Iain & Tim Off To A Flyer

Last updated : 21 February 2007 By Kev Monks
COVENTRY CITY 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON FC BY KEV MONKS
Iain Dowie and Tim Flowers put the smile back on the faces of Coventry City supporters as the Sky Blues put in a sterling performance to see off Southampton at the Arena.

Having unveiled Iain Dowie at a 9am press conference on Monday morning, the new City boss did not have much time to prepare the team for the visit of high flying Southampton to the Arena but his assistant had watched the soul destroying embarrassment that was the defeat at Leicester and named a side that saw Robert Page who will miss the games v Norwich and Hull due to suspension dropped.

Elliott Ward came back in and was rewarded with the captains armband. The former West Ham player was joined in defence by fit again Marcus Hall. This moved Andy Whing to the right side of midfield with Jay Tabb on the left. Stephen Hughes who has still not fully recovered from flu played as did Michael Doyle who had been ordered back from Ireland. Kevin Kyle and Dele Adebola led the attack.

After Iain Dowie had received a good reception from a disappointing crowd of 17,194 which included 1,800 visitors, City got off to the perfect start when they were ahead after four and a half minutes.

The tactic had been to get the ball into the opponents box as quickly as possible and a
long ball from Andy Marshall was headed on by Kevin Kyle into the path of Dele Adebola who lashed a left foot volley from a couple of yards inside the area into the net.

Colin Hawkins who had another fine game, headed off his line three minutes after the goal following Kenwyne Jones leading with his arm on Andy Marshall.

George Burley's side were technically very good and when David McNamee conceded a 10th minute free kick on the edge of the area, it took a brave intervention to force Gareth Bale's kick out for a corner.

In the 13th minute, pressure from the Saints saw them draw level. Kevin Kyle headed off his line and the ball was partially cleared. Lundekvam got in a header which deflected off Adebola's back. Andy Marshall who was partially blocked by Kyle on the line let the ball roll down his body under pressure from Marek Sagonowski who bundled the ball over the line.

This proved only a temporary set-back as City put together some superb football that was a joy to watch. There was crisp passing, players chasing the ball and working for each other.

In the 29th minute, Kevin Kyle,who was a nuisance to the Southampton defence throughout , put City back in front when a sublime ball from Michael Doyle found Kyle inside the area. The Scot rose to meet the ball and powered a header which looped over Kelvin Davis and into the net.

Michael Doyle, the reported target for Sheffield United and Reading, was another to have a fine game and another pin-point pass played in Andy Whing whose cross across the face of the goal just went wide.

The enthusiasm shown by Dowie and Flowers was a joy to watch. Although Dowie spared a second to wave to the City support in the CT Stand, his attention was firmly fixed on the game as he displayed as much passion and committment as his City supporting assistant who had also worn the shirt of the visitors.

The other manager in the game,George Burley was not pleased with his side in the opening half and made a double change at the break.

With the scoreboard wrongly saying that City were losing 1-0,something which took four minutes to resolve, a 48th minute tackle from behind saw Kevin Kyle enter the book of Referee Mr Miller.

Four minutes later, David McNamee limped off and Iain Dowie, (the 24th manager in the 37 years I have been watching the Sky Blues) sent on Isaac Osbourne.

Osbourne battled away but it was Andy Marshall who came to the rescue as Southampton started to get back into the game.

The former Millwall keeper made a couple of good stops in the 68th and 71st minutes before Jay Tabb who ran himself into the ground, left to a standing ovation to be replaced by Leon McKenzie.

Kevin Kyle also received a standing ovation for a job well done when he was substituted with ten minutes to go.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added to what had been an enthralling game even if the excitement of the first half was not matched in the second.

In the dying seconds, Marshall made a superb stop from Gareth Bale who had been watched by a number of managers
to give City the win.

A huge cheer went around the ground. Dowie and Flowers raced onto the pitch after shaking hands with their counterparts to hug and pat on the back their charges who were applauding City support. Flowers and then Dowie celebrated with the support before everyone headed for home very happy.

HT CCFC 2-1 SFC
FT CCFC 2-1 SFC
ATT 17,194

Goals Dele Adebola (4), Marek Saganowski (13), Kevin Kyle (29)
Referee N.Miller Booked McNamee, Kyle, Ostlund

Team
Marshall,Whing,Hall,Ward,Hawkins,McNamee (Osbourne 52),Hughes,Doyle,Tabb (McKenzie 72)Adebola,Kyle (Mifsud 80) SNU Steele,Virgo

Southampton
Davis,Pele (Ostlund 46),Sagonwski,Lundekvam, Skacel (Belmadi 46), Wright,Jones (Rasiak 77),Baird, Bale,Viafar,Surman SNU Bialkowski,Wright-Phillips