The Goal That Never Was Helps City To Defeat

Kenny, Howard (O'Toole 74), Naysmith, Cotterill (Halford 78), Morgan, Kilgallon, D.Henderson, Montgomery, Quinn, Naughton, Bromby (Beattie 79). SNU Webber, J.Ward

HT CCFC 0-1 SUFC FT CCFC 1-2 SUFC ATT 16,300
GOALS Leigh Bromby (45+1), Chris Morgan (53), Scott Dann (69)
REFEREE K.WRIGHT
BOOKED Gunnarsson, Westwood, Dann, Montgomery
MAN OF THE MATCH Scott Dann took the votes with nominations for Jordan Henderson
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STARTING LINE-UP
Chris Coleman was in 'horses for courses' mood and brought back Ben Turner, Michael Doyle, Freddie Eastwood and Robbie Simpson. Clinton Morrison started from the bench
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"2-1 To The Referee" sang the disgruntled Coventry City supporters after poor refereeing decisions had seen the Sky Blues go down to a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United.

This was a case of the calm before the storm with the Ricoh Arena half full for the visit of Sheffield United but the 15,000 or so City supporters were in good voice as the match got under way on a cold dampish night.

In a half of petty fouls and foul throws, City attacked the Jewson Stand end but could not find the form they show during the game at Norwich on Saturday.

Freddie Eastwood displayed plenty of nice touches early on with Robbie Simpson a willing accomplice but elsewhere on the pitch, some players like Michael Doyle looked like they had the FA Cup visit of Saturday on their minds whilst David Bell became more anonymous as the game progressed.

Keiren Westwood had another good game in goal and in the 14th minute, pulled off a superb one handed save to tip the ball over the bar from a header by Chris Morgan who for me was United's best player.

City forced a couple of corners before we became concerned about Danny Fox who was the victim of a crunching but fair tackle in the 23rd minute. Fox, who has expressed his desire to play for Scotland, came back on after treatment but was clearly struggling.

In the 28th minute, City had their best chance which came from Keiren Westwood coming out of his goal and getting the ball in front of the Tescos Stand. He dummied Kyle Naughton and sent a long ball which was played in for Eastwood to drive a shot that Paddy Kenny dived to his left to push round for a corner.

Jordan Henderson had not had as much freedom as he enjoyed at Norwich but around the half hour mark, the loanee from Sunderland missed with two good chances.

As supporters started making their way towards the exit for their half-time drinks, the game changed with a controversial goal. A cross from the left came over. Chris Morgan got in a header which Westwood pushed onto the bar. The ball fell down for Leigh Bromby but Westwood was equal to it and before it got to the line, dived to his left to push the ball away. The Sheffield United players chased and harassed the referee who looked at his assistant on the Tescos Stand.

Now Mr Horton was further from the incident than I was and could not have seen if the ball crossed the line or not. With a couple of United players glaring at him before he legged it upfield, he indicated to the referee that it was a goal. Keiren Westwood raced upfield to protest and was booked by the harangued official who was loudly booed at the end of the first half and the start of the second half.

Chris Coleman, who has had the unenviable job of telling his players which ones he wants to offer deals to or release this week, took no chances with Danny Fox and replaced him with Isaac Osbourne who went to right back with Stephen Wright moving over to the left.

With Mr Horton failing to keep up with play and playing up to the boos of the Tescos Stand behind him, the abuse of him and the referee who was not particularly fair to either side displaying a level of inconsistency when it came to what was a foul and what wasn't, continued.

In the 53rd minute, the referrals that Mr Wright likes to self-indulge from the City faithful changed to "2-0 To The Referee" when the visitors were awarded a free kick and Chris Morgan was left unmarked at the far post to head into the net before diving towards the 1142 Unitedites in the bottom of the Jewson Stand.

"You're Not Fit To Referee" chants were directed at the match official before Chris Coleman opted for a double substitution in the 63rd minute with Beuzelin and Morrison coming on.

Six minutes later, City were back in the match. Aron Gunnarsson who ran well in midfield took one of his trade mark throw ins. Scott Dann was six yards out and sent a looping heading high over the helpless Kenny and into the net.

Huge ironic cheers were going up everytime City won a free kick. Coventry should have had a lot more free kicks as too often Matt Kilgallon got way to intimate with Clinton Morrison but Mr Wright who missed a blatant bit of basketball from Ben Turner and a possible United penalty, was seemingly not in full control of his faculties.

With Beuzelin lively in midfield and seventeen minutes left, Gunnarsson won a corner. There was a scramble with the Ice Man and Morrison trying to steer the ball into the net. Both chances were blocked and the ball fell to Jordan Henderson on the edge of the area. Unfortunately, he blasted over and with that City's chances of getting something from the match evaporated and we trudged away from the Ricoh Arena, hoping that it will all be very different on Saturday.