COVENTRY CITY 0-0 CARDIFF CITY BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Marshall, Osbourne,Dann,Fox,Ward,Tabb (Andrews 79),Doyle,M.Hughes,Gray (Davis 66),Best,Mifsud (Simpson 58) SNU Konstantopolous,Hall
Cardiff
Enckelman,Naughton,Loovens,Johnson,Capaldi,Whittingham (Brown 88),Ramsey,Rae, Ledley (McPhail 63), Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 75), SNU Oakes,Purse,
HT CCFC 0-0 CCFC FT CCFC 0-0 CCFC
ATT 15,260
REFEREE D.McDermid
BOOKED Loovens, Hasselbaink, Tabb,Best,Davis
MAN OF THE MATCH Andy Marshall the clear winner with votes for Dann and Fox
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STARTING FORMATION
Frankie Bunn and John Harbin made five changes from the side that had lost at Preston. Scott Dann got his first start with Andy Marshall, Danny Fox, Michael Hughes and Michael Mifsud all starting.
Cardiff, managed by former Sky Blue Dave Jones, included Nuneaton born Peter Whittingham.
Best Mifsud
Gray Doyle M.Hughes Tabb
Fox Dann Ward Osbourne
Marshall
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CITY SUPPORT
About what you would expect for a Tuesday night game. Five to six hundred Cardiff supporters.
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Change the manager but the players stay the same and after the dreadful performance at Plymouth, the Sky Blues were little better drawing 0-0 at home to Cardiff City.
With Iain Dowie and Tim Flowers having bitten the Ranson bullet for not seing eye to eye on a number of matters with the new Chairman, Frankie Bunn and John Harbin were put in charge of the team for this vital Championship fixture for the Sky Blues after Saturday's defeat at Preston North End.
It seems unlikely that this pairing, who were part of an extensive Dowie entourage,will get the job and rumours already link Nigel Pearson,Trevor Francis, Eric Black, Mike Newall and Billy Davies as possible candidates on Ranson's list of twenty.
Bunn stood in the technical area,wearing shorts and had drafted in Steve Ogrizovic and Andy Khalins to assist and they all watched on as both sides fought to gain the upper hand in midfield.
It was a battle that was mainly won by the Welshman, with Aaron Ramsey, who had played against City U18's earlier this season, battling hard to keep the Michael's Doyle and Hughes quiet.
On a cold night at the Arena, those in attendance had to wait until the 27th minute for City who attacked the CT Stand in the first half for the first decent shot on goal. Michael Mifsud was the man who had the shot, driving low from the edge of the area, only for Enckleman to get down to his right and push the ball round for a corner.
Two minutes later, Andy Marshall had to make a save when a mistake after a free kick let in Naughton.
Danny Fox, who was taking some of City's set pieces went just wide with a free kick and apart from another messed up free kick by Best and a wasted corner,the game went into the break as so common with home matches this season without a goal.
City's defence looked like they were still in the changing rooms as Cardiff hit City straight after the restart. It was thanks to a double save from Andy Marshall who got down to block efforts from Gavin Rae and Joe Ledley that City did not fall a goal behind.
Cardiff had a bit of pressure which saw Marshall having to save from Perry but the likelihood of anyone finding the net was looking remoter by the minute.
Robbie Simpson, Liam Davis and later Wayne Andrews were all brought on, to no effect by a City side which struggled to again work out the offside trap.
The right arm of assistant referee Amy Rayner was raised more times than at a Nurnberg rally (correctly on all occasions as well) as Leon Best struggled to work out how to combat the visitor's defensive tactic.
Best's frustrations saw him end up in the book of referee Mr McDermid, in his first Championship game of the season) and join the likes of Loovens,Hasselbaink,Tabb and Davis in what could never be described as a dirty game.
The striker,signed from Southampton, who are rumoured to be interested in Iain Dowie, did have a shot saved after a neat turn, eleven minutes from time but it was never going to beat Enckleman and both sides settled for a point apiece.