COVENTRY CITY 3-2 PETEBOROUGH UNITED BY KEV MONKS
Date 12/12/09 At Ricoh Arena Championship
Coventry
Westwood, Cranie, Wright, Barnett, van Aanholt, Bell (Morrison 80), Gunnarsson, Cork, McIndoe, Best (Madine 84), Eastwood (Clingan 88) SNU Grandison, Ireland, Hussey, McPake
Peterborough
Lewis, Bennett, Geohaghon, Morgan, Griffiths, Whelpdale (Simpson 80), Coutts (Batt 62), Frecklington, Boyd, McLean, Mackail-Smith SNU Green, Rowe, McKeown, Lee, Diagourga
HT CCFC 2-0 PUFC FT CCFC 3-2 PUFC ATT 15 190
Goals Freddie Eastwood (32,34,71) Craig Mackail-Smith (65,69)
Referee R.East Booked Barnett, Wright, Batt
Man Of The Match Hat-trick hero Freddie Eastwood took the votes
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Freddy Eastwood scored the first hat-trick by a Coventry City player at the Ricoh Arena to give the Sky Blues their first victory in eleven matches against Peterborough United.
Against a Posh side making their first league visit to Coventry since 1963/64 season, Clinton Morrison was dropped to the bench so that David Bell could come into midfield and Freddy Eastwood could partner Leon Best in attack. In defence, back came captain Stephen Wright after his petulance at QPR to replace Jordan Clarke who looks to be out for three months with ligament damage.
This was City's last home game before Christmas and for such a vital six pointer, the crowd was sparse. 15,190 was the officially recorded crowd although, as we all know that figures counts season ticket holders and those with a match ticket whether they are at the game or not and to be honest, there was no more than 13,000 which did not need a large police presence, actually in the stadium on a sunny but cold afternoon.
Amongst City supporters from as far away as Ireland, Kent and Poole, was West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo who had to come to either check out how loan signing Leon Barnett was fairing or how Leon Best was progressing.
Peterborough wearing a Bedworth United style green away kit kicked off the first half attacking the CT stand and sent the ball straight out for a throw in, obviously to win a spread bet.
Early on, Posh, which is a name that cannot be applied for their London Road home, who appear to be finding life quite difficult in the Championship, threatened.
As the Sky Blue Song and a Sky Blue Army chant rang out from the Tescos and CT Stands, Arron McLean got the ball on the right hand side of the area and tried to chip Westwood. Thankfully, his sixth minute effort went wide.
George Boyd volleyed over as the Sky Blues struggled to get into the game and play with any real purpose.
Keiren Westwood made one save in the 19th minute and another from Frecklington two minutes with Mackail-Smith having a free header.
It wasn't all doom though as Martin Cranie made some excellent tackles and Jack Cork was always on hard with plenty of hard work and effort.
Then just after the half hour mark, the game sprang into life. The Sky Blues won a 32nd minute corner. David Bell took it in front of the scoreboard section. The ball went over to the far side where Freddy Eastwood was poised eight yards out and the former Welsh international made no mistake with a header to put City ahead.
The celebrations were still going on when Joe Lewis was beaten for a second time, two minutes after the opening goal. This time, it was a long Gunnarsson throw from the right that was knocked on into the path of Freddy Eastwood who duly smashed the ball home to make it 2-0.
Being two goals up was such a rarity that even a police helicopter was circling the ground to witness City winning as a long ball from Barnett picked out Eastwood before he was blocked and Lewis beat away a Leon Best shot as we went into the break.
It was a break that City did not really need as Mark Cooper had fired up his troops and the visitors, backed by 1341 fans, went for it.
Ten minutes in the second period, Westwood punched a corner away for a throw in and when that came back in, he flapped and set up McLean for what looked an easy chance.
Thankfully, he missed it as did Exodus Geohaghon with a flick header but with Cooper sending on Shaun Batt, the visitors grew stronger and in the 65th minute, had scored.
Craig Mackail-Smith was the man who bundled home when a long throw in from Geohaghon was knocked into his path.
On the balance of play, it was a goal the visitors deserved and four minutes later, they were level. Keiren Westwood will be kicking himself for not doing better when he dived to his left to parry a Boyd shot but only diverted the ball directly to Craig Mackail-Smith, who being the top striker he is, stroked the ball into the net before celebrating with the jubilant away following.
Our heads were in ours hands as the away support reminded us that a two-goal lead had been cocked up or words to that effect.
However, Freddy Eastwood was not finished and in the 71st minute, a free kick sent the ball over to Leon Best on the right of the area. Best got up and directed it down to Eastwood, some ten yards. "Hit It", someone behind me shouted. Hit It, he certainly did with a stunning half volley that flew into the net to send the City support into raptures.
"Super Freddy Eastwood" sang the City support at the striker who had become the first City player to score a home hat-trick in eleven years. He left with two minutes to go, to a standing ovation for a job well done.
Sammy Clingan, whose return to the Sky Blues side was a very welcome sight replaced Eastwood and brought a massive cheer unlike the five minutes that were added on by the referee Mr East who was a late replacement for Mr Linington.
Despite substitute Gary Madine impressing no-one with his ability to lose possession, City got through a few nervy moments and were able to celebrate a vital victory which they need to repeat at Plymouth next Saturday and against Doncaster Rovers on Boxing Day.