retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Saturday 18 October 2003

Norwich City 2
Francis 5
McVeigh 11

CITY 2
Adebola 35
Joachim 50

Shearer spot-kick stop shares the points

Normal service was resumed at Carrow Road as the Sky Blues recorded their 7th draw in their opening 11 games - but it was Scott Shearer they had to thank for saving them from defeat at the home of current basement club Norwich City.

Shearer's spot-kick save came in the 55th minute, and he recovered to make an equally as impressive stop after the rebound had bounced invitingly to the on-rushing McVeigh.

Manager SBA kept faith in the two debutants who had served him so well on Wednesday night, and provided a further surprise when he drafted on-loan Paul Robinson in to the heart of the City defence, with Mo Konjic the man to miss out.

The move looked to have backfired early on as the inexperienced Sky Blues rearguard conceded 2 goals in the opening 11 minutes - at which point the Canaries must have fancied themselves to take the win which would have lifted them off the foot of the table.

To City's credit they stuck to the task and were eventually successful in getting something out of the game.

City new boy Geoff Pitcher was taken off before the half-hour mark as two games in four days looked to be taking its' toll - replacing him was Gary McAllister who was given an advanced midfield role ahead of Craig Pead who came in as a direct replacement for Safri.

McAllister made an instant impression as he found himself in some space on the half way line and struck a delighful 40-yard pass down the right for Joachim to run on to. Just as we were looking for him to shoot he showed a great presence of mind to take two defenders out of the game with a square pass to the unmarked ADEBOLA who side-footed home with his left foot.

It was City's best team goal of the season so far and clearly gave them an upsurge in confidence.

Youngster Eddie Stanford was withdrawn at half time to be replaced by Safri. Stanford clearly finding the going tougher on his second Sky Blue appearance as he was well marshalled by former City right back Marc Edworthy.

City continued to look to feed McAllister who was pulling the strings but it was David Pipe, again impressive, who released Adebola, who had swopped sides with Joachim, on 50 minutes, and he produced a near post cross where JOACHIM darted in front of his marker to nod City level.

Adebola and Joachim are clearly striking an understanding up front and have helped to produce 5 goals in the last 2 matches for the Sky Blues, a marked improvement on their efforts earlier in the season, however the flipside is that they are now starting to leak more goals at the back.

Suddenly it was game on once again and to be fair to the home side it was they who went on to look the more likely winners.

Shearer excelled in the City goal with McAllister clipping a 30-yard freekick just wide of an upright at the other end.

The Sky Blues stay in 16th and face Crewe Alexandra at Highfield Road next Saturday.

retired_trainer21

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Norwich City 11
Coventry City 5

Corners

Norwich City 4
Coventry City 0

retired_trainer21

SBA talks exclusively to CM Stories

Tuesday 21 October 2003

Aspirations can change so quickly in football, and although we went to Carrow Road on Saturday more in expectation than hope that we would record our first away win of the season, we were grateful in the end to come away with a draw.

In fact, recalling how I felt after the first 11 minutes, I am delighted with the players' application to dig in and grind out a result against a Norwich City side who were hungry to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

In reality I was probably asking too much of Geoff Pitcher and Eddie Stanford to go out and repeat the performances they had produced just four days earlier against Rotherham United. Different day, different set of circumstances, and it is far easier to apply yourself to the demands of playing first team football in a side that is playing their way to a 3-goal lead rather than a 2-0 deficit!!

Gary McAllister, even at this veteran stage in his career, had been itching to get back into first team action and deserves massive credit for the way he performed in helping turn the game around on Saturday, having been left on the bench with his manager preferring to go with a player who's only previous first team experience this season had been at Third Division Macclesfield!!

I was also pleased with the on-loan Paul Robinson who slotted into central defence alongside Calum Davenport. Both Calum and Mo understand that I shall seek to make use of the highly-rated youngster while we have him, and his dedication in training warranted his place on Saturday. After a shaky start I thought he did well in what was, Steve Staunton apart, an inexperienced back line.

This Saturday we welcome Crewe Alexandra to Highfield Road, a team against whom we enjoyed our best result since being confined to the First Division, a 6-1 victory at Gresty Road at a time when we were seriously threatening to make the play-off places.

