COVENTRY CITY 1-1 LEEDS UNITED BY KEV MONKS
A late handball cost Coventry City two points and earned Leeds United a 1-1 draw at the Arena.
Micky Adams,himself a former Leeds United player playing in that FA Cup Semi-Final back in 1987 a few months after leaving City, made only one change to the team which had beaten Sheffield United with Don Hutchison replacing the suspended Dennis Wise.
City attacking the end that was home to around 5,000 Yorkshiremen, had the early impetus with Gary McSheffrey firing over form a third minute corner.
Again, Adams had done his homework and the Sky Blues midfield were able to control the visitors with the likes of Doyle and Hutchison able to put passes around the park.
In the 18th minute, Andy Whing sent the ball across the face of the goal. It fell for Dele Adebola inside the penalty area but Matthew Kilgallon, deputising for the suspended Sean Gregan,was back and headed the ball off the line.
Hutchison was a lively figure and almost scored six minutes later when his free kick was pushed onto the bar by Leeds keeper Neil Sullivan.
It looked like a goal was coming and so it proved as in the 26th minute, Stern John knocked the ball for Dele Adebola who held off challenges from a couple of defenders before spotting Gary McSheffrey in an advanced position. The ball from the Nigerian was inch perfect for McSheffrey who drew out Sullivan before stroking the ball into the net and gave the striker his fiftieth goal in City first team colours.
A bumper crowd at the Ricoh on a cold afternoon rejoiced but when play restarted, Leeds raced up the other end and Martin Fulop saved smartly with his feet from Robbie Blake who then headed over when the ball came back into play.
Rob Hulse had rifled over and this was followed by a quality run by McSheffrey. Persistence and agility took him past four defenders but when he aimed to shoot,his shot let him and went wide with a goal looking a certainty.
Leeds had a 43rd minute corner cleared and Gary McSheffrey was booked for a late trip on Gary Speed as another good half by City came to a close.
Leeds skipper Paul Butler was not happy with referee Mr Oliver and confronted him. Butler was led away and it took a guard of stewards for the match official and his assistants to leave the field of play.
The visitors emerged fired up with a Rob Hulse header hitting the bar early on.
In the 54th minute, McSheffrey got down the left,centred for James Scowcroft who rose to get in a header, Neil Sullivan made a good save but a goal kick was surprisingly given.
Around me,some of the City fans were getting increasingly annoyed with the referee who cautioned Don Hutchison for a trip. Their annoyance came to be verbally displayed when Rob Hulse fired wide and for some reason a corner was given. "You Don't know What You're Doing" was the cry from the City faithful who had discovered the cost of a season ticket for next season in the matchday programme.
Kevin Blackwell sent on Northern Ireland hero David Healy for Robbie Blake minutes before Martin Fulop (my man of the match) had to make an excellent save from Liam Miller.
Mr Oliver seemed to have acted upon the aforementioned chant and his game improved. In the 68th minute,the Northumberland based referee played an excellently called advantage when Andy Whing had pushed forward. Dele Adebola played the ball out to the left hand side of the penalty area. It fell for the unmarked Stern John. Normally,strikers hit the ball on instinct but John had time to think about things and only succeeded in firing over the bar.
Fulop made another tremendous save from a Kilgallon header before both sides made changes. Andy Impey or "Grandee" a nickname for the amount he allegedly gets a minute when he comes on as a late sub, came on for Gary McSheffrey who left to a good ovation.
In the 83rd minute, Michael Doyle pulled up with cramp, he was helped off the pitch by fellow Irishman Gary Kelly and replaced by another Irishman Kevin Thornton.
It always looked like one goal was never going to be enough for the Sky Blues and with three minutes to go. Leeds earned a penalty when Andy Whing lost the ball,went back to get it and the incoming shot hit his arm.
Mr Oliver pointed to the spot and David Healy stepped up to fire past Fulop and earn his side a draw which keeps them in the chase for the second automatic promotion place.
Some of the Leeds fans who had stood all game were ejected and there were disturbances outside the ground afterwards.
HT CCFC 1-0 LUFC
FT CCFC 1-1 LUFC
ATT 26,643
Goals Gary McSheffrey (26),David Healy (pen 87)
Booked McSheffrey,Hutchison
TEAM
Fulop,Whing.Hall,Page,Shaw,Doyle (Thornton 83),Hutchison, Scowcroft,McSheffrey (Impey 78),Adebola,John SNU Ince,Williams,Morrell
Leeds
Sullivan,Kelly,Crainey,Butler,Kilgallon,Lewis,Miller, Douglas (Moore 74),Derry,Blake (Healy 61),Hulse SNU Bennett,Einarsson,Bakke