COVENTRY CITY 2-1 SCUNTHORPE UNITED BY KEV MONKS
27/02/10 At the Ricoh Arena, Championship
Team
Westwood, Wright, Barnett (sent off 58), McPake, Cranie, Clingan, Gunnarsson, Baker, McIndoe, Stead (Deegan 83) , Morrison (Eastwood 86)
SNU Konstantopolous, Hussey, Sears, Turner, Grandison
Scunthorpe
Murphy, WIlliams, Togwell (McDermott 63), Byrne, Sparrow (McCann 70), Hayes, Hooper, Mirfin, Woolford (Thompson 63),, J.Wright, Raynes
Subs Lillis, Milne, Forte, Canavan
HT CCFC 0-0 SUFC FT CCFC 2-1 SUFC
ATT 16 197
Referee P.Taylor
Booked Barnett x2, Morrison, Sparrow, Byrne
Goal Jon Stead (54), Sammy Clingan (67), Grant McCann (83)
Man Of The Match Sammy Clingan took the votes with nominations for Baker, Stead and Westwood
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Coventry City edged closer to a play-off place with a 2-1 home victory against Scunthorpe United.
Chris Coleman, was without the injured Richard Wood for a game watched by City supporters from as far away as Australia and Ireland and his side went into the game, never having beaten Scunthorpe in a Championship fixture.
On a not too unpleasant afternoon at the Ricoh Arena, City attacked the Jewson Stand for the first half. Like most of the things going on at the club at the moment, it was a positive start from the Sky Blues.
There was plenty of good work from the midfield with Sammy Clingan going wide from a free kick and a 22nd minute volley, whilst Aron Gunnarsson, who pushed forward a lot, had three efforts, the second of which forced one time City target Joe Murphy to push over for a corner.
As we approached the half hour mark, Gunnarsson and Baker, who had swapped to the left wing on orders of Chris Coleman, stood in his technical area in club issue coat and brown trousers, both had good chances.
With Keiren Westwood not really tested, Carl Baker was able to find space to whip in a number of excellent crosses. Unfortunately, they were not finished off by the hard working strike force of Stead and Morrison but it was a good first half for the City.
The second half burst into life when Scunthorpe avoided being awarded a 47th penalty when Leon Barnett dragged down Hooper. The Assistant Referee and referee were not up with play so nothing was given despite the 250 or so Scunthorpe fans noisy claims.
The match officials might not have been up with play on that occasion but they were when Barnett was cautioned for a 50th minute foul on Hayes.
Carl Baker sent a volley wide as City again to put pressure on the visiting defence and in the 54th minute, the Sky Blue supporters in a 16,197 crowd were on their feet when Jon Stead opened his Sky Blues goals account with a low drive which went into the corner of the net.
The City supporters started singing but in the 57th minute, Gary Hooper went through and Leon Barnett took him down. The Scunthorpe fans bayed for blood as Barnett got right into the face of the assistant referee on the Main Stand side. Referee Mr Taylor, who had a good game, showed a second yellow and then a red to Barnett who had just returned to first team action after getting two yellow cards at Newcastle United in the last but one game.
A penalty was the outcome of Barnett’s foul and Gary Hooper stepped up to take the kick. However, Keiren Westwood superbly used his feet to block the ball before the rebound was sent over the bat and the City support was back on its collective feet cheering the save.
In the 67th minute, another foul had City ahead. This time, Matthew Sparrow fouled the hard working Aron Gunnarsson and this gave City a free kick on the left hand side of the area about 22 yards out.
“Perfect position for Sammy Clingan,” I thought and the Ulsterman did not disappoint as he sent the place kick high into the net and sparked scenes of delight amongst the City support.
Despite having only ten men, the likes of Baker and Clingan continued to show some silky skills before Jon Stead left to a standing ovation when he was replaced by Gary Deegan in the 83rd minute.
Just before City made the change, Scunthorpe had pulled a goal back when Grant McCann swept home a cross from deep inside the penalty area high into the net.
Things got nervy, especially when Scunthorpe had the ball in the net four minutes later. Thankfully, the assistant on the Main Stand side had his flag up as a back header from Williams went into the net on Westwood’s left hand side, but the ten men remained resolute to make sure of their first ever Championship win against Scunthorpe United.