City: Burge, Willis, Clarke (C), Rawson (Dion Kelly-Evans 46), Turnbull, George Thomas (Ryan Haynes 46), Reilly, Foley, Vernam (Jones 81), Kwame Thomas Beavon. Subs: Charles-Cook,, Rose, Reid, Tudgay.
Bury: Murphy, Leigh, Burgess, Pope (Miller 58), Vaughan (Hope 73),, Mellis, Barnett, Moore, Styles (Maher 88), Headlong, Caddis. Subs: Launton, Mayor, Pennant, Lowe.
FT BFC 2-0 CCFC FT BFC. 2-1 CCFC ATT 2,611
Goals James Vaughan 15, Tom Pope 40, Stuart Beavon 64
The concerted campaign to get Russell Slade added to the list of people that Coventry City supporters want out of the club asap was given plenty of backing tonight as The Sky Blues went down to a 2-1 defeat at Bury FC.
A trip up the M6 on a wet Tuesday night proved to be one to be avoided by many although not one from Southampton and one from Kent who were part of City’s lowest away following for a league game since probably the mid 1980’s.
Those of us who made it to Gigg Lane, saw the under-fire Russell Slade, change the side and give starts to Derby loanees Farrend Rawson and Charles Vernam, plus Stuart Beavon and Jordan Wills who did not get the captain’s armband, which meant that City were basically starting with four central defenders and four strikers.
Former City keeper Joe Murphy started in goal for Bury who attacked the end where the City supporters were and the Shakers went straight on the attack when Paul Caddis fired at Burge following a free kick and James Vaughan drove at Burge in the fourth minute.
The Shakers were given a free kick but thankfully, former City loanee Leon Barnett messed it up much to the delight of the 209 City supporter who were in fine form.
Barnett slotted back into defence and played a 15th minute ball, which eventually, came forward to James Vaughan who was allowed to dance round a static defence and beat Burge on his left to send City a goal down.
This game of statues amongst the City defence who were captained by the hapless Nathan Clarke, rather than Jordan Willis, certainly riled the City defence and chants directed at Slade included “We are calling a taxi for you.”
George Thomas did have one shot on target and on a wet night, Beavon sent a ball across the box. However, at the other end and the City supporters were forcibly urging the team to show some passion as Bury played the ball round far too easily.
Vaughan should have scored when he curled wide in the 28th minute and three minutes later, the chant was on Pancake Day “We love pancakes and hate Sisu” was the chant as Beavon drove well wide in the 31st minute.
A corner to City followed and then a throw but in the 40th minute, Tom Pope nipped through and again beat Burge on his left.
The Slade Out chants and offers for Slade and some of the players to join the City support for a discussion, continued from the City support who informed the Bury fans, who did an excellent version of Anarchy In The Uk, that the Sky Blues’ dreadful defending was one of the reasons why City are going down and that this was the worst City team we had ever seen, which was not fit enough to wear the shirt.
Slade had to do something because if this carried on, it was going to be a right hammering. So Slade made two changes at the break, bringing on two defenders in Ryan Haynes and Dion Kelly-Evans, who certainly should have both started.
Joe Murphy got good applause from the City support when he came over to the goal in front of the Sky Blues support, whilst at the other end, Burge made a good 49th minute save as Bury continued to attack with ease before deciding they had done enough for the night and allowed the visitors to get a foothold on the game.
Dion Kelly-Evans hard-work and Haynes’ pace started to have an effect. Callum Reilly fired over from a Haynes cross and after a free kick at the open end behind Lee Burge, which had to be hacked away, Reilly did the hard work to carve open a chance but fired wide in the 54th minute which was followed three minutes later by Charles Vernam, on the turn, driving just wide of Murphy’s left hand post.
In the 64th minute, City pulled a goal back when Haynes crossed from the left and Stuart Beavon jumped and sent a header in the net.
City might have now been a goal down but even that was looking a mountain too big. That was until Jodi Jones was sent on with nine minutes left and Kevin Foley got in a shot which Murphy pushed round for a corner.
The City support told Murphy to let one in and he nearly did. However, an 85th minute City corner came over, Murphy parried but his defender was first to scramble away.
That was it from City and it was another defeat for the Sky Blues. Thankfully, some of the players led by Dion Kelly-Evans, Jones and Haynes had the good grace to thank the City support for coming but the Sky Blues are looking more and more like a side which will be playing League 2 football next season.