CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Team
Westwood, Wright, Wood, McPake, Cranie, Clingan, Gunnarsson, McIndoe (Bell 71), Baker, Morrison (Deegan 89), Stead. SNU Konstantopolus, Eastwood, Grandison, Sears
Palace
Speroni, Clyne, Hill, Derry, Ambrose, Carle, Scannell (Djiati 67), Lawrence, Lee, Entl (Andrew 86), Davis. SNU Hills, Butterfield, Comley, N'Diaye, Mann
HT CPFC 0-0 CCFC
FT CPFC 0-1 CCFC
ATT 13,343
Referee D. Deadman
Booked none
Goal David Bell (85)
Man Of The Match Carl Baker took the unamimous votes.
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Coventry City recorded their first away win in 2010, with a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
Against one of his former clubs, Chris Coleman, who admitted concern to Palace's financial plight and received good applause from the fans of the Surrey club, named a team that was without the suspended Leon Barnett.
It was one that saw Clinton Morrison, who was cheered by the home fans to our left and right, up front with Jon Stead.
The City support which was officially recorded as 764 and saw City supporters from as far away as Denmark, Sweden, Derby, Brighton, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Bridgend, as well as Coventry & Warwickshire, the Midlands London and the Home Counties.
City attacked the end to our right which had a big screen showing the game and were soon on the attack through Carl Baker.
The midfielder was at the heart of everything that was good about the Sky Blues alongside Aron Gunnarsson who was getting forward to support the attackers and who had two chances in the opening ten minutes.
Jon Stead also worked hard. Although, he didn't win all the aerial battles with Claude Davis who will probably be sold by a Palace side who could lose their manager to QPR, he still battled and sent the ball across the area in the 18th minute.
Baker won a couple of corners but in the 27th minute, Nick Carle got free. He drove a low shot that Westwood got his feet to and thankfully the ball squirmed past the far post for a corner.
Michael McIndoe latched onto a Baker through ball but had his effort blocked by Speroni.
Palace went up the other end and after some comical defending from City which was unusual as the back four had been totally solid, Richard Wood cleared off the line.
Both sides won corners going seven minutes in a the second half which saw Palace attain more than their fair share of free kicks.
The City support appealed for a penalty in the 68th minute when Jon Stead went down under a challenge from Davis, following a cross from McIndoe who was replaced three minutes later.
David Bell came on and went on the right wing with Baker going on the left.
The change lifted City and two minutes later, Aron Gunnarsson was sent free but fluffed a really good chance when Speroni closed him down.
Westwood made a great save in the 80th minute when he dived to his right to push away the theatrical Cale's shot.
There were five minutes left when David Bell got the ball on he right inside the area after a one-two. We held our breath as Bell let his right foot strike the ball and superbly send it into the net.
The away end of the Arthur Wait Stands and I presume the corporate part of the grounds which some City supporters used as it was only £2.50 dearer than being in the away end, went absolutely mental.
I was still nursing my bruises as Jon Stead should have put the game beyond doubt when he was sent clean through.
Clinton Morrison, who had a really good game, left to good applause from both sets of supporters just as a minimum of four minutes of stoppage time was announced.
Many of the Palace support were heading for home, looking clearly disgruntled, as City saw the time out to record their first win at Selhurst Park since the last day that Bryan Richardson was Chairman and celebrate with the support.