retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Wednesday 8 September 2004

Gillingham 3
Lisbie 62, 85 (pens)
Spiller 64

CITY 1
Suffo 10

City Pay The Penalty At The Priestfield

For the second successive season, the Sky Blues squandered a lead on this ground as they went down to a third away defeat in three.

A quickfire Gills double midway through the second half reversed City's early advantage given to them by Patrick Suffo before the home side were awarded a second penalty to seal the game five minutes from time.

SBA again went a lone frontman, dropping Mark Goodman to the bench, and bringing in Craig Pead as the extra body in midfield.

After a quiet opening City took the lead thanks to the chasing and persistence of Suffo who, four days earlier, had created a goal for Goodman in similar fashion.

A simple square pass by a defender was intercepted which enabled SUFFO a clear run on goal to give his side a 10th minute lead.

SBA's game plan appeared to be bearing fruit with Gillingham struggling to find a route to City's goal, while at the other end David Pipe was again enjoying his license to get forward on the right hand side.

Tom Bates again found it difficult to make an impression, however Nosworthy excelled at right back for the home side and, on this evidence, it would be no surprise were he to be lured away from The Priestfield in the near future.

Schmeichel had made a couple of comfortable saves for City before the game was turned on its head in the space of ninety seconds.

Andrew Whing was guilty of a trip inside a crowded area to allow Lisbie to strike a low drive for the Gills' equaliser.

City were left cursing their luck moments later as a speculative effort from Danny Spiller was cruelly deflected beyond the wrong-footed Schmeichel to give Gillingham a most unexpected lead.

SBA reacted by introducing Best and Goodman and the game became stretched with City rapidly absolving their defensive responsibilities.

Stanford curled a free-kick just wide but City were not finding it easy to create a much-needed goal before Best was adjudged to have handled in the area from a long Gills throw-in.

The decision looked harsh but when Lisbie helped himself to a second goal from the spot it was all over for City. The travelling support were left to trawl back to the midlands from deepest Kent reflecting on another frustrating away-day in the knowledge that their side must find a way of turning this form around if they are to challenge for a top six spot this season.

City drop back to 15th in Division One with this result and now have a 10-day break from fixtures.

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Gillingham 9
Coventry City 3

Corners

Gillingham 3
Coventry City 2

retired_sharonnabailey

City crap away from home. Who says CM doesn't reflect reality eh?

retired_trainer21

To Be Continued ...

Too much effort has been put into this to just let it fade away

Hopefully back up and running tonight :thup:

retired_abejamaya98

Could do with an update mate - its one of the best stories on here, but from what I hear you need to 'get well soon' first.

retired_trainer21

A scare which thankfully passed :thup:

retired_trainer21

SBA Talks Exclusively To FM Stories

Friday 10 September 2004

Another week into the season and still we are not able to reflect on a favourable result away from home.

Having gone in front at Gillingham we were always likely to come under threat during the second half as they bombarded our penalty area with increasing regularity.

I thought we coped well until the crucial penalty award - many of their attempts were from considerable distance and many of their deliveries into the area were more in hope than expectation.

We were not about to qualm about the decisions the referee made to turn the game Gillingham's way. One of the features I've noticed since we've been in this Division has been that the decisions really do tend to even themselves out over a season. We've been the welcome recipients of such interventions on many occasions over the last few years.

Our record now reads 7 points from 6 games with all seven of those points gleaned at Highfield Road.

We played well on Saturday and merited the victory but as a manager I have to be asking myself why it was that we didn't finish with a greater margin of victory.

With no fixture this weekend I'm going to get myself actively back into the marketplace as we scour for personnel to improve the squad.

The football we can play has to be amongst the best on show in this league, but in a 46-game season it can often be more about mental and physical strength than technical ability. Our performances have appeared to dip in the latter stages of recent games - and the points we have dropped as a result may cost us dear in the final reckoning.

SBA

retired_trainer21

SKY BLUE NEWS

Tuesday 14 September 2004

SBA Still Seeking Sonko

City manager SBA has not given up hope of signing long-term Senegalese target Ibrahima Sonko.

Brentford have been approached once again with a bid from the Sky Blues but are reluctant to let such an influential presence leave the club.

* Torquay United's central midfielder Lee Canoville is also being tracked around the lower leagues by the City scouting team.

retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Saturday 18 September 2004

CITY 1
Pipe 68

Wigan Athletic 0

Pipe Lights Up City Amongst Sadness For Sean

The Sky Blues will be relieved to edged their way to another home victory on a day that was completely overshadowed by the depressing news that promising midfielder Sean Cooney had suffered a broken leg during the first half.

Ironically the injury occurred following a 23rd minute challenge with former Sky Blue captain Mustapha Hadji, who had joined the Lancashire outfit on a free transfer from Aston Villa in the summer. It is not clear at this stage whether Cooney will again be available to turn out for City before the end of the season.

SBA made just the one change from the side that lost at Gillingham with Craig Pead making way for Mark Goodman.

City had an early chance to go ahead as Goodman robbed an Athletic defender but David Pipe was foiled by 'keeper Rhys Jones after a first-time snapshot.