A 3-point return on Saturday should put us back within striking distance of a similar standing in the Division One table as October draws to a close.

Sky Blue News Updates to appear here ...

retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Saturday 25 October 2003

CITY 2
Joachim 19
Adebola 44

Crewe Alexandra 3
Owusu 46
Smart 76, 81

City surrender to super second half Alex comeback

Having fought back from two goals down to earn a draw the previous Saturday, the Sky Blues were this week on the other side of the coin, only this time the comeback really was complete as City ended up suffering a shock first home defeat of the season.

Crewe substitute Allan Smart struck twice within the space of five second half minutes to complete a remarkable comeback and shoot them up to fourth in the table.

After Crewe had enjoyed the better of the early possession, it was City who struck what we thought to be the crucial opening blow as Craig Pead fed Julian JOACHIM with a lovely through ball to enable the still transfer-listed striker to notch his sixth goal of the season.

City then dominated the remainder of the half with McAllister and Pipe going close before hesitancy in the visitors' defence, who failed to deal with a routine long ball, allowed Dele ADEBOLA enough time and space in the penalty area to prod the ball home and send an unchanged City side into the break two goals to the good.

If the half time vibe around the ground was one of renewed optimism following the recent upturn in on-field fortunes it was swiftly banished when the teams re-emerged for the second half.

SBA replaced Eddie Stanford with Youssef Safri as he looked to give added protection to the back four in light of the match situation.

Alex were back in the game within seconds of the re-start when Owusu fired home from the right edge of the area.

City were still looking dangerous on the break with Pipe causing problems down the right but at the other end Scott Shearer was to follow up his man-of-the-match display last weekend with a disappointing display this, and the City defenders certainly thought he should have shown more command of his six yard box as a cross from deep out on the right was allowed to drift across goal and into the path of Smart who turned the ball home from close range.

In fairness to Crewe they continued to push forward and to the dismay of the majority inside Highfield Road forced a winner nine minutes from time thanks to a lovely one touch passing move which ended with Shearer unable to hold on to Smart's low drive, before desperately back peddling and trying, in vain, to recover the ball before it found it agonisingly found its' way into the bottom corner of the net.

Maybe the damp conditions played their part but Shearer will doubtless feel that nine times out of ten he could have prevented the final swing of the day's pendulum.

City did rally in the late stages with McAllister forcing a flying tip over the bar but credit must be given to a Crewe side who never became disheartened and continued to pass the ball throughout, to a better standard than a City side who will be disappointed to end what had been a promising October, in such dismal fashion.

retired_trainer21

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Coventry City 10
Crewe Alexandra 10

Corners

Coventry City 3
Crewe Alexandra 1

retired_trainer21

SEASON 2003-04

Review of the Season so far: OCTOBER

October Results

(a) Wimbledon drew 1-1 (Morrell)
(h) Rotherham United won 3-2 (Pipe, Adebola, Joachim)
(a) Norwich City drew 2-2 (Adebola, Joachim)
(h) Crewe Alexandra lost 2-3 (Joachim, Adebola)

LEAGUE POSITION

City are currently 17th in Division One, having won 2, drawn 7 and lost 3 of their 12 games. They have scored 14 goals and conceded 14 goals.

City have 13 points, 3 points above the relegation zone, 7 points off the play off positions and 7 points adrift of the top two.

Leading Goalscorers (All Competitions)

Joachim 6
Adebola 5
Suffo 2
Davenport 1
Morrell 1
Pipe 1

Average Player Ratings
Figure on the immediate left indicates first team starts with the figure in brackets indicating substitute appearances

1. 13 Andrew Whing 7.15
2. 13 Calum Davenport 6.92
3. 5 (4) Dele Adebola 6.89
4. 4 (2) Patrick Suffo 6.83
5. 11 (1) Scott Shearer 6.67

To appear here ... SBA talks of his dismay at Saturday's surrender & News Updates as they happen & more from the voice of a City fanzine ...

retired_trainer21

SBA talks exclusively to CM Stories

Tuesday 28 October 2003

I have no idea what went wrong on Saturday.

