[retired_smitchell78]

Full-time: Coventry 0 Walsall 0
26 Oct 2002 16:58



A changed Coventry City side recorded a third consecutive draw this afternoon against Walsall in a game where their lack of cutting edge up front cost them dearly.

The Sky Blues started today’s game with a considerably different line-up to the one seen over the past few weeks. David Pipe started on the right hand side with Chippo moving into the centre for the injured Macca.

Jay Bothroyd started up front with McSheffrey instead of Lee Mills who started on the bench. Dean Gordon replaced Barry Quinn at left back while Morten Hyldgaard began in goal for the first time since September after Debec injured a finger in training.

The first opening nearly fell to Walsall after four minutes. Their midfield was clearly getting into the City players and allowing them no time on the ball. It was this battling that produced a good knock over the top with the recognisable blonde head of Brazilian Junior trying to find a shooting angle. Just as the striker was about to pull the trigger Davenport stuck out a leg to make an excellent saving challenge.

City were struggling to find their feet with the Saddlers pressing them very hard every time a Sky Blue shirt was in possession. Bothroyd was receiving quite a lot of the ball in the opening ten minutes but failed to make a telling contribution.

After 11 minutes though the best chance fell to Bothroyd. Gordon released Partridge on the left and the nippy wide man didn’t need telling to run at the full-back. He beat Bazeley with ease and pulled an excellent ball back to Bothroyd ten yards out but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Two minutes later and Hyldgaard was called into action for the first time after a goal mouth scramble finally presented right midfielder Darren Wrack with a shooting opportunity. The big Dane was quick off his line to narrow the shooting angle and made a good block.

On 17 minutes Wrack tested the City shot stopper again with a dipping effort from 25 yards, which Hyldgaard tipped over the bar.

The opening 20 minutes were fairly drab but Coventry soon began passing well and making Walsall do the chasing. It was one such patient build-up that put McSheffrey through on goal after defender Roper slipped. The City striker tried to lob Walker but the Saddlers’s keeper did well to tip the effort over the bar.

On the half-hour a signal from the bench meant a change of formation for the Sky Blues. David Pipe was pushed up front alongside Bothroyd. Richie Partridge swapped flanks and McSheffrey moved to left midfield. There was no instant change of fortune however as the game continued at the same pace.

On 35 minutes a fairly innocuous challenge from Safri on Corica gave Walsall a free-kick 25 yards out and Junior – who looked a threat at times in the half – whipped his effort just wide.

With just under ten minutes left in the half Coventry stepped things up again and produced the first period of sustained pressure of the opening 45 minutes. Coventry forced corner after corner with Konjic putting a header just wide and Davenport’s effort was cleared off the line.

On 42 minutes Bothroyd hit a thunderous effort from nearly 30 yards and forced a good save from Walker. Walsall then cleared up field and Junior got his shot away after holding off Caldwell and Konjic, but Hyldgaard saved well at his near post.

City continued to push but made no further chances and the teams went into the break at nil-nil.

Coventry looked as if they were lacking something during the first half compared to their previous two matches but no changes were made at half time and the opening ten minutes of the half were similar in the entertainment stakes to the first half an hour.

Walsall were not posing any great threats and with the game there for the taking the Sky Blue fans found their voice, with almost immediate effect. Richie Partridge set off on one of his weaving runs before releasing a shot that Walker got down to well.

Shortly after Bothroyd attempted a diving header from Partridge’s cross but couldn’t direct it on target. With 30 minutes remaining City made a triple substitution with Eustace, Mills and new-boy Kerr coming on for Bothroyd, Chippo and McSheffrey.

Partridge switched back to the left hand side with Kerr on the right and the changes certainly seemed to have an effect. Coventry were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and pressure but were not creating a great deal of clearcut chances.

Kerr looked lively on the ball, showing a neat touch and good passing and Eustace fitted in alongside Safri – who had put in a typical non-stop performance – well. Two minutes after coming on the club skipper was tripped right on the edge of the area but Dean Gordon could not get the resultant free kick up and down in time and his effort went over.

On 67 minutes Partridge used his pace to get to the byline and put in a cross that looked to be dipping into the far post before Walker reached out a hand to tip it over.

Five minutes later and Mills was given the sort of opportunity he loves as a deep cross from Gordon found the big forward at the far post. He hit a powerful header downwards but it went harmlessly wide. Then on 76 minutes Partridge was put away down the wing and set off on another mazy run. He turned inside his man and hit a good effort but unfortunately not on target.

The Sky Blues were creating opportunities – perhaps not as clear-cut as those in the second half against Norwich – and were again guilty of not taking them. Throughout the final ten minutes Walsall rarely had the ball but thanks to their good defending and a lack of cutting edge from City in front of goal the game ended scoreless.

There were a couple of occasions towards the end when a slice of luck in the penalty area wouldn’t have gone amiss but City really only had themselves to blame for not defeating a fairly ordinary Walsall side.

