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Ace....always nice to nick points from the leaders at their place [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> the hard-working striker left the pitch to a standing ovation from the travelling City fans and a chorus of boos from the Sky Blues faithful.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused[/IMG] Do you mean the Blues faithful?

Great result though. I didn't go, but it sounded like a great match and a deserved draw.

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Youth results
21 Oct 2002 13:01



The Under 19s are still searching for their second win of the season after losing 1-0 away against Charlton at the weekend.

George Mackie's men produced a good performance but couldn't produce the final killer ball to help get them back to winning ways.

The Under 17s had a slightly better result with a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.

The visitors went ahead before Liam Nicell levelled the score for the Sky Blues

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Academy goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey featured for Northern Ireland in the opening game of the Under 16 Victory Shield Tournament against England this weekend.

The 15-year old starred in goal in the match, which was screened live by Sky Sports from the Ballymena Showgrounds in Northern Ireland on Friday night.

Already keeping six clean-sheets this season for City, the promising under 17 goalkeeper couldn’t stop England from scoring, as Northern Ireland suffered a 2-0 defeat.

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Squad cull to continue for Coventry

Coventry's Laurent Delorge, Keith O'Neill, Jairo Martinez and Gavin Strachan could be next to leave Highfield Road as the clear-out continues.
The Sky Blues have quietly set about pruning their playing staff to lighten the wage bill to help manage the club's massive debts.
Runar Normann and Ivan Guerrero have been released by mutual consent in the last two weeks, following on from Peru forward Ysrael Zuniga's departure.
Lee Hughes (West Brom), David Thompson (Blackburn) and Magnus Hedman (Celtic) were sold earlier in the season and Marcus Hall (Southampton) and Gary Breen (West Ham United) rejected new contracts to move on.
But it appears City's board of directors feels there is still some slack to be taken in and players like Delorge, O'Neill, Martinez and Strachan could be next if they are seen as expendable.
Coventry have pursued a policy of fast-tracking young players into the team and as the likes of Jay Bothroyd, Gary McSheffrey, Calum Davenport and Craig Pead have grasped their opportunities, it has been made easier for the board to cull their predecessors.
Boss Gary McAllister has said that the Portsmouth draw at the weekend is an excellent benchmark and shows just how far the youngsters have come.
He explained: "This result has to be an indication to the young players that we are competitive against the best in this league.''

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Jairo Martinez has followed in the footsteps of his compatriot Ivan Guerrero by leaving Highfield Road.

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Anyone one going up tomorrow night against A-HA Norwich? I am! \O/

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Quinn - 'we're showing our potential' Oct 23 2002







Coventry defender Barry Quinn believes the Sky Blues are finally showing their "genuine potential" to return to the Premiership.

City held First Division leaders Portsmouth to a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park last weekend and Quinn hopes that form can continue into tonight's meeting with second-placed Norwich as Gary McAllister's side look to break into the play-off places.

Quinn told the club's official website, www.ccfc.co.uk: "We always knew from the start that we've got genuine potential to get promoted.

"Obviously there's been games where we've let it slip a little. It's a tight league with a lot of good teams and we know that if we can avoid freak results we can stay up there.

"We've shown a lot of character this season by coming from behind to get results. It shows in the dressing room as well where we've got a lot of good characters."

Norwich manager Nigel Worthington will give striker Paul McVeigh as long as possible to prove his fitness for the clash.

McVeigh injured his ankle during the win over Millwall and is still doubtful, although he does have a chance of playing at Highfield Road.

Striker Mark Rivers, though, is pushing for a starting place having sat on the bench against the Lions while David Nielsen is also in contention following his double strike after coming on in place of the injured McVeigh on Saturday.

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The heat is on Oct 23 2002

By Lee McLaughlan


Having earned the plaudits with their best showing of the season the heat is on the Sky Blues to reproduce more of the same tonight.

Last time out at Highfield Road, Gary McAllister’s men turned on the style with a 8-0 demolition of Rushden & Diamonds to book a place in the third round of the Worthington Cup.

Just over 8,500 enjoyed that spectacle and even fewer saw City take league leaders Pompey to the limit on Saturday.

That is growing evidence of the work being done by McAllister and his back-room team, since their close-season arrival, is finally beginning to pay off.

