COVENTRY CITY 0-0 STOKE CITY BY KEV MONKS
That was one of the most entertaining 0-0 draw's I've seen was my comment as I filed out of Highfield Road after ten man Coventry City had drawn with Stoke.
With Marcus Hall forced to sit out the game against his former team thanks to a gentlemen's agreement, Micky Adams brought in Steve Staunton into the centre of defence. Andy Whing took over at right back with Richard Duffy at left back. Stephen Hughes was restored to midfield as was Claus Jorgensen.
On the bench was a surprise in the shape of the return of Christian Negouai who had been returned to Manchester City only a week ago.
Stoke boss Tony Pullis who had sold Adi Akinbiyi to Burnley in midweek, was without former Sky Blue John Eustace and it was his side who had the early pressure.
Chris Greenacre fired wide and a fifth minute corner was met by the head of Leicester reject Gerry Taggart before it hit a Stoke player's hand with a free kick being given to City by the turban adorned referee Mr Singh, much to the annoyance of around 1300 visiting supporters who are now able to travel in bigger numbers thanks to an archaic ban being lifted.
Steve Staunton looked comfortable at the back,playing against two big strikers and in the ninth minute, he was able to get forward and superbly arc the ball for Stern John to run on and fire wide.
It was now pouring with rain and in the 14th minute, Michael Doyle was booked for squaring up to Clint Hill. When the game restarted, Doyle was immediately poleaxed by Darel Russell.
No free kick was given and more spleen was vented at the referee seconds later when Gary McSheffrey was scythed down by Hill. Steve Staunton took the kick which missed every player in what was a crowded penalty area and went out for a goal kick as East Standers screamed for a shove on Trevor Benjamin.
In the 17th minute,Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen made an absolutely terrific save to tip over from a Benjamin shot.
Following a booking for Kenwyne Jones for a trip on Richard Duffy,the former Everton keeper made another cracking save getting down to his left to push a McSheffrey shot around his left hand post for a corner.
Coventry were enjoying much the better of the first half possession with Simonson doing well to hold on to an Andy Whing cross with Benjamin bearing in on him before getting down to push a Stephen Hughes free kick round for a corner.
In the 39th minute and yours truly still recovering from a fit, Hughes sent Benjamin on his way, the former Northampton striker got into the penalty area before being dragged to the ground by his shirt. Nothing was given and Stoke played the ball out to the right.
A long ball came in which City custodian Ian Bennett came out to collect on the edge of his area. Now whilst Bennett's feet were inside the area,his hands were not.
The incident was spotted by the very portly assistant on the Sky Blue Stand side as well as the referee who agreed with his assistant and sent off Bennett.
Now,unlike Micky Adams, I'm not an advocate of playing five outfield substitutes and with no other keeper fit or available, Stephen Hughes who had been having a fine game had to go in goal.
The doubters may have been accepting that a defeat for Coventry would be the likely outcome but Hughes had other ideas and settled into his new role straight away and was soon greeted with chants of "England's Number One" and "Are You Bennett In Disguise?" as the half ended.
An appearance of Dave Bennett, Keith Houchen, Trevor Peake and David Speedie at half-time warmed the City supporters in a crowd of 13,871.
The last week has seen something of a Sky Blue resurgence with a good second half bringing victory at Reading and an encouraging performance against league leaders Wigan Athletic who were beaten at Gillingham today and this continued into the second half.
With less than two minute of the second half gone, Claus Jorgensen broke through only to be pulled down on the edge of the penalty area by Clint Hill. The former Tranmere youth teamer went into the book of Mr Singh and Gary McSheffrey curled the resulting free kick just past Simonsen's right hand post.
Hughes did have to pick the ball put of the net in the 54th minute but the referee's whistle had long gone by the time Gifton Noel Williams fired in.
Boosted by this, City pushed forward and won a 56th minute free kick. Jorgensen's kick was punted to Adie Williams who headed back for Gary McSheffrey who was immediately pulled down by Dave Brammer, a man who had rejected a move to Highfield Road last summer.
No action was taken against Brammer but a penalty was awarded to City. With the West Terrace begging him to score, McSheffrey took a good spot kick but Simonsen was more than equal to it diving to his right to make a save.
Stoke had Russell booked for tripping Adie Williams before they made a 61st minute double substitution bringing on loanee from Leeds Michael Ricketts and Lewis Neal.
With the visitors being thwarted by a fine saves with his legs from Hughes from the offside Noel Williams, they started to get riled about being unable to break a resolute ten man City side and had Dave Brammer as well as Clive Clarke cautioned in the 66th and 67th minute.
When Stoke did attack, they could not find a way past Hughes who dived to turn round a Chris Neal shot for a 68th minute corner and was met by a chorus of "Are You Watching Eriksson?".
Both sides won a corner before Benjamin was yanked to the ground by Lewis Buxton who joined the lost of those in Mr Singh's book with ten minutes to go.
With every Coventry player battling,chasing and giving their all, Hughes made a good stop from Clarke and then a lovely diving save from the boot of Russell.
Tony Pullis, who looked like a Chav in his baseball cap and tracksuit on the touch line had to replace one of his substitutes in the 84th minute when Michael Ricketts limped off and on came Bjarni Gudjonsson's brother Thordor.
Stern John was also replaced with three minutes left and departed the pitch to warm applause for again displaying plenty of effort and commitment.
Stoke had a free kick deep in stoppage time,but it sailed well wide and City were able to get a point for a hardworking performance.
HT CCFC 0-0 SCFC FT CCFC 0-0 SCFC
ATT 13,871
BOOKED Doyle,Jones,Hill,Russell,Brammer,Clarke, Buxton
SENT OFF Ian Bennett
Man Of The Match - Stephen Hughes with a fine performance both in and out of goal in what was a good team effort.
TEAM
Bennett (sent off 40),Whing,Staunton, Williams,Hughes,Duffy, Jorgensen, Doyle,John (Johnson 87), Benjamin, McSheffrey
SNU Negouai,Adebola,Morrell,Osbourne