Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Coventry City 1

Last updated : 20 November 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Gary McSheffrey's first goal of the season earned Coventry City a deserved win against local rivals Wolves at Molineux.

McSheffrey, the target of an unsuccessful bid from Luton Town earlier in the season, struck after 62 minutes.

His goal earned Coventry only their third win in 13 games - as they successfully followed up last weekend's success against Plymouth.

In the process, the Sky Blues also secured their first clean sheet in 13 games.

If their finishing had been better they would have recorded a far more comprehensive victory.

Managerless Wolves, who had been seeking a third successive win for the first time in two years, never got out of first gear.

The defeat has only added more urgency to their search for a new manager with Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp the latest name to be tipped as a replacement for Dave Jones who was dismissed on November 1.

Caretaker boss Stuart Gray now looks an ever longer shot after suffering his second defeat from four games in charge.

The writing had been on the wall for Wolves well before McSheffrey struck as they were twice indebted to the woodwork for getting to half-time on level terms.

Coventry striker Dele Adebola rattled the post with a powerful header after just seven minutes when he met a corner from Louis Carey.

Having survived that early scare, Wolves managed to work their way into the game but poor finishing let them down.

Seyi Olofinjana and Carl Cort both found themselves in good positions but failed to really test goalkeeper Luke Steele.

It was Coventry who created the better chances with Andy Morrell and Adebola being denied by goalkeeper Michael Oakes while Michael Doyle was inches away from breaking the deadlock after 35 minutes when his shot dropped on to the roof of the net.

McSheffrey then became the second Coventry player to be denied by the woodwork when his ten-yard snap-shot in first-half stoppage time crashed to safety off the post.

Wolves continued to ride their luck after half-time and it was no great surprise when it finally ran out in the 62nd minute.

Before McSheffrey struck he had twice gone close to breaking the deadlock while Oakes also denied Eddie Johnson.

But Oakes was left helpless when Johnson cut the Wolves defence in two with a left-wing cross.

His centre picked out McSheffrey and he had the relatively simple task of firing past Oakes from ten yards.

Peter Reid's side then should have set the seal on their victory but Johnson fired wide from close range while Adebola saw his header drop just the wrong side of the post.