NORWICH CITY 1-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City put in a good workmanlike performance to earn a draw at Carrow Road.
On one of the busiest weekends of the year for traffic saw us make a slower than expected trek to Norwich when if Bodge The Builders had got their fingers out,we should have been christening the opening of the arena.
The City team who had stayed over night had no such problems getting to the ground and Micky Adams was able to name his strongest time.
In goal was Stephen Bywater,who joined on Thursday on loan, with debuts for Heath and Scowcroft,Adebola and John up front.
City were straight on the attack with Stephen Hughes wasting a couple of free kicks.
In the fifth minute, the pace of Gary McSheffrey was halted by a clattering tackle from Craig Fleming who was cautioned.
Having only 1400 tickets,did not stop the noise created by the Sky Blues in the well designed Jarrold Stand.
With nineteen minutes of the season gone,Norwich had the first real effort on goal when Stephen Bywater dived to smother a Dean Ashton free kick.
Seconds later,Ashton was in the right place as he nodded a cross from the right past the helpless Bywater when left unmarked and eight yards out.
Gary McSheffrey was brought down by Louis Jean, Stephen Hughes took the free kick from 25 yards and Adebola's header was deflected over for City first corner with 27 mins gone..
Norwich who are joint favourites for the league,looked good going forward as Leon McKenzie cut his way inside the area for Bywater to again smother.
As the second half started,another Hughes free kick came to nothing,Stern John fired over whilst Darren Huckerby fell over.
There had been a number of niggly fouls in the game and one in the 57th minute,saw a superbly struck free kick by Gary McSheffrey wonderfully saved by Robert Green.
Bywater then did the same at the other end to stop McKenzie after Michael Doyle had been booked.
Then out of nothing, City were level as Gary McSheffrey got down he left and DELE ADEBOLA banged home the 67th minute cross from close range.
Playing more like the team we know they are,City played with more purpose.
Another McSheffrey free kick went inches wide and two corners followed.
Richard Duffy was booked before a cross from the left was headed onto the crossbar by Dean Ashton with seven to go.
Claus Jorgensen came on for Gary McSheffrey as City held on for a well deserved point.
HT NCFC 1-0 CCFC
FT NCFC 1-1 CCFC
GOALS Dean Ashton (20),Dele Adebola (67)
Booked Fleming,Doyle,Doyle
ATT 25,355 (94% of stadium capacity)
KM MOM Stephen Bywater.
Team
Bywater,Hall,Page,Hughes,Duffy,Heath,Doyle,Scowcroft,McSHeffrey (Jorgensen 87),Adebola,John
Subs Ince,Morrell,Osbourne,Shaw
Norwich
Green,Loius Jean,Drury,Fleming,Huckerby,Marney (Thorne 79),Ashton,McKenzie,Charlton (Jarrett 87),A.Hughes,Doherty.
Subs Ward,Brennan,Colin.
Coventry City put in a good workmanlike performance to earn a draw at Carrow Road.
On one of the busiest weekends of the year for traffic saw us make a slower than expected trek to Norwich when if Bodge The Builders had got their fingers out,we should have been christening the opening of the arena.
The City team who had stayed over night had no such problems getting to the ground and Micky Adams was able to name his strongest time.
In goal was Stephen Bywater,who joined on Thursday on loan, with debuts for Heath and Scowcroft,Adebola and John up front.
City were straight on the attack with Stephen Hughes wasting a couple of free kicks.
In the fifth minute, the pace of Gary McSheffrey was halted by a clattering tackle from Craig Fleming who was cautioned.
Having only 1400 tickets,did not stop the noise created by the Sky Blues in the well designed Jarrold Stand.
With nineteen minutes of the season gone,Norwich had the first real effort on goal when Stephen Bywater dived to smother a Dean Ashton free kick.
Seconds later,Ashton was in the right place as he nodded a cross from the right past the helpless Bywater when left unmarked and eight yards out.
Gary McSheffrey was brought down by Louis Jean, Stephen Hughes took the free kick from 25 yards and Adebola's header was deflected over for City first corner with 27 mins gone..
Norwich who are joint favourites for the league,looked good going forward as Leon McKenzie cut his way inside the area for Bywater to again smother.
As the second half started,another Hughes free kick came to nothing,Stern John fired over whilst Darren Huckerby fell over.
There had been a number of niggly fouls in the game and one in the 57th minute,saw a superbly struck free kick by Gary McSheffrey wonderfully saved by Robert Green.
Bywater then did the same at the other end to stop McKenzie after Michael Doyle had been booked.
Then out of nothing, City were level as Gary McSheffrey got down he left and DELE ADEBOLA banged home the 67th minute cross from close range.
Playing more like the team we know they are,City played with more purpose.
Another McSheffrey free kick went inches wide and two corners followed.
Richard Duffy was booked before a cross from the left was headed onto the crossbar by Dean Ashton with seven to go.
Claus Jorgensen came on for Gary McSheffrey as City held on for a well deserved point.
HT NCFC 1-0 CCFC
FT NCFC 1-1 CCFC
GOALS Dean Ashton (20),Dele Adebola (67)
Booked Fleming,Doyle,Doyle
ATT 25,355 (94% of stadium capacity)
KM MOM Stephen Bywater.
Team
Bywater,Hall,Page,Hughes,Duffy,Heath,Doyle,Scowcroft,McSHeffrey (Jorgensen 87),Adebola,John
Subs Ince,Morrell,Osbourne,Shaw
Norwich
Green,Loius Jean,Drury,Fleming,Huckerby,Marney (Thorne 79),Ashton,McKenzie,Charlton (Jarrett 87),A.Hughes,Doherty.
Subs Ward,Brennan,Colin.