But, as City rightly know, they are as only as good as their last game and they must be razor sharp and as tactically adept once more, if they are to shirk of the challenge of second-placed Norwich - who arrive boasting the last remaining unbeaten away record in the division.

Sky Blues assistant manager Eric Black is certainly aware of their threat.

“We’ve had three or four reports on them and we know they’re a very good unit,” remarked Black.

“Up front Paul McVeigh has done exceptionally well while Iwan Roberts has been around and has good presence for them. But you look at the squad and they’ve got good players all round. There’s Phil Mulryne in the middle of the park and Malky Mackay at the back. These players cannot be taken for granted.”

City may yet not have to face McVeigh, who looks at the very most to be restricted to place on the bench having picked up an injury during the Canary’s 3-1 win over Millwall on Saturday.

The pressure has been eased after his direct replacement, Danish striker David Neilsen struck twice to help sink the Lions and take his tally to five for the season.

That illustrated that City should not expect an easy ride tonight if Black’s words are to have any resonance.

The Sky Blues assistant manager has insisted that Highfield Road must become a ground to be feared by visiting teams.

It has been daunting for the Canaries, who have the ominous record of just two wins in 46 years of visiting the ground.

And the Nigel Worthington is fully aware of City’s stranglehold having seen his side lose 2-1 in March.

But that was the last time Norwich lost on the Road and Worthington is determined that his side leave with that record still intact.

He said: “To have good home form is vital,” he said. “But to have decent away form is also important because the two tally up at the end of the season. Any team that is looking to make a mark or go for trophies or promotion has got to be pulling results out of the bag on a regular basis.

“We’re going to Coventry who are an ex-Premiership side, still with a lot of international players, it’s a good test for us and I’m looking forward to it.”

“We went there last time and performed reasonably well, and we only lost the game at the last throw of the dice which was very disappointing.

“This is a new season, a new game and let’s hope we can keep the resilience, keep passing the ball and keep the high work ethic that’s been getting us the results up until now.”

Unlike most play-off losers before them, Norwich have not moped under the cloud of losing in the play-offs. Instead Worthington’s predominantly young have found inspiration in it having tained the run that saw them come into the frame late. This season they are ing to do it without all that hassle.

Sky Blues: Debec, Konjic, Caldwell, Davenport, Chippo, Pipe, Quinn, Safri, Partridge, McAllister, Mills, Hyldegaard, Gordon, Eustace, McSheffrey, Bothroyd.

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Black - this game's massive Oct 23 2002




By Lee McLaughlan


Rapidly improving Sky Blues have been urged to turn Highfield Road into a fortress ahead of tonight’s intriguing clash with second place Norwich City.

Assistant boss Eric Black has called on City to build on their impressive showing against league leaders Portsmouth on Saturday by stinging another of the promotion hopefuls. And Black has stressed that City’s home form is the key to them doing that and being a genuine contender in the promotion race.

He said: “It’s the first of two successive home games and it goes without saying that this one is a massive game.

“We’re the home team and we know the onus is on us. We want to win as many home games as we can so we’ll be going out there to give Norwich problems.

“We’ve been disappointed with a couple of the results that we’ve had at home and we realise it’s vital that we try and win all our home games and that’s certainly our target.

“The Millwall result was disappointing as we were 2-1 up but then ended up losing the game. That’s something we don’t to repeat.”

But City arguably face, on paper at least, their toughest home test to date with the Canaries unbeaten away from home since losing 2-1 at Highfield Road last season.

And Black is fully aware of the threat posed by Nigel Worthington’s men.

“They’re a very good side and have got an exceptionally good record. They’re probably the form team at the moment getting result after result.

“But it’s important that we look after what we do. If we go in with the right attitude and give the performance that we’re after we’re going to be happy.”

But Black has refused to reveal whether City will revert to the more recognisable 4-4-2 formation after Saturday’s fluid 4-5-1 line almost reaped three point against Pompey.

He said: “We may alter it again, we don’t know. It’s horses for courses. It depends what Norwich are going to offer and how can we combat that.

“We’ll have to look at that and the performances on Saturday and try and pick the best 11.

“We’re looking at everything. Who looks hungriest, who looks freshest to go and do it.

“Both of the young lads that came on, Gary McSheffrey and Jay Bothroyd, played very well and they certainly be in the reckoning.”