The Sky Blues' ordinary start to the campaign was reflected in the stands and an attendance of under 13,000, with a small away following, meant there was very little going on off the field to spur on the players.

Midway through the first half came the major talking point of the afternoon, and unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.

It must be said that no blame could be attached to Hadji, who had endured a mixed reception on his first appearance back at Highfield Road, as he collided with Cooney in centre field.

Both players were focussed on a high ball as Hadji appeared to leap before Cooney had got himself airborne to challenge for the ball.

There was a lengthy delay before Cooney was stretchered from the field to warm applause.

City's worst fears were confirmed after the game - Cooney had suffered a broken leg.

Graham Barrett replaced Cooney but the rest of the half passed with little action worthy of note. Mark Goodman saw a 30-yard drive clear the bar with the lively Nathan Ellington being well marshalled by Davenport and Caldwell at the other end.

The afternoon could have turned even bleaker for manager SBA as the second half got under way.

Athletic emerged from the break in a far more positive frame of mind and City had Schmeichel to thank for saving from Jason De Vos' header following a corner.

Much of the game was being played in City's half but just as the faithful threatened to turn nasty on their side they found themselves cheering a goal.

Eddie Stanford, who produced another solid display, picked out Suffo with a long diagonal ball which was flicked into space on the right.

David Pipe got in front of his marker and just as he looked set to cross the ball he tried a surprise shot to the near post. The ball looped into the air after hitting Evans' knee and the pint-sized PIPE was bright enough to leap up and nod the ball into the net.

In fairness to City they looked a different side after scoring. Leon Best came on to replace Suffo and stretched a tiring Wigan defence in the closing stages. With any luck his persistence could well have produced a second goal.

So City move up to 11th with this result but SBA knows that he has lost a key figure in his Sky Blue jigsaw, and a player who had improved significantly in the time he has been in charge.

City are not short of numbers in midfield but the impact of this injury is still likely to be felt in the months ahead.

Crystal Palace are City's next opponents at Selhurst Park in seven days' time. They have had a poor start to the season and are a lowly-placed 21st.

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Coventry City 8
Wigan Athletic 2

Corners

Coventry City 8
Wigan Athletic 4

retired_trainer21

CET Feature

Monday 20 September 2004

"No Hard Feelings": Hadji

Former Sky Blues captain Mustapha Hadji was quick to wish City youngster Sean Cooney all the very best on his long road to recovery after his involvement in Saturday's leg-breaking incident.

Speaking in the Player's Lounge after the game the Moroccan explained there was no malice involved as he jumped with Cooney for a loose ball.

"I have instructed for a card to be sent to Sean at the Hospital with my well wishes. I hope Sean is back playing as soon as possible", said Hadji, who was making a first return back to Highfield Road since leaving in the summer of 2001.

"I noticed the fans were not as welcoming as I would have liked, maybe they think I am to blame for Coventry's relegation, I don't know".

Hadji, playing wide on the right, had a quiet game for Wigan on Saturday. He did not endear himself any further to the home fans in the unfortunate circumstances which led to Cooney's injury.

Former African Footballer of the Year Hadji mainly played through the centre in his time with City, and seemed frustrated on Saturday at his lack of involvement in the game.

"I prefer playing centrally but I think the manager moves me out wide because the pace of the game is very quick and there is not much time on the ball. I am considered quite old at 32 but it seems you need to be fitter than ever to have a big influence now, and this league is very fast-paced".

The 32-year old said he was likely to see out his playing career at Wigan but went on to wish the Sky Blues all the best for the remainder of the season.

Adam Dent, CET

retired_trainer21

SBA Talks Exclusively To FM Stories

Wednesday 22 September 2004

We can only hope that young Sean Cooney goes on to make a steady recovery.

He has age on his side and is certainly one of the physically fittest players at the club, which can only play to his advantage over the coming months.

He had already forced himself to the forefront of the first team reckoning with some performances which showed maturity beyond his years this season.

I felt that the game on Saturday was already quite flat before the incident and to see a player stretchered off in such obvious agony will naturally have an affect on the players out on the pitch.

It has to be said that Wigan looked the more likely winners at the time of our goal but David Pipe is another of our promising crop of youngsters and he produced the match-winning moment for us.

I think we now need to look at strengthening by bringing in at least one more forward and defender.

There is not really adequate cover at the back should we run into problems with either Stephen Caldwell or Calum Davenport. I do not want to have to ask Andrew Whing to move to centre half again, as he played too many games there last year. Right back is his specialist position and his level of consistency in that role is such that we must give it every chance of continuing.

Crystal Palace await at Selhurst Park on Saturday and they will be anxious to kick-start their season as they surprisingly hover just above the relegation places at present.

As I've said before, points on the road are crucial if we're to push for the top six this term so both teams will be out to prove a point.

Coventry teams have always seemed to maintain a good record playing at Selhurst Park, whether it be against Palace or Wimbledon.

On a personal level it will be back to the ground where it all started for me as manager. A 1-1 draw was the outcome in my first game in charge there last August.

SBA