Coventry: Hyldgaard; Gordon; Konjic; Partridge; Chippo (Mills 60); Safri; McSheffrey (Kerr 60); Caldwell; Bothroyd (Eustace 60); Davenport; Pipe

Subs not used: Montgomery; Shaw

Walsall: Walker; Bazeley; Aranalde; Carbon; Roper; Wrack; O’Connor; Leitao; Corica; Junior (Zdrilic 66); Simpson

Subs not used: Ward; Herivelto; Barras; Sonner

Referee: Mr David Pugh

Attendance: 14,544

[retired_smitchell78]

Leicester 0 Coventry City 3

Mills, Kerr, McAllister

[retired_christina_nicole05]

I beg to differ

Leicester City 3-1 Cov

Dickov 2 Bothroyd
Izzet (pen)

[retired_smitchell78]

Gary McAllister admits his Coventry City side can ill afford to let points slip away.

But the Sky Blues boss, still reeling after losing out to a controversial winner against former club Leicester City last night, remains confident his team have the ability to compete for promotion.

“It is very upsetting that we never took anything from the game,” he said after Brian Deane had snatched an 88th-minute clincher at the Walkers Stadium as City stopped in their tracks to allow team-mate Youssef Safri to receive treat-ment for a blow to the head.

“I thought we played some good football and they were only going to score from a set-piece and that’s the way they got the breakthrough to get the equaliser. As for the second goal, I will leave the experts to work that one out.

“I thought it was a head injury. I didn’t take it up with the referee because the decision was made and you just have to accept that we didn’t get any points from the game.

“I don’t really want to talk about the decisions the referee did or didn’t make, the fact is we have gone away with no points.

“I know that we have been competitive against the top three and I feel that we could have won all three games. But we are desperate to get a little run going. It is purely about getting results. Leicester are gaining momentum by just getting results. They are powerful, physical and are grinding out results. We matched them and I had no fear of that when we came here.

“I think there are six or eight teams capable in this league and the six or eight that are there now are the ones I would have picked.

“We have got to pick the players up now ahead of the Rotherham game. We played some good football and carved them open at times and kept good possession away from home, so they have got to take heart from that.”

[retired_smitchell78]

Players and fans were forced into an emergency evacuation last night when a fire broke out at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester's new £35m stadium.

The alarm sounded as the 27,000 fans were leaving the stadium, which was built this summer, and they were joined in a hasty exit by club staff and players.

Three fire appliances were called to the stadium and dealt with a minor fire on the second floor.

City’s players waited in the team coach and after 20 minutes staff were permitted back inside when it was announced the blaze had been contained.

[retired_smitchell78]

Laurent Delorge, incidentally, is continuing to train with the Sky Blues despite cashing in his contract with the club.

The 23-year-old admits he is in no rush to find a new club and plans to move back to his native Belgium or possibly Holland in the New Year when the transfer window opens again.

[retired_smitchell78]

Youssef Safri cannot believe the decision that led to Leicester grabbing a late win over the Sky Blues.

The Moroccan clearly feels the referee was wrong to allow play to continue after he had gone down clutching his head.

“I don't think we deserve to lose the game because there was a mistake from the referee and it is not good if you want to get promotion.

“I didn't see the second goal because I was on the floor injured. It was a 100 per cent foul on me because he hit me without the ball and hit me with his hand. This is not football. I hurt my head and he should have stopped the game because some of my team-mates told me they stopped playing and the opposition just carried on and I don't know why.

“I am a little bit angry and I can't say anything apart from I am so sorry about this result for the fans and the players because we did well and we didn't win this game.

“I think we have done well against the top three sides but if we want promotion we cannot afford to lose games like this. We have to work hard for our friends but if the referee makes some mistakes it is not good for the players.

“I think we played well but we didn't win the game and everyone was disappointed about the result.”

And goal scorer Richie Partridge shared Safri’s disappointment, saying: “We were 1-0 up with 15 minutes to go. Although we were away from home and you expect them to come all guns blazing, to come away with nothing is disappointing, especially how their winning goal came about.

“I think people could see for themselves that it should never have come to that and it is unfortunate that we have lost out at the last minute again.

“Youssef was on the ground and it looked like he needed some treatment. I am not going to say whether the referee was right or wrong but from where I was standing it looked like he was down with a head injury and we all know that you stop play for that. But we all make mistakes and I would have to see it again really to see whether it was or not.”

He added: “We played some nice football and that is down to the manager making us play in a certain way by getting the ball into the midfield, getting it wide and getting it up front. We try not to just hoof it up front although sometimes you have to play like that, but we don't set out with that game plan because we want to go out and pass it.

“It is always nice to score a goal but when you come away with nothing it takes the shine off it a bit.”

[retired_smitchell78]

Leicester 2 - 1 Coventry: Report Oct 29 2002







Leicester had to rely on a goal from Brian Deane 90 seconds from time to take the points in this midlands derby with a battling Coventry side at the Walkers Stadium.

Leicester made a bright start in the driving rain and Coventry's John Eustace was forced to head over his own crossbar to clear a dangerous cross from Andy Impey.

Coventry made few raids into the Leicester half but Ritchie Partridge, on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, had a dangerous run down the left but finished with a weak cross.

Leicester almost took the lead with a powerful header from defender Matt Elliott which Morten Hyldgaard in the Coventry goal couldn't hold but Deane, following up, could not control the ball.

