COVENTRY CITY 2-2 CARDIFF CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City battled away and should have got more than a point from the visit of Cardiff City.
On a cold wet afternoon at the Ricoh,City launched their Former Player Association which included a parade of former players including legends such as George Hudson.Mo Konjic and Colin Stein.
Coventry City battled away and should have got more than a point from the visit of Cardiff City.
On a cold wet afternoon at the Ricoh,City launched their Former Player Association which included a parade of former players including legends such as George Hudson.Mo Konjic and Colin Stein.
It was a pleasure to see many who have served this club well throughout the years and hopefully,we will see more of them in forthcoming events.
Back to the team of February 2007 and the current players were without the injured Kevin Thornton and Kevin Kyle. Robert Page came back into defence after his training ground punch up,having kept the captain's armband in another act of sweeping this bust up under an already lumpy carpet whilst fit again Andy Marshall was back in goal.
The Sky Blues were at the Welshmen from the start and were ahead inside eight minutes. Michael Mifsud dispossessed Cardiff's left back and got down the byline before cutting back for Leon McKenzie to drive the ball into the net from fourteen yards.
Jay Tabb had a shot saved before Cardiff were denied a 22nd minute penalty when Michael Chopra went down inside the penalty area. However,referee Graham Poll was not convinced and play continued when the former Newcastle player got to his feet after treatment.
The visit of Cardiff had prompted a large police operation but the only person causing the trouble was the referee who angered the City support with the bookings of McKenzie and Tabb.
Three minutes before the break of a half where Hawkins,Whing and Page all made some great tackles,Andy Whing cleared up to Adebola who pushed forward for Mifsud who hit the post.
Three minutes of stoppage time were added, Cardiff won a corner. Robert Page put his arm across Roger Johnson and Mr Poll awarded a penalty which Michael Chopra duly converted.
Coventry again started the second period on the attack with the lively Mifsud,Tabb and McKenzie displaying their pace and eagerness to push forward.
The Sky Blues were at the Welshmen from the start and were ahead inside eight minutes. Michael Mifsud dispossessed Cardiff's left back and got down the byline before cutting back for Leon McKenzie to drive the ball into the net from fourteen yards.
Jay Tabb had a shot saved before Cardiff were denied a 22nd minute penalty when Michael Chopra went down inside the penalty area. However,referee Graham Poll was not convinced and play continued when the former Newcastle player got to his feet after treatment.
The visit of Cardiff had prompted a large police operation but the only person causing the trouble was the referee who angered the City support with the bookings of McKenzie and Tabb.
Three minutes before the break of a half where Hawkins,Whing and Page all made some great tackles,Andy Whing cleared up to Adebola who pushed forward for Mifsud who hit the post.
Three minutes of stoppage time were added, Cardiff won a corner. Robert Page put his arm across Roger Johnson and Mr Poll awarded a penalty which Michael Chopra duly converted.
Coventry again started the second period on the attack with the lively Mifsud,Tabb and McKenzie displaying their pace and eagerness to push forward.
Both the Maltese international and Colin Hawkins had efforts before Adrian Heath who appears not to be on the rumoured final three short list of possible managers was forced into a 57th minute change when Andy Whing pulled up.
Stuart Giddings whose injuries have wrecked a highly promising career was introduced to good applause but the Coventry kid had only been on the pitch for less then a minute when Cardiff went ahead.
It was Treacle Town born Peter Whittingham who scored the goal with a stunning strike which flew into the net from the edge of the area.
To their credit,the heads of the City players never dropped and they simply got back on with the game,looking to create opening wherever possible by getting at a Cardiff side which was reduced to ten men in the 66th minute,when Glenn Loovens fouled Mifsud on the edge of the area. Mr Poll dipped into his pocket and produced a yellow and then a red card.
David Jones who has joined the aforementioned Former Players Association tried to reshuffle his pack bringing on Kevin McNaughton who had recovered from being knocked out in the Bluebirds win over Barnsley last week..
It was to no avail as Jay Tabb got down the left in the 70th minute and sent a peach of a cross to the far post where Dele Adebola was waiting to powerfully head into the net to tie the game.
Two minutes later and the City support in a crowd of 17,107 were on their feet when Leon McKenzie got the ball into the net. This was ruled out for a shove.
McKenzie who was having one of his best ever games since his move from Norwich was involved with fifteen minutes left when his header was superbly pushed over by Alexander for a corner.
The striker was first to the corner and headed in home. To me, it looked a good goal but Mr "Three Cards" decided otherwise and ruled it out. Plenty of abuse came from the City fans and was lapped up by the official who was yet again clearly enjoying being the centre of attention.
Adebola and McKenzie had chances at the end whilst former Sky Blue Wilo Flood who appeared in the first ever league game at the Ricoh was a late substitute for the visitors, but it was not to be and City only took a point instead of the three that their performance merited.
HT CCFC 1-1 CCFC FT CCFC 2-2 CCFC
ATT 17,107
Goals Leon McKenzie (8),Michael Chopra (45 +2 pen),Peter Whittingham (58),Dele Adebola (70)
Referee G.Poll
Booked McKenzie,Tabb,Loovens,Gilbert.
Sent Off Loovens
Team
Marshall,Whing (Giddings 57),McNamee,Page,Hawkins,Doyle,Adebola,
McKenzie,Osbourne,Mifsud,Tabb, SNU Steele,Birchall,Bunce,Virgo
Cardiff
Alexander,Gilbert (Flood 79),Loovens (sent off 66),Whittingham (Naughton 67) ,Chopra,Thompson (Redan 73),McPhail,Parey,Johnson,Ledley,Walton
Subs Forde,Campbell
Cardiff
Alexander,Gilbert (Flood 79),Loovens (sent off 66),Whittingham (Naughton 67) ,Chopra,Thompson (Redan 73),McPhail,Parey,Johnson,Ledley,Walton
Subs Forde,Campbell