COVENTRY CITY 3-0 NOTTS COUNTY
City:Murphy (GK), Phillips, Webster, J. Clarke, Adams, Thomas (Barton 88), Fleck, Baker (C) (Garner 89), Moussa, L. Clarke, Wilson (Loza 80). Subs: Burge (GK), Haynes, Christie, Maund.
Notts County: Bialkowski (GK), Fotheringham, Sheehan (Thompson 66), Grealish (Arquinn 46), Holt, Liddle, Labadie (Boucard 79), McGregor, Leacock, Tempest, Haynes. Subs: Speiss (GK), Smith, Campbell-Ryce,Haber.
HT CCFC 0-0 NCFC FT CCFC 3-0 NCFC ATT 2693
Goals Leon Clarke 47, 56, Callum Wilson 64
Referee L.Collins
Booked Labadie, Baker, Sheehan, Fleck
Sent Off Haynes 43
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On a day where many firework evenings are planned, Coventry City provided a wonderous display of their own with a 3-0 win over Notts County.
With the smell of fireworks and bonfires, we moved into the month of November with the Sky Blues on the up following an unbeaten month.
Today at a Sixfields Stadium which we hope to be vacating as soon as possible after news that SISU's Joy Seppala and Coventry City Council Leader Ann Lucas will meet to discuss the freehold sale of the Ricoh Arena, probably after the judicial review, was announced earlier this week, City took on a Notts County side who were struggling this season and had offloaded their manager Chris Kiwomya.
After a minute's silence and with the rain having stopped, City took to the field for this first Saturday 3pm game at Sixfields with a side unchanged from the one that had won at Walsall seven days ago.
Aaron Phillips was soon involved against a team playing in purple shirts and yellow shorts, playing in Callum Wilson for an early cross which was cleared as was a fourth minute cross in front of far more City fans than those from Nottingham inside the ground and in front of thirty or so on the hill.
Steven Pressley's side won the successive corners in the 15th minute before Jack Grealish was fouled and Callum Wilson had a shot on the turn straight at Bartosz Bialkowski.
Baker gave the visiting keeper some more catching practice, something which Steve Hodge, who was wandering in and out of his technical area, felt was "too easy".
In the 26th minute, Joss Labadie was booked by referee Lee Collins for a foul and then squaring up to Andy Webster. Two minutes later and the visitors had their first chance of the afternoon when Grealish headed well wide.
Then former City loanee Dean Leacock gave the ball back to Leon Clarke who first shot at Bialkowski and then latched onto a through ball but could not steer it past the keeper.
Leacock had a shot deflected for a 33rd minute corner, which Jordan Clarke, whose presence on the pitch was again immense, easily dealt with.
In the 37th minute, Leon Clarke ran at the County defence and won a corner that he headed over from before he was penalised for shoving.
County continued to close down City at every opportunity and after the hard working Conor Thomas had fired over, the Magpies won a 41st minute corner which was sent onto the roof of the North Stand by Callum McGregor.
In the 43rd minute, the Magpies were down to ten men when Danny Haynes was sent off for a kick in the chest on Jordan Clarke on the far side. It was a needless and pointless act and it proved to be a game changer.
Some City supporters were still enjoying pizza that was handed out at half time to loud screams as two minutes in, Blair Adams did tremendously well to keep the ball in play and get to the byline and centre for Leon Clarke to smash a shot high into the net from 14 yards.
Aaron Phillips fired wide following a free kick as the Sky Blues, in front of 2693, with 543 visitors, went looking for a second.
It nearly came in the 54th minute when the magnificent Blair Adams had a run and shot and two minutes later, City had got their second goal thanks to Leon Clarke surging through and lifting the ball over Bialkowski who had come out early.
The City support were on their feet in anticipation as Moussa had a shot saved and Jordan Clarke went close from thirty yards and in the 64th minute, it was three thanks to Callum Wilson, who completed anew two year deal on Thursday, rounding the keeper from a Fleck through ball and scoring his eleventh goal of the season.
About a hundred of the Notts County fans took this third goal and their side heading to the bottom of the table as their cue to leave and head for the Sixfields Tavern amongst other places whilst the City supporters continued to revel in what was a superb performance despite a swirling wind.
Two corners were won in the 70th minute as was one four minutes later, won by Phillips having another of his trademark screamer’s, deflected.
Leon Clarke curled a shot wide as more County fans made their way to the exits.
They missed one more change by Steve Hodge and Jamar Loza coming on for his debut and ovations for Thomas and Baker when they were replaced by the star jumping Barton and Garner.
As we entered stoppage time and after John Fleck picked up his fifth booking, City, won a free kick which Jordan Clarke fired at Bialkowski and then played keep ball to record a third successive win for the first time in three years and move up into eleventh place in the table.