I'm not about to go shouting the odds at particular parties and singling out individuals.

There is a general lesson to be learned however, and that is to never ever rest on your laurels, and that goes to all eleven outfield players in that catastrophic second half.

I asked the players to go away after the game and consider for themselves what they could have done to help prevent what did happen, from happening, and that goes for the goalkeeper all the way through to the strikers.

Having seen how bitterly disappointed the players were after the game I felt it to be an inappropriate time to start laying the law down. Only they themselves know if there was anything there that they could have done differently to affect the eventual outcome.

But for now it is best to collectively put the experience behind us and move on.

We go to Valley Parade to face Bradford City on Saturday, at the start of what is a very busy schedule of fixtures in November.

Bradford have now replaced Norwich as the bottom club in Division One and we will be looking to follow up our first home defeat of the season with our first away victory.

Unfortunately the financial status of the club remains perilous with only passing interest in the players I have made available for transfer. It is imperative that we trim the wage bill sooner rather than later - however the dark financial cloud hovering over the club is public knowledge in the footballing world and so naturally the clubs that have made contact with us are acutely aware of our situation when discussing any possible deals.

retired_trainer21

Wednesday 29 October 2003

As the season reaches the dozen games played mark, time for a more light-hearted look at the Sky Blue Scene ...

Life-long fan and regular contributor to a City fanzine Graham Abraham gives his view from the stands ...

CET: Graham, what was the feeling amongst the fans as you watched the second half collapse on Saturday?

Graham: It was a sinking feeling. Most City fans will remember a game back in 1992 when Micky Quinn had put us 2-0 up against Manchester City and we went on to lose 2-3 in the second half, well Saturday brought back painful memories of that game.

Is there anyone you feel should be particularly to blame for Saturday?

Crewe played well to be fair to them and had chances in the first half, but it would be nice to occasionally play badly but still win.

Given the fact that you go all around the country watching City, what has been your most enjoyable trip so far this season?

Crystal Palace first game of the season was great because so many fans travelled down there, but as usual once August is over with it's just left to the real faithful to keep flying the flag wherever we play. I'd probably say the Norwich game overall - it was looking like a right waste of money being 2-0 down straight away, especially seeing as they were bottom of the league, but we came back well. Then there was the penalty save which is almost as good as scoring a goal yourselves.

Julian Joachim is the current top scorer with 6 goals - do you think he really should be on the transfer list?

It's weird because he's been constantly injured over the last few seasons. This season he's already scored more goals than he did in the last two combined - and that has been since he's been on the transfer list - and his contract is up next summer. Overall yes, I think it's right that he's been made available for transfer. If we do sell him we probably won't get much for him, but being on 10 grand a week it would be best for the club if he's moved on. That's also the case with Gary McAllister who is on twice that amount but he's retiring at the end of the season so we'll have to grin and bear it with McAllister until May.

Off to Bradford on Saturday then Graham ...

Yep, I'll be there, I'm booked on a Supporters' Coach for Saturday.

Thanks again Graham, and we'll speak to you again in December.

City till I die, thank you.


Sky Blue News Updates to appear here ...

retired_trainer21

*Good time to say that this game is being run on a SMALL database and just has the ENGLISH leagues running ...

retired_trainer21

SKY BLUE NEWS

Thursday 30 October 2003

Swedish youngster is a Sky Blue for 3 months

Highly-rated youngster Labinot Harbuzi has been snapped up on a 3-month loan by the Sky Blues. He is said to be an exciting prospect, and makes his way to Coventry from Ajax in time to take his place in the City squad for the weekend trip to Valley Parade.

Fowler finds his way back

City midfielder Lee Fowler has completed his successful loan spell at Huddersfield Town and returns to Highfield Road to take his place in Saturday's squad. The midfielder has also attracted attention of Wigan Athletic, with SBA said to have issued a 'hands off' warning, stating that the prospect is not for sale.

Youth Teamers Released

On receipt of the advice of some of the City coaches, manager SBA has released Andrew Hall, Ryan Lynch and Paul McCrink from their contracts with the club, SBA saying that he was not in a position to be able to offer them full-time playing contracts.