COVENTRY 2-1 MILLWALL BY KEV MONKS
16/04/11 at the Ricoh Arena
Team
Westwood, Keogh, Clarke (Wood 76), Cranie, Hussey, Gunnarsson (McIndoe 51), Clingan, Bell, Baker, King Jutkiewicz (Platt 65). SNU Quirke, Deegan, Eastwood, O’Halloran.
Millwall
Forde, Dunne (Marquis 92), Purse, Ward, Barron, Henry, Abdou, Mkandawire, Townsend (Harris 46), Trotter, McQuoid (Bouazza 70). SNU Hackett, Craig, Robinson, Mildenhall
HT CCFC 1-1 MFC FT CCFC 2-1 MFC ATT 16,354
GOALS Marlon King (7 & 82), Andros Townsend (44)
Referee R.East Booked Baker. Sent Off Harris (47)
Man Of The Match – Chris Hussey took the votes from Marlon King with nominations for Bell and Clingan
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A late and early goal from Marlon King this time from open play ensured that Coventry City will play Championship football next season following a 2-1 home victory over Millwall.
For this game, the club had decided to slash the admission prices to the same prices that season ticket holders will pay. Now, if the official figures released by the club are to be believed than, this gamble, which is being taken for the final home game against Reading, backfired as somehow the gate was less than there was for Watford.
On a sunny day with a few clouds to bother the police helicopter that was circling the Ricoh Arena, City took to the field without Gary McSheffrey who injured his knee in the win at Portsmouth and Nathan Cameron. Carl Baker went into the hole that McSheffrey had been playing in since Andy Thorn was appointed as caretaker, whilst Jordan Clarke came in at right back, moving Richard Keogh over to centre half.
With Millwall’s dangerman Steve Morison suspended for three matches, the City defence did not have that threat and in fact it was the visiting team whose defence were under the greater pressure in the opening exchanges.
Just six and a half minutes had gone when MARLON KING was gifted the opening goal from a back pass to the badly positioned David Forde missed the out-rushing keeper and King, who was well abused by the visiting supporters, was easily able to touch the ball to the left and stroke it into the empty net at the Jewson Stand end.
That prompted the stewards and police into the away end as the City supporters danced with delight.
Another Forde mistake gave City, who showed in patches the one touch football, they have been playing the last few weeks, an 11th minute corner before Josh McQuoid missed with a header at the other end from a left wing cross two minutes later.
The City fans launched into a “Richard Shaw” chant before a cracking block from Chris Hussey prevented James Henry who was Millwall’s best player from getting a 21st minute shot on goal.
Keiren Westwood saved a shot on target as we waited for City to up the pace and go for a second goal.
However, Keogh cleared for a 37th minute corner, which unbelievably McQuoid headed over the bar from a couple of feet out and a minute before the interval, ANDROS TOWNSEND was able to get in a twenty yard drive. Westwood dived to his right and looked to have it covered but it got past and the Lions were level.
That was the last action from Townsend who was replaced by Neil Harris at the break. Harris who is seen as a legend at The New Den, must have had a rush of blood to the head or a bit of previous with Aron Gunnarsson as he lunged at the Icelander who went down in a heap and Mr East, who had a good game along with his assistant on the Tescos Stand side Sasa Ihringova, showed him the red card and the Lions were down to ten men for the rest of the half.
In the 50th minute, Marlon King turned inside the area and hit a wicked shot, which Forde did very well to get down to and push up for Darren Purse who had been a late replacement for Paul Robinson to head out for a corner.
The injury to Gunnarsson proved too much and with Thorn deciding not to risk Gary Deegan who was on the bench, Gunnarsson was replaced by Michael McIndoe.
Just before the hour mark, Carl Baker jinked his way into a shooting position and let rip with a twenty yarder that Forde pushed onto the bar and over for another corner.
Clive Platt came as did Richard Wood for Jordan Clarke who had a solid game.
Some City supporters behind me, were glad that the Coundon Lad was being replaced due to the amount of incomplete passes he was totting up but today, Clarke was no worse than anyone else in the team in conceding possession which they did today more times than at Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
With eight minutes left, Coventry City booked their place in the Championship for next season when Richard Keogh got down the right and whipped over a ball for MARLON KING to turn into the net from close range.
As King celebrated with the City support in Block 27 of the CT Stand, James Henry had a falling out with one of his team-mates.
Five minutes of stoppage time was added and in the third minute, King was denied his hat-trick by the post when he sent a curler from the left onto Forde’s left hand post. King tried his luck again but this time, Forde was down to push away for a corner.
Mkandwire hit the bar at the other end with a cross and Clingan went up the other end and sent a thirty yarder screamer just over the bar as City took the victory to ensure their place in the Championship next season.