BURNLEY 1-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
The last time Coventry City won their last away game of the season for two seasons running they were promoted the following season. That was a stat made true after the Sky Blues came away from the trip to Burnley with a 2-1 victory.
The last time Coventry City won their last away game of the season for two seasons running they were promoted the following season. That was a stat made true after the Sky Blues came away from the trip to Burnley with a 2-1 victory.
We travelled up the M6 with the news that Iain Dowie was reported as threatening to walk out if the promised finances do not materialise.
The City boss was at a Turf Moor stadium we are getting to know well and despite having an injury ravaged squad but was able to bring back Colin Hawkins in defence.
Kevin Thornton started in midfield replacing Stephen Hughes with Kevin Kyle up front.
The City team were greeted onto the pitch by a 700 strong support in party mood popping balloons. Some of the long suffering following were in fancy dress costumes such as Little Britain characters, Batman,Spiderman,Rude Boys and a Werewolf.
Burnley, who fielded one time City target Steve Caldwell, relied on the offside trap early on to stop the pace posed by Kevin Thornton and Michael Mifsud.
The first 39 minutes had a definite end of season feel to it but seconds later, City took the lead.
Burnley had a corner at the end where the City fans were housed. This was cleared up to Michael Doyle on the right. He played a neat ball inside to Michael Mifsud. The Maltese international who took the man of the match votes in our car then played a one two with Thornton before driving a low shot into the net.
As we celebrated,unfortunately, one supporter to my right had a non epileptic fit,(the same sort suffered by yours truly) and was injured as he fell. There was much concern as medical attention took its time to arrive but thankfully the lad came round and although agitated by the police and stewards who wanted to move him down the front away from his friends,he was ok to watch the rest of the game.
Back on the pitch,Adie Akinbiyi wasted Burnley's best chance when he fired wide much to our jeers before he replaced at the break.
Talking of wasted chances, Michael Mifsud should have completed a hat-trick three minutes into the second half when he had a shot which was blocked and then drilled into the side netting.
In the 54th minute,the City fans plus Blackpool's Andy Morrell & Claus Jorgensen were going mental as Jay Tabb got the ball on the left of the area and drilled the ball into the net for the Sky Blues second goal.
The City fans, who had appealed for a penalty when Wayne Thomas clearly handled, briefly fell silent as a 61st minute mistake by Osbourne let in substitute Paul McVeigh to slip the ball past Andy Marshall to pull one back for the Clarets.
Liam Davis came on as the first of two congas went round the away end and after surviving a last minute double corner, youngster Lee Hildreth was given his Football League debut.
Another Burnley corner was cleared and City held on to ensure that they finished with a win and finished the campaign above Leicester.
HT BFC 0-1 CCFC FT BFC 1-2 CCFC
ATT 12830
Goals Michael Mifsud (40), Jay Tabb (54), Paul McVeigh (61)
Referee P.Joslin
Booked Ward,Osbourne,Kyle,Elliott,Thomas
Team
Marshall,Hall,McNamee,Hawkins,Ward,Thornton (67),Tabb (Hildreth 90),Osborne,Doyle,Kyle,Mifsud SNU Steele,Hughes,Gooding
Burnley
Jensen,Duff,Thomas,Caldwell,Harley,Elliott,Jemba-Jemba,Gudjonsson (Spicer 75), Mahon (Jones 46),Akinbiyi (McVeigh 46),Gray SNU Coyne,Coughlan