IPSWICH TOWN 2-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City out in their best away performance of the season to comeback from two goals down to earn a draw at Portman Road.
After the defeat at Saturday against Crystal Palace which saw confidence in the manager and the players starting to wane, it was not surprising that only 190 City supporters bothered to make the trip to Ipswich on a wet Tuesday night.
Micky Adams kept the same team from Saturday whilst Town gave a debut to Adam Proudlock.
The City players wearing home shirts and away shorts came out of their pre-game huddle and were straight on the attack winning a 38 second corner.
A second followed. McSheffrey initial shot was blocked then one by James Scowcroft who was well received by the home fans was deflected for another with a fourth coming in the 14th minute.
Ipswich won their first corner in the 17th corner. Stephen Bywater punched cleared for Lillian Nallis to produce a lovely bit of skill which lead to a corner at the other end.
Unfortunately,it was ineffective and was evident of how Micky Adams needs to vary our set pieces.
One bit of variety was the up and under and Gary McSheffrey used it to effect when his looping shot was saved.
In the 27th minute and against the run of play,Ipswich took the lead. Joe Royle's side were given a free kick some 28 yards out. DARREN CURRIE took the kick which sailed past a crowded penalty area and in at the far post.
The City fans which included one from Northern Ireland, continued to sing but it was the home side who were now on the ascendancy. Bywater saved one effort before Heath had to clear for a 33rd minute corner.
Coventry City out in their best away performance of the season to comeback from two goals down to earn a draw at Portman Road.
After the defeat at Saturday against Crystal Palace which saw confidence in the manager and the players starting to wane, it was not surprising that only 190 City supporters bothered to make the trip to Ipswich on a wet Tuesday night.
Micky Adams kept the same team from Saturday whilst Town gave a debut to Adam Proudlock.
The City players wearing home shirts and away shorts came out of their pre-game huddle and were straight on the attack winning a 38 second corner.
A second followed. McSheffrey initial shot was blocked then one by James Scowcroft who was well received by the home fans was deflected for another with a fourth coming in the 14th minute.
Ipswich won their first corner in the 17th corner. Stephen Bywater punched cleared for Lillian Nallis to produce a lovely bit of skill which lead to a corner at the other end.
Unfortunately,it was ineffective and was evident of how Micky Adams needs to vary our set pieces.
One bit of variety was the up and under and Gary McSheffrey used it to effect when his looping shot was saved.
In the 27th minute and against the run of play,Ipswich took the lead. Joe Royle's side were given a free kick some 28 yards out. DARREN CURRIE took the kick which sailed past a crowded penalty area and in at the far post.
The City fans which included one from Northern Ireland, continued to sing but it was the home side who were now on the ascendancy. Bywater saved one effort before Heath had to clear for a 33rd minute corner.
Four minutes later,Ipswich scored again. Referee Mr Kettle who was with the RAF, gave Ipswich a free kick in the same place that they had scored from earlier. Adam Proudlock took the kick and sent over a long ball which substitute JIMMY JUAN nodded in from ten yards.
On the stroke of half-time,City got the goal they deserved when a long range Duffy shot was deflected for the first of two corners. The second was not cleared and GARY MCSHEFFREY fired in from close range.
Joe Royle made a change at the break whilst the Sky Blues kept up the impetus with McSheffrey forcing Price into a save and then the home defence blocked a Scowcroft run.
In the 55th minute and after Dele Adebola had a goal ruled out for offside,City were level when a superb Michael Doyle cross was met by the diving head of LILLIAN NALLIS on the penalty spot. The City fans went berserk at this comeback. The players seemed more confident as well and it was all Coventry with McSheffrey,Nallis and Adebola getting at the home defence.
In the 68th minute,a run by McSheffrey ended with the ball in the net. However,Mr Kettle harshly ruled it out much to the annoyance of the City fans,tired of all the decisions being given to the home side.
City's defence were holding the Ipswich strikers nicely with a superb off the line clearance from Richard Shaw in the 78th minute.
There were a few nervy moments at the end but it was a shame that such a good performance did not bring the win it deserved.
HT ITFC 2-1 CCFC
FT ITFC 2-2 CCFC
Att 22,656
Goals
Darren Currie (27),Jimmy Juan (37),Gary McSheffrey (45),Lillian Nallis (55)
Booked
Juan,Sito,Heath
TEAM
Bywater,Hall,Hughes,Duffy,Doyle,Adebola,McSheffrey (Morrell 88),Scowcroft,Heath,Shaw,Nallis
Subs Ince,Whing,Watson,Impey
IPSWICH
Price,Richards,De Vos,McEVeley, Naylor, Forster (Bowditch 85),Horlock (Parkin 46),Sito,Proudlock,Garvan (Juan 24),Currie
Subs Supple,Wilnis
MOM Richard Shaw