COVENTRY CITY 0-0 WEST BROMWICH ALBION BY KEV MONKS
Date 24/10/09 At The Ricoh Arena Championship
Coventry
Westwood (Konstantopolous 10), Cranie, Clarke (Bell 68), Wright, Turner, McIndoe, Osbourne, Cork, van Aanholt, Eastwood (Madine 90), Morrison SNU Hussey, Cain, Grandison, Ward
West Brom
Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Matlock, Thomas (Cech 84), Mulumbu, Jara, Koren (Teixeira 67), Dorrans, Moore (Wood 84). SNU Kiely, Reid, Martis, Cox
HT CCFC 0-0 WBA FT CCFC 0-0 WBA ATT 20 871
REFEREE K.Stroud
BOOKED City van Aanholt, Osbourne, Cork. WBA Thomas, Moore, Mulumbu.
MAN OF THE MATCH Dimi Konstantopolous took the votes for a fine performance and a clean sheet.
_______________________
Coventry City lacked ideas up front but did enough to earn a highly creditable draw against West Bromwich Albion.
For both sets of supporters, this was a normal Championship match. The home ground of the Championship leaders may be twenty seven miles away from the Ricoh Arena but there is and has been no rivalry or history between the two clubs and for certain sections of the media, many of whom have come to Coventry for work, to try and hype this into some sort of derby that anyone bothers about, to me, demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge of the history of our football club and that of West Bromwich.
After two very poor performances away to Sheffield Wednesday and at the ‘Mini Ricoh’ in Cardiff, the crowd, most of whom, had left home in the pouring rain which stopped shortly before kick off, had to be boosted by 4,000 visitors from the Black Country and a large number of free tickets being dished out to schools.
Chris Coleman made one change with a starting role for Jordan Clarke at left back, allowed Patrick van Aanholt to move into midfield.
It was a tactic that worked pretty well as the England U19 international and Cov kid made some good tackles early to keep Graham Dorrans, who for me was the Baggies man of the match in check.
Ten minutes in and Chris Coleman was forced to make a change to his original line up when keeper Keiren Westwood felt a back twinge flare up.
Dimi Konstantopolous, whose last match was for City Reserves at Coventry Sphinx eighteen days ago and his last first team appearance was the fated League Cup tie against Hartlepool United back in August, came on in his place.
With Stephen Wright having his best game for a while, City’s defence was able to cope with the Albion attack and when they did get forward, there was the Greek keeper to make the save.
Two came in the 26th minute when he and Stephen Wright blocked Jerome Thomas to concede a corner and and eight minutes later, Dimi confidently punched away a corner and then reacted when Dorrans, who had taken the corner came back in with a right footed drive.
This came after Freddy Eastwood who was jeered by the away support, who were making the majority of the noise, in the Jewson Stand End, which City attacked in the first half, had headed wide.
City created nothing of note as the first half ended with the visitors having the better of the play.
At times, there was more entertainment in the away end than on the pitch as a number of visiting fans were escorted out much to the loud cheers of the scoreboard enders.
With Michael McIndoe improving throughout the half and Jack Cork working tirelessly, City continued to keep pace with the visitors.
David Bell was sent on for Jordan Clarke in a move, which saw Michael McIndoe switch to the left flank.
It was the Norwich man who did reasonably well, that had City’s best chance to snatch a win in the 83rd minute when his shot from the right produced a diving save from the giant that is Scott Carson.
Dimi saved from Zuiverloon before Gary Madine was given his debut. Carlisle’s fifth best striker, jumped and won a header straight away much to the approval of the City support.
We urged City on as they won a corner deep into the four minutes added on by referee Keith Stroud but the match finished without a goal and we left happy with a point.