City Given The Plymouth Heave Ho

Last updated : 19 February 2006 By Kev Monks
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 3-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Coventry City were made to pay for some woeful defending with a 3-1 defeat at Plymouth.

For our furthest trip of the season to a city steeped in naval history which we made in fog and then heavy rain, Micky Adams was again down to the bare bones. Robert Page was suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card in last Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Watford. So in came James Scowcroft,Andy Impey and Don Hutchison.

Plymouth, who had failed in a bid to take West Ham's James Collins on loan,fielded most of the team which had drawn at manager Tony Pulis' former club,Stoke City in midweek and included former Sky Blue Lillian Nallis.

Most of the 741 City fans had just made it into a Home Park ground which still has terracing in front of its main stand,when the home side took a thirteenth minute lead. James Scowcroft thought he had won a throw-in. Referee Mr Armstrong decided otherwise. The throw was quickly taken and sent into the six yard box where Vincent Pericard span and smashed the ball into the net.

Plymouth won four corners before play was halted for a head injury to Stern John.

In the 28th minute,James Scowcroft got down the left and hit a shot which was blocked and cleared upfield forcing Marton Fulop to slice the ball up into the air and the lively Andy Impey cleared.

The former QPR and Millwall winger attacked the next time he got the ball,showing some neat touches to set up Doyle who fired over.

Plymouth were stopped from going further in front in the 33rd minute when Fulop got down to a seven yard header from Micky Evans.

On a pitch that was cutting up badly.Plymouth did increase their tally in the 40th minute when a mistake by Whing let in Pericard who advanced before drilling the ball past Fulop.

Adie Williams protested about the goal standing and was cautioned.

Gary McSheffrey had two drives saved as the boos from some of the City fans brought half-time.

With chants of "Blue Army" ringing round the away end, City should have had a 52nd minute penalty when Andy Whing was clearly tripped. Appeals were waved much to the disgust of the travelling support.

Seven minutes later,Mr Armstrong played a good advantage to allow McSheffrey to centre for John to have a shot inside the area and blocked and for James Scowcroft to drive a low shot which Larrieu saved.

In the 65th minute,Marton Fulop made a great stop from substitute Luke Chadwick and cleared the ball up to Stern John whose shot from fourteen yards was pushed over for a corner.

Adebola tried his luck,three minutes later but saw Larrieu get a late hand to push round for a corner.

In the 73rd minute,another mistake saw Marton Fulop trip Adie Williams allowing Vincent Pericard who looked to have handled the ball to claim his hat-trick by firing into an empty net.

There was little Adams could do but make changes and a triple switch followed.

Dennis Wise was one of those brought on and was booked within two minutes. It got better for the former Millwall boss,however, when he pulled one back in the 83rd minute, firing in with a low drive after two efforts had been blocked and Claus Jorgensen crossed.

Gary McSheffrey went down inside the area in the last minute but Mr Armstrong thought City's top scorer had dived and booked him. It will see McSheffrey miss next week's game against Burnley and the next away game at Southampton.

HT PAFC 2-0 CCFC
FT PAFC 3-1 CCFC
ATT 12,958

Goals Vincent Pericard (13,40,73), Dennis Wise (83)

Referee P.Armstrong
Booked Williams,Wise,McSheffrey

Team
Fulop,Whing,Williams,Doyle (Wise 77),Adebola (Morrell 77),Scowcroft (Jorgensen 77),John, Heath,Hutchison,Impey.

SNU Ince,Thornton

Plymouth
Larrieu,Nallis,Norris (Buzsaky 80),Evans (Chadwick 59) ,Pericard,Kouo Doumbe, Capaldi,Wooton,Aljofree (Djordjic 80),Ward,Connelly

SNU McCormack,Hodges.