BIRMINGHAM CITY 3-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City's miserable away form in localish matches went to played four lost four scored none conceded twelve after a 3-0 defeat in Birmingham City.
For this trip to the second team in England's now officially third city, the Sky Blue Army was out in force, snapping up all the tickets in an allocation of 2,800 even at £30 a throw for those not sneaking in on kids tickets or student discounts.
In fact, as the kick off which had been set by the police arrived,Coventry supporters were in all four stands of the St Andrews ground.
Those in the crowd of 25,424 clapped a City side onto the pitch which was unchanged after Colin Hawkins recovered from a knock in training with Khalli Fadiga getting a place on the bench.
Much had been made by the media of Andy Cole's arrival at St Andrews,but the loanee from Portsmouth who had been watching the West Indies cricket team in the World Cup failed to make the side which was without the suspended Gary McSheffrey.
For the first time since Iain Dowie was appointed as manager, the Sky Blues looked nervous and edgy from the start.
As we all know nerves lead to mistakes and so it proved as Birmingham took the lead in the 13th minute.
Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner who had scored at the game at the Ricoh last October drove from twenty five yards out with Andy Marshall getting down to push the ball round the post for a corner.
Sebastian Larsson delivered a kick towards the penalty spot where Rhadi Jaidi rose unchallenged to power a header into the net.
The chav youngsters to our right, in the Kop Stand were delighted and it was their side who were controlling the game.
Birmingham on too many occasions were able to break through a City midfield which today was disjointed,irksome and lacking fluidity.
But thankfully, poor finishing with Damien Johnson guilty of a bad miss in the 27th minute and a good save by Marshall kept the score to one at the break.
Michael Mifsud and Dele Abebola were not given much service up front. The Nigerian did get one shot in on the half hour mark but that sailed over whilst Isaac Osbourne went wide just before the interval.
City needed to come out for the second half all guns blazing and for a few minutes they did. The Sky Blues won a 47th minute corner when Matthew Sadler intervened just as Dele Adebola,against his former club,was lining up to shoot.
Stephen Hughes took the kick and it landed perfectly for Adam Virgo at the far post. Now the right back had defended superbly in the first half but at the other end, he was guilty of leaving his scoring boots at home when from eight yards,he could only send the ball wide of Colin Doyle's right hand post.
Hughes was the only name taken by referee Trevor Kettle when he lost the ball and tripped his opponent as he tried to get it back.
Mifsud snatched at two chances and sent them wide for Steve Bruce made the first substitution of the game when DJ Campbell was sent on in the 62nd minute for Cameron Jerome.
Dowie followed suit immediately and went for a double switch with Khalli Fadiga and Kevin Kyle coming on for Isaac Osbourne and Jay Tabb.
Unfortunately, it was the Birmingham manager whose switch paid off with DJ Campbell scoring Birmingham's second in the 64th minute when Elliott Ward failed to deal when the ball was banged forward and the striker was able to chip the ball over Marshall and into the net.
Kevin Kyle who is due for sentencing on April 3rd missed with a 67th minute with Virgo wasting a great opportunity from a corner a minute later.
With thirteen minutes remaining, Birmingham scored for the third time in the match when DJ Campbell finished off a cross.
That was game over and the final whistle brought some relief for another big City following which had been let down yet again.
HT BCFC 1-0 CCFC FT BCFC 3-0 CCFC
ATT 25,424
GOALS Rhadi Jaidi (13),DJ Campbell (64 & 77)
Referee T.Kettle Booked Hughes
Team
Marshall,Virgo,Hall,Ward,Hawkins,Hughes,Doyle,Osbourne (Fadiga 63),Tabb (Kyle 63),Adebola,Mifsud SNU Steele,McKenzie,Page
Birmingham
Doyle,Sadler,Jaidi,Taylor,Kelly,Clemence (Nafti 71), Larsson,Johnson,Vine,Jerome (Campbell 62),Bendtner (Muamba 83) SNU Maik Taylor,Danns