PETERBOROUGH UNITED 1-0 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy, Christie, Willis, Webster, Clarke, Fleck, Prutton,(McGeough 86) Marshall, Robinson (Baker 46), Wilson, Eccleston (Delfounseo 62). Subs: Burge, Adams, Thomas,Haynes
Peterborough: Olejnik, Nithe, Baldwin. Swanson (McQuiod 37), Payne, Assombolanga, Rowe, Ajose, Nugent (Alcock 81), Washington (McCann 68) Little. Subs. Day, Brisley, Newell. Isgove.
HT PUFC 1-0 CCFC FT PUFC 1-0 CCFC ATT 6617
Goals Kgosi Ntlhe 6
Referee D.Shelldrake
Booked Ajose
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Coventry City's slim chance of making the League One play-offs evaporated with a 1-0 defeat at Peterborough United.
Twenty five years ago this week end, when Coventry City were snatching a 2-2 draw at Luton Town, 96 football fans lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster. Today, those who died on a terrace which should never have permitted the numbers it did, were remembered with a minute's silence and a delayed off kick off.
Twenty five years ago, that game at Luton Town was in a top flight match and today, City travelled down the A14 to Peterborough for a match that if they won, would keep their slim hopes of a League One play-off place alive.
At a London Road stadium which is having a new stand behind the goal built, City in sky blue kit with navy socks, fielded a team that was expected and after conceding an early free kick, they fell behind to a sixth minute goal when Kgosi Ntlhe headed in from a Swanson corner.
The play was all up the end to our right with an eleventh minute corner and a header from Washington going wide, much to the annoyance of Steven Pressley, today in a red shirt over a black top.
The 1097 City fans crammed into a woefully inadequate Main Stand, were getting restless as possession was being lost far too frequently and the City defence were under a lot more pressure from Little and Swanson than they should have been.
There had just been a large "SISU OUT" chant when Eccleston had a shot pushed away by Olejnik and Marshall sent a 21st minute curler wide.
A free header gave Posh a corner which the dependable Murphy deal with when a second shot came in.
Fleck went close with a twenty five yarder just before the half hour mark whilst Neil Macfarlane who was stood in front of the bench, as the Fourth Official only wanted one person in the technical area, continued to look a worried man.
Again, Mark Marshall tried, even if some of his crossing was poor as did David Prutton in midfield with the Jordan's in defence, especially Jordan Clarke who was keeping 21 goals Brett Assombalonga quiet, working hard.
In the 37th minute, a free kick from Marshall just missed Cyrus Christie and five minutes later, Wilson won a corner which should have been a free kick.
Carl Baker was sent on for the second half in place of Robinson and with the sun now out, the Sky Blues were nearly level in the 49th minute when Wilson got the ball past Olejnik and the keeper had to get back and scramble away.
Wilson rose as City won a throw and a 52nd minute corner and two minutes later, great work from Christie played in Nathan Eccleston, who sent a right footed shot wide when it looked easier to score.
Those who think that Steven Pressley does not show enough emotion were proved wrong when he was threatened with being sent to the stand by the Fourth Official for complaining when Wilson was adjudged to have fouled Washington.
Pressley urged the City support who were either abusing Tim Fisher sat not far away or singing about Murphy being in the middle of our goal to up the noise level before they sent on Nathan Delfounseo in the 62nd minute.
Four minutes, Murphy dived high to his right to push away a McQuiod shot. Darren Ferguson, who was dressed as though he was off to a wedding, changed his team with a midfielder in McCann coming on for the lively Washington.
With fifteen minutes left, a Wilson effort was scrambled away by Nugent and Baldwin after the Cov kid had got past Olejnik.
Pressley threw on Dylan McGeough for the final four minutes which saw more time wasting permitted by the referee and then six minutes added on.
There was plenty of battling spirit and City did deserve a draw but you only get points by scoring goals and with Olejnik not having to make a save in the second half, that meant a defeat.