,Doyle,Adebola,McKenzie (Mifsud 82),Osbourne (Fadiga 88),Tabb (Birchall 73),Virgo Subs Steele,Bunce

Hull
Myhill,Ashbee (Welsh 87),Coles, Turner,Elliott,Forster,Parlour (Parkin 75),Delaney, Windass,Ricketts,Livermore (Marney 57).
Subs Duke,Doyle