Paul Dickov broke on the left but his shot round Hyldgaard hit the post and came out again.

Leicester were enjoying most of the play, with Coventry reduced to rare raids but on one of these player-manager Gary McAllister fired just wide with a fierce shot.

Leicester started the second half as they ended the first - on the attack - and looked to have taken the lead when Gerry Taggart headed a cross back across the goal and Deane helped it in - only for the big striker to be ruled offside.

Leicester were piling on the pressure but when a goal finally came it was at the other end as Partridge, a constant thorn in the Leicester side, broke clear from the halfway line, outpaced Elliott and placed the ball round Walker.

Partridge almost made it two five minutes later with another dazzling run and blistering shot but this time the ball went wide.

Hyldgaard tipped over a dipping header by Dickov and then Elliot was just wide with a shot from 10 yards as Leicester pressed for the equaliser.

They finally got it when Taggart bundled the ball over the line with his head through a crowd of Coventry defenders.

And just a minute later Izzet had a fierce shot deflected just wide by a Coventry defender.

Just when it looked as if Leicester would have to settle for a point, Izzet broke on the right and his deflected cross was headed home by Deane.

The drama was not quite over though, Leicester substitute Nicky Summerbee being shown the red card in injury time for a challenge on McAllister.

[retired_smitchell78]

Reserve team news v Charlton
30 Oct 2002 16:14



The reserves are fielding a strong side tonight against Charlton at Highfield Road (kick-off 7pm) and welcome back Julian Joachim as they try to build on the excellent draw at Fulham last time out .

Jay Bothroyd, Gary McSheffrey and David Pipe are all included in the squad for the visit of the Addicks after none of them started in last night’s game with Leicester.

Bothroyd came on for the final ten minutes and Pipe joined the action in stoppage time at the end of the game but McSheffrey was not included in the 15-man squad as Macca reverted to the 4-5-1 formation used in the draw with Portsmouth.

Julian Joachim will be making his first appearance in a squad since injuring his heel in August.

Other experienced players included in tonight’s squad are Barry Quinn, Richard Shaw, Robert Betts and Gavin Strachan.

Gary Mills’ men will need to be at their best once again as they take on a Premiership second string including all of the first team substitutes from the Charlton’s weekend clash with Newcastle.

Coventry: Montgomery; Pead; Quinn; Ford; Shaw; Betts; Pipe; Strachan; Bothroyd; McSheffrey; Fowler; Miller; Brush; Jephcott; Whing; Joachim

[retired_smitchell78]

Reserves lose to Addicks
31 Oct 2002 09:34



Coventry City reserves slumped to another defeat as they lost 3-1 to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday evening.

Both teams were tied on three points at the bottom of the table before the clash, although the Addicks – who fielded practically a first-team against the Sky Blues – had the better goal difference.

But two goals in the first six minutes of the match and another shortly after the break saw the London side move clear of Gary Mills’ men at the foot of the Premier Reserve League Southern Section.

In reality, in could have been many more, had goalkeeper Gary Montgomery not pulled off a string of acrobatic saves to give Coventry some hope.

However, there was some consolation for the side in the return of Julian Joachim, who played for the last 20 minutes of the game as he continued his recovery from a heel injury.

Charlton had the best possible start, with Barry Quinn forced to clear from Jonatan Johansson after just four minutes, before the Finn did put the visitors ahead just moments later.

Johansson latched onto a long ball by Radostin Kishishev, raced at the City defence and after seeing his shot come back off the body of Montgomery, the striker followed through by finishing into the back of the net.

Montgomery saved well from a right-footed volley by Matthias Svensson with just five minutes on the clock, before the Scandinavian did double the deficit a minute later when he struck a 20-yard free-kick under the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner.

City’s first opportunity arrived on 12 minutes when Jay Bothroyd lifted an chance over the crossbar, before with 25 gone, Lee Fowler broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper after robbing Kishishev of possession only to hit his shot straight at the custodian.

Ben Roberts in the Charlton goal pulled of an excellent one-handed save to deny McSheffrey seven minutes before the break, although the home team did manage to pull one back just before half-time.

Bothroyd’s shot ricocheted back off the keeper into the path of Pipe, who finished well past the keeper from the tightest of angles to make it 2-1.

Johansson added his second of the game on 49 minutes to seal the victory.

Montgomery went on to make further excellent saves from Konchesky and a multitude of Johansson chances, but it wasn’t enough to spur on the Sky Blues, who are still yet to win this season.

Coventry: Montgomery, Pead, Quinn, Ford, Shaw, Betts (Joachim 77), Pipe, Strachan, Bothroyd, McSheffrey, Fowler (Miller 58). Subs (not used): Brush (Gk), Jephcott, Whing. Bookings: McSheffrey.

Charlton: Roberts, Wells, Konchesky, Kishishev, Brown, Fortune, Blomqvist, Lisbie, Johansson, Svensson (McCafferty 29), Bart-Williams. Subs (not used): Turner, Snodin, Sharland, Fuller. Bookings: Wells, Fortune, McCafferty.