COVENTRY CITY 4-2 PETERBOROUGH UNITED
City:Murphy , Adams, Seaborne, Webster, Christie, Baker (C) (Dagnall 78), Thomas, Fleck, Moussa (Phillips 85), Wilson, L. Clarke. Subs: Burge (GK), Willis, Haynes, Daniels, Barton
Peterborough United: Olejnik (GK), Little, Ntlhe (Barnett 85), Bostwick (C), Brisley, McCann, Anderson, Ephraim, Tomlin, Assombalonga, Jeffers (Mendez-Laing 78). Subs: Day (GK), Ferdinand, Payne, Swanson, Knight-Percival.
HT CCFC 1-2 PUFC FT CCFC 4-2 PUFC
ATT 4905
Goals Shaun Jeffers 19, Leon Clarke 45 & 48, Lee Tomlin 46, Franck Moussa 79, Callum Wilson 89
Referee B.Malone
Booked None
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Coventry City beat Peterborough United 4-2 in a highly entertaining game at Sixfields Stadium.
So Christmas Day has been and gone and the end to this captivity in Northampton seems no nearer ending, as a cold Boxing Day morning saw Coventry City FC to move it's staff and players to Northampton for a League One game against Peterborough United.
For Posh fans, any game at Northampton is a local derby, even if the Cobblers are not playing and their 2202 fans were out in force filling two stands and prompting a large police presence.
City, who had fitness coach Pete Tierney put the mascots who today were Carl Baker’s sons through their paces before kick off, started with Leon Clarke and Callum Wilson up front with Danny Seaborne and Andy Webster, due to an ankle injury to Jordan Clarke, in defence, whilst Darren Ferguson fielded former Sky Blue Shaun Jeffers.
The visitors had an early shot go wide and in the third minute, Nthle got in a shot which was parried away by Murphy and the loose ball fell for Shaun Jeffers whose shot was kicked off the line by Webster before Mr Clark in front of the Peterborough fans in the side stand raised his flag.
Coventry won a corner that ended up as a Posh throw before a cross whipped in by Cyrus Christie brought a 13th minute corner which Leon Clarke headed wide.
Peterborough went straight up the other end and a combination of Britt Assombalonga and Shaun Jeffers had the ball in the net but Mr Clark had his flag up and City escaped.
Fleck, who had a sterling game in City’s midfield, fired a long ranger at Olejnlk but the ball was back up the other end and the visitors won a 19th minute free kick. Joe Murphy could not hold a knock down header and Shaun Jeffers lashed in from six yards before racing over to the visiting support, who let off a blue smoke bomb in celebration.
Peterborough playing with two centre halves controlling the play, could do nothing as Moussa fed Christie for a shot on the half hour mark which was well beaten away by the keeper.
Assombalonga went wide at the other end before City had a 33rd minute free kick for a foul on Birthday Boy Carl Baker. Leon Clarke took it from a central position twenty yards out and let rip with a pile driver which grazed the crossbar.
Baker took a 35th minute corner that was cleared and went right back up to Joe Murphy as Steven Pressley, in white trainers, continued to pace up and down a muddy technical area.
One minute of time was added. City attacked. Olejinik went for a walk and Leon Clarke gratefully stroked the ball into an empty net.
But the half was not finished. Lee Tomlin attacked. Murphy parried his first effort but the midfielder, who was excellent in the opening forty-five minutes, made no mistake with his second to see City trailing at the break.
Straight from the restart and after some chosen words from the City backroom staff, the Sky Blues were on the attack and they won a 47th minute corner which Blair Adams took. It was headed out by a defender and fell for Leon Clarke to turn and smash home to delight the City fans, some Northampton fans and a few neutrals.
Baker had a twenty yard shot saved and Wilson fired wide before a good header from Webster gave Posh a 51st minute corner that was eventually sent wide by Anderson.
Free kicks for both sides came to nothing for a City side which had Moussa doing some great runs but unfortunately, they were down blind alleys, hard work from Thomas, Fleck, Baker, Adams and Christie making some more good runs, one of which won a 57th minute corner.
Leon Clarke had a goal harshly ruled out for offside two minutes later and Grant McCann fired wide as this exciting game continued at pace.
The Posh fans who expressed their feeling that their attendance had paid City's rent at Sixfields stood and watched Moussa drill a 20 yarder at Olejnik.
Assombalonga missed a great chance in the 71st minute and that led to a free kick which was met by Danny Seaborne and hacked away.
City continued to press and create chances and Clarke had a shot pushed away before both Carl Baker and Shaun Jeffers were replaced to good ovations.
However, the noise from the City support following these changes was not as big as the one made in the 79th minute when Franck Moussa was able to get in and score from close range, following good work from Leon Clarke.
As is customary, Moussa was replaced five minutes from time as Aaron Phillips took his place in a City side, which nearly had another one goal when Chris Dagnall fired wide.
In to the 89th minute, Peterborough got down the left. A cross went and was met by Assombalonga. The ball bounced down on the line, thanks to a great save from Joe Murphy.
Was it a goal? The press box at Sixfields is too far away to give a good view but Mr Malone, assisted by Amy Fearn, did not think the whole of the ball had crossed the line and the relief was palpable.
There was still time for another raid on goal. This time it was Callum Wilson who was left with the ball and he scored with a neat finish and celebrated a fourth goal before being replaced by Jordan Willis for the final four minutes of stoppage time.
City kept going and they ran out worthy winners in an entertaining game.