COVENTRY CITY 4-4 PRESTON NORTH END
City: Murphy, Christie, J. Clarke, Webster, Adams, Thomas, Fleck, Moussa, Daniels (Manset 66), Wilson, L. Clarke (c). Subs: Burge (GK), Willis, Barton, Haynes, Garner, Lobjoit.
Preston North End: Rudd, Huntington, Clarke, Wright, Buchanan, Keane, Holmes, Welsh (Mousinho 61), Hayhurst (Humphrey 61), Garner (Byrom 81), Davies. Subs: Stuckman (GK), Laird, Beavon, Hume.
HT CCFC 1-1 PNE FT CCFC 4-4 PNE ATT 2068
Goals Tom Clarke 9, Leon Clarke 23, Bailey Wright 63, Callum Wilson 68 & 83, Joel Byrom 86, Chris Humphrey 91, Mathieu Manset 94
Referee R.Madley Booked Manset, Wright
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Sixfields Stadium might not be the place anyone involved with Coventry City or the supporters want to be but it is the place for goals after the Sky Blues snatched a point in a 4-4 to make it seventeen goals in two ‘home’ games.
The Sky Blues second game in captivity came on a Bank Holiday Sunday afternoon and with supporters scared to attend for fear of vilification or being threatened, supporters unable to get to Northampton due to its poor and unintegrated public transport system or supporters refusing point blankly to go or refusing to give the club not one penny more, ticket sales had not gone well despite back to back wins.
However, come match day and there were queues outside the ticket booths as City supporters paid to go in, joining those on season tickets or some on free tickets, noticeably the same people who had free tickets at the Ricoh Arena, to well out-number the Preston fans in a crowd that was City's second lowest ever attendance for a league fixture.
There was one protester, who attempted to unfurl a flag by what passes for a ticket office but with Northampton’s Safety Advisory Group restricting protests to the hills and car parks, he was soon moved on by the stewards.
Port Vale boss and former Sky Blue Micky Adams, Chris Powell, David Weir, Michael Johnson, Karl Robinson and scouts from Shrewsbury, was amongst those taking in the game, which saw an unchanged City side with Jordan Clarke over-coming a dead-leg in order to play and City, who had been excellent at Carlisle eight days ago, faced a Preston North End side, which included former England international Kevin Davies, a player who had been recommended to then City boss Ron Atkinson on three occasions.
With the floodlights on four high pylons on, on a sunny but cloudy afternoon, Joe Garner had a 8th minute shot deflected for the first of two corners. Lee Holmes took the second and sent it over to the far post where Tom Clarke volleyed past Joe Murphy to give Preston, playing in a kit close to AFC Bournemouth's home kit, a ninth minute lead.
Fleck played in Moussa but his shot was blocked, as was an effort by Conor Thomas as City who have been linked with the Wigan winger Dicko, went forward.
Cyrus Chrisie, who is still attracting attention from other clubs, got his head in where it hurts to concede a corner which Daniels cleared.
Another Preston corner came in the 21st minute, which was cleared. Then, as "Sky Blue Army" chants went round the ground. Leon Clarke picked out Callum Wilson on his right. Wilson made a great, surging run and centred for Leon Clarke to positively hammer the ball past Declan Rudd and draw City level in the 23rd minute and delighting not only the City fans but Steven Pressley looking snappy in a suit minus the jacket and far better attired than Simon Grayson in a blue t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms.
Four minutes later and City had a highly dangerous free kick on the edge of the area. Leon Clarke thumped the bar with a powerful shot, which rebounded fourteen yards before it was sent wide by Conor Thomas for a goal kick.
In the 33rd minute, Daniels eight yards out knocked the ball back to Leon Clarke who was clearly not friends with sections of the away support, drove across the face of the area.
Wilson had a raid on the visitors defence three minutes later but it took a good block from Keith Keane to stop him.
Christie curled over a 39th minute free kick and then was grateful to Jordan Clarke for helping him clear the problem posed by Will Hayhurst.
Wilson skied over from twenty yards, something watched by twenty or so City fans including Gary Hoffman, on the hill behind the East Stand, before the half ended.
Again Tim Fisher, with minders in close proximity, held court with anyone wanting to talk to him before the second half started with a great move which saw Leon Clarke curl over from a Wilson pass.
Moussa sent over a great ball in the 57th minute, which was hurriedly cleared and Christie did the same from the other side before Wilson won a corner. This time, Daniels flag kick was too deep and Mr Madley awarded a goal kick.
Simon Grayson made a double sub and it brought the Lancashire team and their 562 fans to life.
A corner was not cleared. Davies found one of those substitutes Mousinho. Murphy parried brilliantly but the ball came out to Bailey Wright some twenty yards out, who hit a stunning shot which flew in.
However, the City fans did not have long to wait for a reply. With Mathieu Manset on for Billy Daniels, Leon Clarke picked out Callum Wilson and he joined his fellow front-runner on four goals when he scored from eleven yards in the 68th minute.
In the 78th minute, a great ball over saw Wilson, lose his marker and flick inside for Leon Clarke to curl against Rudd's left hand post.
This game was there for whoever wanted it and with seven minutes left, Manset went on a surging run and the ball came to Callum Wilson who drilled a low shot into the net at the East Stand end. One City fan jumped out of the East Stand and tried to join in the celebrations behind the goal but was ejected by two stewards.
Then with four minutes to go, Preston levelled when the ball came over and Joe Byrom rose to head past Murphy from six yards.
Four minutes were added on and there was another twist in the tale as a foul by Davies was not given and the City defence stood and watch Chris Humphrey put the ball past Murphy.
City were given a standing ovation by their fans as a good back hell ball played in Mathieu Manset and a low drive had the Sky Blues taking a point from an entertaining game.