COVENTRY CITY 1-0 BLACKBURN ROVERS BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Westwood, Wright, Ward, Turner, Fox, Doyle, Gunnarsson, Henderson, Doyle, Eastwood (Simpson 85), Best, Morrison SNU Osbourne, Marshall, Thornton, Hall, Beuzelin, Cain
BLACKBURN
Brown, Simpson, Samba, Khizanishvil (Givet 80), Olsson, Villaneuva, Mokoena, Tugay, Treacy (Warnock 67), McCarthy, Roberts (Santa Cruz 67) SNU Pedersen, Robinson, Doran, Nelsen
HT CCFC 0-0 BRFC FT CCFC 1-0 BRFC ATT 22,793
GOAL Leon Best (58)
REFEREE M.Riley BOOKED Gunnarsson, Ward, Westwood, Brown
MAN OF THE MATCH Every City player played their part tonight
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STARTING LINE-UP
With Scott Dann suspended, David Bell cup tied and Leon McKenzie out for up to nine months with a ruptured Achillies, City boss Chris Coleman had to make changes. Elliott Ward, Freddie Eastwood and Jordan Henderson all started.
Blackburn boss Sam Alllardyce used his squad rotation system and started with Roque Santa Cruz and former Sky Blue Stephen Warnock on the bench.
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I'm sorry Mr Allardyce but your comments that Blackburn will be playing Chelsea on March 7th proved a tad premature as a goal from Leon Best was enough to book Coventry City an FA Cup Sixth Round place.
The Sky Blue Army was out in force for this game and lengthy queues as supporters waited to collect their tickets and get in into the ground meant the game did not start until 8pm.
On Saturday, City had hit Birmingham from the start but tonight, Chris Coleman's side attacking the Jewson Stand where the 914 Blackburn fans were, played it cagey. They weathered a 49 second attack when the pacy Carlos Villaneuva got inside the area and shot but Keiren Westwood was onto it like a flash and used his feet to quell the danger.
Blackburn, who could be facing another trip to the Ricoh Arena next season if their league form does not improve, showed in the first half that they are a side used to defending and conceded a 19th minute corner form which Elliott Ward at the far post headed the wrong side of the post.
Ward's defensive partner Ben Turner had another stormer and just after after the half hour mark, he made a cracking block to stop a lovely run from Villaneuva.
Things had been pretty tight with City's midfield including Aron Gunnarsson, who admitted he was tired after the game, running himself into the ground along with the hard working Michael Doyle. However, for the last thirteen minutes of the half, both sides went for goal. Jason Roberts, who was involved in an unsavoury incident according to witnesses after the match had a neat 25 yard shot on the turn fly over.
City went up the other end and a long ball saw Morrison beat Blackburn keeper Jason Brown to the ball. The llime green booted front man got the ball on his left but only found the side netting.
Freddie Eastwood, playing as a left winger, caused a few problems whilst Jordan Henderson, whom we all hope will complete a loan extension for the rest of the season tomorrow, grew stronger as the game went on.
In the 38th minute, good work by Danny Fox got the ball up the Away Stand end and this led to a corner and four minutes later, a mistake by Stephen Wright who made some excellent tackles, let in Roberts who slipped the ball inside for Keith Treacy. Again, Westwood was on it and got down to his right to smother.
It was evident to see that City were up for this game and they came out to good noise from the City fans who had given them their backing all evening.
Elliott Ward got cautioned for a tackle from behind and in the 57th minute, Mike Riley showed Jason Brown a yellow card for time wasting.
A minute later, there was more time to be added to Mr Riley's time-piece as Brown was picking the ball out of the net. Jordan Henderson got down the right and his cross was absolutely spot on. There was Leon Best, stood about six yards out and he was left alone to power a header into the net. The City support including those in tribute masks, went ballistic.
Sam Allardyce threw on Roque Santa Cruz who had scored at Manchester United on Saturday and against City in the first tie ten days ago and Stephen Warnock who received some good applause from the City fans.
It was to no avail as the Henderson/ Best combination nearly had the match wrapped up in the 76th minute but this time Best could only sweep a shot into the arms of Brown.
Freddie Eastwood also received good applause when he was replaced with five minutes of normal time left.
Although, it was edge of your seats stuff for the remaining time which included four minutes of stoppage time and saw Samba miss with a free header, Coventry City battled to the final whistle and deservedly booked their place in the sixth round.