COVENTRY CITY 3-1 WATFORD BY KEV MONKS
After being booed off against Hull City,Coventry City came back with a hard working performance to beat Watford 3-1.
One of the reasons that those behind the Arena did not get my full support was that I do not believe that the transport infrastructure put in place is entirely adequate and thanks to the clogged up A444 despite the lowest home crowd of the season, I arrived in my seat just in time to see the match kick off.
In fact, I was one of the fortunate ones as there were still queues as supporters tried to get in to turnstiles which could not cope with the numbers.
Something else that could not cope was the electrics and the concourse area was in darkness as was most of the Main Stand.
I was still trying to work out who was in the Sky Blues starting line-up when after 115 seconds, Coventry City who had brought back Andy Whing,Marcus Hall and Wilo Flood went ahead.
A body check had earned former Leicester defender Jordan Stewart a caution and gave City a free kick.
Stephen Hughes took the kick and sent the ball deep into the penalty area. James Scowcroft jumped up with Hornets keeper Ben Foster. The former Racing Warwick custodian who is on loan from Manchester United went down like a sack of spuds. Referee Phil Joslin did nothing as Dele Adebola stroked the ball into the empty net from close range.
With the police patrolling the pitch perimeter for what was supposed to be a non-police game and Section 5 warnings being given out by the back up PA system,in the 15th minute, the floodlights went out apart from those in the East Stand. It must have been an electrician working wonders as seconds later full power was restored to all areas.
One-nil to the Coventry became two-nil in the 19th minute. The industrious Willo Flood found some space on the right. The Irish U21 International drove a low shot across the greasy surface. Supporters looked on, some like myself thinking that it was going wide. However,at the last second,the ball went into the bottom corner of the net.
In the 33rd minute,Trevor Benjamin who said he did not want to play for the Sky Blues back in July, showed why he was has had so many clubs as he fired very wide of the goal from twenty yards.
City went down the other end won a corner which Richard Duffy headed on to the cross bar from twelve yards.
At the break which was heralded by another downpour and the worst cup of coffee I've had this season (maybe if CCFC did get a cut of the catering takings,the standards might improve) which tasted like the water had been kept warm in a hot water bottle, there were three substitutions.
Andy Morrell replaced Dele Adebola with Adrian Boothroyd taking off the hapless Trevor Benjamin and Dominic Blizzard.
Six minutes after the restart and to the delight of their 800 or so supporters, Watford pulled one back. Yet again,the City defenders were ball watching as Ashley Young turned and lashed a superbly executed volley which flew into the net from the edge of the area.
Two minutes later and the ball was in the net once more through Andy Morrell. However,Assistant Referee Ian Scarr who was at the Arena last week,refereeing City Reserves,had his flag up as the former Wrexham striker rounded Foster and stroked the ball into the net.
On the hour mark,things got heated. A tackle by Robert Page had players racing to get stuck in. Punches were certainly thrown. I clearly spotted Jordan Stewart racing a good distance to pile in.
With both assistant referees on the pitch,giving their opinion from a height bigger than that of the referee. Page & Jason Chambers were booked with McSheffrey and Foster following suit.
Although Stephen Bywater in the City goal was never really troubled,Watford looked useful on the break as Coventry's defence reverted to hoof it anywhere tactics.
Although Stephen Bywater in the City goal was never really troubled,Watford looked useful on the break as Coventry's defence reverted to hoof it anywhere tactics.
In the 72nd minute,Adams made a change with Claus Jorgensen coming on for Wilo Flood who in my opinion was having his best game in a Coventry City shirt so far.
Michael Doyle was cautioned for an off the ball incident in the 83rd minute which left Ashley Young writhing round the centre circle.
City needed another goal to make certain of the victory and it came in the 85th minute from a route one move.
A Watford attack had broken down, Stephen Bywater collected the ball and sent a long ball down the pitch. Andy Morrell nodded on for Gary McSheffrey to race through and slot the ball past Foster for his first goal this season.
Surprisingly only four minutes of stoppage time was played by Mr Joslin as City kept it tight and coasted to a well deserved victory.
HT CCFC 2-0 WFC
FT CCFC 3-1 WFC
ATT 16,978
Goals
Dele Adebola (2),Wilo Flood (19),Ashley Young (51),Gary McSheffrey (85)
Booked
Jordan Stewart,Carl Fletcher,Robert Page,Ben Foster,Jason Chamber,Gary McSheffrey,Michael Doyle
Team
Bywater,Hall,Whing,Page,Duffy,Doyle,Hughes,Scowcroft,Adebola (Morrell 46),McSheffrey (Impey 93),Flood (Jorgensen 72) Subs Ince,Watson
Watford
Foster,Chambers,Stewart,Blizzard (Bouazza 46),Grant,Benjamin (Agboniahor 46), Doyley,Young,Fletcher,McNamee (Devlin 75)
SNU Chamberlain,Spring