City Hit Derby For Six Again

Last updated : 21 January 2006 By Kev Monks
COVENTRY CITY 6-1 DERBY COUNTY BY KEV MONKS
On a cold January afternoon,Derby County arrived for their first ever game at the Arena. Little did they suspect that they would leave Coventry for the second time in succession having conceded six goals.

There was much to amuse the 20,267 as they filed into the Arena. Firstly was the playing of the new Coventry City song "Come On,Come On" featuring both City players and supporters.
Then there was the recording of part of a Channel 4 drama called All In The game staring Ray Winstone. The scene was that a fictional team signed a player called Joel Lamone and he was introduced to the crowd. With tv producers sweating on how this would turn out, the City support played their part giving the actor playing Lamone and Ray Winston a huge cheer.

Talking of cheers, there was a loud one with ten seconds of referee Graham Salisbury's whistle. This was for new signing Dennis Wise who clattered Seth Johnson. Wise,who is on a pay as you play deal until the end of the season, started in a City side that had two changes from the one beaten at Reading last week.

The foul by the former Millwall player/boss led to a free kick. It came to nothing but the Rams regained possession. Richard Shaw missed the ball allowing Paul Peschisolido to stick a leg the other side of Adie Williams and push the ball into the net with only sixty five seconds gone.

A goal down in the first minute and a few City supporters around me were starting to look worried whilst others who had been queuing up for Middlesbrough FA Cup tickets arrived in the ground to find that City were goal down.

The glum looks were soon erased as just under four minutes later,the Sky Blues were level. Dele Adebola who was the second change in the City side, found himself on the right hand side of the area. His cross for Dennis Wise was perfect. Wise knocked the ball forward for Stern John some ten yards out to thump it firmly into the back of the net.

With Wise adding some bite to the midfield, Dele Adebola and Stern John were on a mission to wreak havoc in the Rams defence. This they did successfully. The Nigerian international forced a combination of Derby's keeper Lee Camp and a defender to concede a 14th minute corner and fourteen minutes later, a lovely turn by Adebola played in John who curled the ball over from eight yards.

Adie Williams was cautioned early on and in the 41st minute, Dennis Wise went into the book for unsporting behaviour for a foul on Johnson.

Derby who had former City player Marc Edworthy in their starting line-up forced Marton Fulop into action with a Danny Graham header just before the turn around.

It had been a not too bad a half from the Sky Blues but they emerged from the dressing room fired up and proceeded to take the game to the away team.

Marton Fulop saved an early shot from Peschisolido
but with one hundred and three seconds of the second half gone, City were ahead.

Dele Adebola who had swapped sides with Gary McSheffrey tore past Edworthy and got down the left. He picked out the unmarked Stern John
with a pin-point cross and the Trinidad and Tobago international striker drove the ball in from six yards. John had said in midweek that he had nothing to prove to the Derby fans who jeered him during his spell at Pride Park. But his celebration in front of the Derby fans showed that he was glad to be back at Coventry City and scoring goals.

Seth Johnson became the third caution in the 49th minute for a trip on John. Dennis Wise took the free kick and was not that far away with a twenty eight yard curler.

Eight minutes later, Wise did get the ball on target when he scored City's third goal. The midfielder was twenty five yards out when his shot deflected off a defender. The ball looped up and went into the net past the flapping Camp.

The 39 year old then turned provider when he set up City's fourth goal four minutes later. Gary McSheffrey won a corner with a shot which Camp pushed round. Wise went over to take the flag kick in front of the Block 17 boys and delivered a telling ball to the near post for Dele Adebola to head the goal from six yards which his performance thoroughly deserved.

The Derby support which was around 2,600 either got up and left or sang "You Don't know What You Are Doing " at their boss Phil Brown.

"Sack The Board" chants from supporters who,like us had to endure Bryan Richardson at their club echoed from the away end as Brown made a double switch.

Micky Adams made his first change in the 71st minute. It was for Dele Adebola who had picked up a knock and was replaced by Don Hutchison. As the striker left the field of play, he received a standing ovation from the City support.

Brown received a load more abuse when he substituted Seth Johnson three minutes later. Johnson who in my opinion was the best Derby had to offer had just forced Marton Fulop into a save when he was replaced by Adams Bolder.

Dennis Wise who had a fine game was the next to be replaced. He left the pitch in the 76th minute to a standing ovation and was replaced by Kevin Thornton who had impressed during a midweek friendly for City Reserves.

With City at times showboating such was their confidence and Andy Whing on for Richard Duffy, Thornton got straight into the action and in the 81st minute, a through ball from the young Irishman sent Gary McSheffrey on his way down the right. McSheffrey got inside the penalty area only for Michael Johnson to bundle him over.

Mr Salisbury took his time over the decision but awarded City a penalty. Stern John who was on a hat-trick grabbed the ball. Now I would have let him take it. But Gary McSheffrey took control of the ball and placed it on the spot leaving John totally vexed by this action. Gary McSheffrey made no mistake from the spot to send City nap.

There had been chants of "We Want Six" for a while and after Don Hutchison had been booked for what looked like the use of an elbow,City did add a sixth goal.

It came in the final minute thanks to Andy Whing who netted in that never to be forgotten day of April 30th 2005,finding Gary McSheffrey. City's leading scorer got close to the penalty spot before curling the ball past the hapless Camp.

So it was a six goal haul for the second time at home to Derby County and a performance that sparked large queues at the ticket office for tickets against Premiership Middlesbrough next Saturday.

HT CCFC 1-1 DCFC
FT CCFC 6-1 DCFC
ATT 20 267

GOALS Paul Peschisolido (2),Stern John (5 & 47),Dennis Wise (58),Dele Adebola (63),Gary McSheffrey (pen 81 & 90)

Booked Williams,Wise,S.Johnson,Hutchison

TEAM
Fulop,Duffy (Whing 78),Williams,Hall,Shaw, Scowcroft,Wise (Thornton 76),Doyle, McSheffrey,Adebola (Hutchison 71),John
SNU Ince,Morrell

DERBY
Camp,Edworthy,Nyatanga, Kenna (Davies 65), M.Johnson,Smith,Idiakez,S Johnson (Bolder 75),Holmes,Peschisolido,Graham (Bisgaard 65)
Subs: Poole,Thirlwell