City Booed Off After Defeat To Crewe

Last updated : 23 February 2013 By Covsupport News Service

COVENTRY CITY 1-2 CREWE ALEXANDRA

City:Murphy, Christie, Dickinson, Cameron, Edjenguele, Bailey, Baker, Jennings (Wilson 82), McSheffrey (Fleck 78), Elliott (Moussa 74), Clarke. Subs: Dunn, Clarke, Thomas, Adams. 

Crewe:Phillips, Mellor, Robertson, Davis (Aneke 73), Ellis, Dugdale, Inman (Turton 88), Murphy, Osman, Pogba (Clayton 76), Moore. Subs: Martin, Leitch-Smith, Colclough, Ray, Turton 

HT CCFC 1-1 CAFC  FT CCFC 1-2 CAFC  ATT 10,139

Goals Leon Clarke 11, Mark Ellis 16, Max Clayton 77

Referee D.Sheldrake

Booked L.Murphy, Dickinson, Christie. 

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Coventry City fans were booed off after a 2-1 home defeat to Crewe 

City went into the fourth game against Crewe this season on a freezing afternoon with snow flakes in the air without Richard Wood who had a groin injury. He was replaced by William Edjenguele in the back four.

After the disappointment of not getting to Wembley, the crowd at the Ricoh Arena was pretty much expected, although there were City supporters from Newcastle, Brighton, Kent and London in attendance to see the Sky Blues go straight on the attack.

Leon Clarke headed wide in the second minute. Then McSheffrey had a go followed by Carl Baker, in the eighth minute, firing at Phillips in the goal nearest the handfuls of Crewe fans, officially recorded at 383 , who fumbled away before it was cleared.

In the eleventh minute, City took the lead thanks to Leon Clarke getting the ball from the left and smashing it past Phillips.

Joe Murphy made a great save in the 16th minute to push over a Gregor Robertson shot. The ball came in from the flag kick and Mark Ellis scored unopposed to level the game. 

Yet again, the City support aired their grievances with referee Mr Sheldrake who harshly cautioned Carl Dickinson after Luke Murphy had thrown a punch at him.

Bailey fired wide in the 25th minute and three minutes later, Joe Murphy did well to punch away a free kick. 

Carl Dickinson did well to send over a cross\shot and just before the break, a good move saw Bailey just miss Phillips' right hand post. 

Phillips' right hand post was involved again five minutes into the second half when Stephen Elliott did well to get in a left footed shot which came off the post before being cleared away. 

Two minutes later, Phillips got down to a Jennings shot from the edge of the area as the Sky Blues started to find their feet. 

Although the defence looked nervous at times, City, thanks to the work of Bailey and Jennings were the better side in midfield. 

Phillips again was making some great saves and pulled off a tremendous save in the 56th minute from Elliott to concede a corner. 

Baker's run and shot saw the ball in the North Stand. Crewe had a couple of chances before a Christie cross won City a 72nd minute corner. Robertson somehow, scrambled the flag kick away off the line following a Baker shot.  

Lee Carsley sent on Franck Moussa for the last fifteen minute but it was Crewe substitute Max Clayton who had an immediate response when poor defending allowed him to score past Murphy with a lob. 

John Fleck was then sent on as the Crewe fans announced they were off to Wembley and with eight to go, Callum Wilson joined the action. 

Some more poor officiating from the clueless assistant on the East Stand side, who could tell properly when the ball was in or out, was followed by the scoreboard asking if Dan was still here after the now legendary phone call to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on Wednesday night. 

In the five minutes of added time and Crewe's time wasting going unpunished, Wilson fired wide, City won a corner and Fleck fired over but City were beaten.