TeamWestwood, Clarke, Keogh, Wood, O'Halloran, Baker, Gunnarsson, Jutkiewicz, Eastwood, Platt SNU Cameron, Jeffers, Ireland, Bell, Ruffles, O'Donvan
Leeds United
Schmeichel, Connolly (Bromby 83), Bruce, O'Brien, McCartney, Howson, Jonson, Gradel, Beccio (Paynter 87), Somna (Kilkenny 81). SNU Higgs, Parker, Sam, Nunez
HT LUFC 0-0 CCFC FT LUFC 1-0 CCFC ATT 27,033
Referee Mick Russell Booked Clarke
Man Of The Match Richard Wood and Aron Gunnarsson shared the votes in our car.
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Coventry City battled but yet again failed to get anything against a top six team and went down to a 1-0 defeat at Leeds United.
City went into this game on a ground where they have only won twice in the league, with eight injured players and the club at a crossroads with rumours abounding of the club being in big financial trouble, according to City Manager Aidy Boothroyd.
The City boss, seemingly at loggerheads with the Chairman, sent out a team which was without Marlon King who had scored three goals in the last three games.
As soon as the team coach had arrived at Elland Road and King did not get off, the rumours started as to where he was.King being ill, was the most sensible suggestion and it meant that City started with Clive Platt and Lukas Jutkiewicz up front.
There was a cracking turn out of City supporters as far away from Ireland,Northern Ireland, Brighton,Kent and London and there was plenty of noise including some very abusive Marlon King chants as the Sky Blues in their green/black kit away kit which they will be having for another season, took to the field against a Leeds side which included former City keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
It was soon evident that not having King up front was a big loss. With Platt mainly statuesque, Jutkiewicz had plenty of free range but again he failed to have brought his goalscoring boots with him.
It was Richard Wood who had City's best chance early on when his sixth minute shot was blocked by Schmeichel and cleared for a corner.
Leeds were certainly physical and Aron Gunnarsson was having to put up with seven shades out of him in the centre of midfield he shared with Carl Baker who had aimed at a low drive at the Leeds net minder.
Max Gradel started to get more and more room on the left and in the 20th minute, he caused problems for Jordan Clarke when he cut inside and fired into the side netting.
Two minutes later, he made a surging run before firing well wide and then after Richard Wood had a shot blocked, he was involved in a break which saw Robert Snodgrass.
City could have been three goals down in the rain at Elland Road but they weren't and there was hope that if we could hold onto half-time then City could get something out of the game.
Lukas Jutkiewicz sent a curler not far wide as City went into the break all square.However, ten minutes into the second half, the best laid plans fell apart when Leeds broke thanks to Snodgrass.
The ball went over to the far post in front of the East Stand and was knocked back in for DAVID SOMNA to bang home from four yards.
Still the City fans kept singing whilst Jutkiewicz wasted a good chance in the 58th minute.Keiren Westwood made a good save and then Gunnarsson stroked wide before Aidy Boothroyd finally made the change that the City supporters hd been discussing.
Freddie Eastwood who is on international duty with Wales this week was the man taken off and Gary McSheffrey sent on.McSheffrey struggled to keep the ball with his early touches and with Boothroyd deciding not to bring on the likes of Shaun Jeffers to run at the Leeds defence, it was no surprise that City are now ten league without a win.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM