COVENTRY CITY 1-5 TRANMERE ROVERS
City: Murphy, Christie (Phillips 55), Adams, Webster, J.Clarke, Fleck, Baker, Moussa, Barton, Leon Clarke, Wilson. Subs: Burge, Daniels, Phillips, Garner, Haynes, Maund, Baker-Richardson.
Tranmere: Fon Williams, Holmes, Taylor (sent off 77(, Atkinson, Kirby, Power (Norwood 79), McNulty, Koumas (Wallace 71), Ridehalgh, Akap-Akpro, Lowe (Sodje 87). Subs Mooney, Hateley, Baggie, Rowe.
HT CCFC 0-3 TRFC FT CCFC 1-5 TRFC ATT 1815
GOALS Ryan Lowe 4, 42,53, Jim Kirby 36, Carl Baker 76, James Wallace 88
Referee. D.Deadman Booked Webster Sent Off Taylor
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The defensive problems that Coventry City have reared their ugly head yet again as the Sky Blues went down to a 5-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
At the end of a week where Billy Daniels and Ryan Haynes had new contract extensions and it was revealed that the light at the end of the very long tunnel in the Get Coventry Back To The Ricoh campaign was nothing more than an on-coming train, to coin a lyric from a song by Half Man Half Biscuit. That group's favourite football team Tranmere Rovers were at Sixfields to face Coventry City in an early kick off.
City, took to the field for this game which had to kick off at 2pm due to Northampton Saints, who wear the trousers when it comes to sport in Northampton, being at home, and were without the suspended Conor Thomas.
Adam Barton came in for a City side that was watched by former Vice Chairman John Clarke in the directors box.
The Sky Blues were welcomed onto the pitch to take on a Tranmere side, which had Tony Hateley, son of former Sky Blue Mark Hateley on the bench and had gone into the game as 6\1 outsiders despite being beaten in four matches.
The game on a cold afternoon was not four minutes old when we had the first goal when Jason Koumas slipped the ball through for Ryan Lowe on the edge of the area and his perfect finish gave Joe Murphy no chance.
Callum Wilson burst through six minutes later but Fon Williams blocked the yellow ball and Wilson smacked his rebound into the side netting in front of the Tranmere support who burst into a minute's applause.
Both sides won corners after a neat bit of skill from Carl Baker with Leon Clarke at the far post heading into the side netting.
Wilson then had an 18th minute shot saved by the feet of Fon Williams who punched away a 20th minute corner.
As the City fans behind the goal and the seven on the hill, counted out loud to point out how much time Ronnie Moore's side was time-wasting, City managed another corner. But in the 36th minute, Rovers broke and the ball was fed to Jim Kirby, who slipped the ball past Murphy for the second goal.
Three minutes before half time and it was "Jingle Bells" from the 178 Tranmere fans when Ryan Lowe superbly lashed home a third goal.
Steven Pressley resisted any change at the break and waited until the fifth minute of the second half before swapping Adam Barton with Billy Daniels.
It mattered not as in the 53rd minute, Ryan Lowe completed his hat-trick with a stunning thirty plus yard lob, after being allowed too much time and space.
Aaron Phillips was sent on for Christie and got straight into the action setting up a cross for Moussa to fire just wide of Fon Williams right hand post.
Atkinson blasted over on the hour mark as the Tranmere fans demanded a fifth goal.
Steven Pressley continued to pace his technical area as Akpa Akpro shot wide from the edge of the area and the Sky Blues, clearly missing Conor Thomas’ ability to sit in midfield, resorted to hit and hope football.
Moussa won a 68th minute corner, which was easily cleared thanks to a Leon Clarke airshot.
With fifteen minutes, the Sky Blues were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for handball under pressure from Callum Wilson.
Carl Baker stepped up and just got the ball past Fon Williams and a minute later, the visitors were down to ten men for a reckless kick in the face by Ash Taylor on Franck Moussa.
Even a numerical disadvantage proved no stumbling block as James Wallace broke and lashed the ball past Murphy for a fifth in the 88th minute.
Six minutes were added on and that saw a Baker shot beaten away and a few corners as City finished a well beaten side.