COVENTRY CITY 2-1 IPSWICH TOWN BY KEV MONKS
Date 09/08/09 At The Ricoh Arena. Championship Fixture
Team
Westwood, Osbourne, Wright, Turner, van Aanholt, Bell (Clarke 62), McIndoe (Ward 82), Gunnarsson, Clingan, Morrison, Best (Eastwood 61)
SNU Konstantopolous, Grandison, Jeffers.Cain
Ipswich
R.Wright, Bruce, Blakestein, McAuley, Delaney, Walter, Norris (Gervan 55), Peters (Priskin 65), Stead (Wickman 65), Martin, Trotter. SNU Supple, D.Wright, Smith, Colback
HT CCFC 2-1 ITFC FT CCFC 2-1 ITFC ATT 16,279
Referee R.Booth
Goals Clinton Morrison (10,23), Jon Walters (27)
Man Of The Match. So many City players could have been named, Morrison, Clingan, Westwood and van Aanholt were all immense in a superb team peformance
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Coventry City got off to the best possible start with a 2-1 home victory against Ipswich Town.
I didn't let the doom and gloom merchants cloud my vision as I made my way to the Ricoh Arena on a sunny lunchtime. Pre-season may not have been the best with Michael Doyle shipped out on loan to Leeds in the week but hopes were high after a good performance last Sunday against Everton in the Marcus Hall Testimonial.
The injured Hall missed out on a place in the side which started against Ipswich Town, who by a quirk of the Football League fixture computer, we had played in the last game of last season.
New boys Sammy Clingan, Michael McIndoe and loanee from Chelsea Patrick van Aanholt all started in a City team which saw the return of David Bell.
16,279 fans were officially in the Ricoh Arena when a man I will always associate with Ipswich Town - the late Sir Bobby Robson was given an absolute thunderous send off after his sad death.
Those assembled, plus those watching on tv sets and laptops around the world due to this game, between two sides, whose managers are tipped to be like Sir Bobby Robson and manage their country, being on Sky Sports, watched a terrific game of football that was a splendid advert for the Championship.
There was not a caution for referee Russell Booth as two sides played good attacking football from the start.
Ipswich could have been ahead inside thirty seconds but a brilliant intervention by Ben Turner stopped that.
That brought the first of two corners for the visitors and then two for City.
We had just got into the ninth minute when Coventry City took the lead. Richard Wright came out of his goal. Clinton Morrison beat him to the ball and turned and chipped the ball into the far corner of the net.
At the other end, new boy Patrick van Aanholt was showing that he was calm under pressure. He showed great vision for an 18 coming up 19 year old and some of his touches to get the balls away from defenders were just what this club needs.
Sammy Clingan, who had impressed against Everton worked very well with Aron Gunnarsson. His passing and ability to seek out players, allowed the Ice Man, Bell and the forwards to keep the pressure on the visitors defence.
In the 23rd minute, the City supporters who had turned out in good numbers even if some were not happy about having to collect their season ticket before the game, were in raptures when Clinton Morrison made it 2-0.
In a manner befitting Keith Houchen, Morrison dived to head an Isaac Osbourne cross from the right and Richard Wright was helpless as the ball flew into the net.
You are always at your weakest, when you have just scored and so it proved as in the 27th minute, Jon Walters was allowed the freedom of the Sky Blues defence to race through and beat Keiren Westwood with a low drive.
Morrison and Best led the line well. They held up the ball against a hard working Ipswich defence.
Jamie Peters in midfield and Jon Stead were massive threats for Ipswich. Peters was always looking for the ball and had a 48th minute shot blocked for a corner. Then a minute later, only a brilliant one handed save by Keiren Westwood prevented the Canadian from getting his side level.
Ipswich, for the first fifteen minutes of the second half had the vast majority of the play whilst all the visiting defence had to deal with early on was a McIndoe free kick.
Best had got injured in a heavy tackle with David Norris and the Republic Of Ireland international limped off in the 61st minute to be replaced by Freddie Eastwood.
David Bell, who had been suffering from flu during pre-
season was also replaced by Jordan Clarke who went to right back. Stephen Wright took over at left back and the capable Mr Aanholt pushed into midfield.
Roy Keane went for the honour of having the youngest player on the pitch when Connor Wickman replaced Jon Stead and he also aired new signing from Watford Priskin to replace Peters who had run himself into the ground.
This lifited Ipswich for a five minute spell. Jon Walters sent a long ranger, narrowly wide and after Westwood had tipped one over, in the 72nd minute, Clinton Morrison hit the bar but it was in his own penalty area clearing the danger away.
The home support sensed that City needed lifting and the noise level in the arena raised. It seemed to do the trick.
Gunnarsson won a corner, Jordan Clarke did as well before Elliott Ward came on to replace Michael McIndoe, who had had a good debut.
With seven minutes left, Morrison played in van Aanholt to get in a shot from the edge of the area which Wright saved.
Jordan Clarke had a shot blocked as did Clingan inbetween an Ipswich corner.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added by the referee but City were able to ground out a victory which gets their Championship season off to a great start.