Coventry 0 Leicester 0 - 18/08/2006
Coventry 0 Leicester 0 - 18/08/2006
Coventry: Marshall, Whing, Heath, Ward, Hall,Birchall (El Idrissi 54), Hughes, Cameron, Doyle (Thornton 68),John, Hutchison (Adebola 64).
Subs Not Used: Page, Osbourne.
Booked: Doyle, Whing.
Leicester: Henderson, Kenton (Stearman 74), McCarthy, Kisnorbo,Johansson, Low, Hughes, Johnson, Porter (Wesolowski 70),Fryatt, Hammond (Hume 57).
Subs Not Used: Logan, Maybury.
Booked: Porter, McCarthy.
Att: 20,261
Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).
Teamtalk
Micky Adams found out just how difficult life could be without Gary McSheffrey as Coventry struggled to a goalless draw against Leicester.
Following the winger's £4million move to Birmingham this week, the visitors dominated for the majority of the game and the Sky Blues were booed from the pitch at the end of a game high in effort but woefully short on quality and genuine chances.
The opening exchanges between the midlands rivals were typically frenetic as the ball skidded around on a pitch lubricated by torrential downpours an hour before kick-off.
Matt Fryatt and Elvis Hammond had early long-range efforts for the Foxes, but midfielder Josh Low had the game's first genuine chance in the 15th minute when Fryatt's blocked shot rebounded fortuitously into his path.
However, his finish from eight yards lacked any composure as the ball screwed wide of Marshall's right-hand post.
The home side finally created a half-chance of their own two minutes later when veteran Don Hutchison sent through right-back Andrew Whing, whose floated cross-cum-shot was punched nervously away by Leicester keeper Paul Henderson.
Henderson could only watch in the 34th minute, however, as a Hutchison set piece from 30 yards cracked against the foot of his left-hand post and away to safety.
Five minutes from half-time a rare moment of interplay saw Low played in to the right byline.
His first time cross was met at the near post by a charging Fryatt, but his goal-bound shot from six yards was deflected for a corner by a superb Matt Heath challenge.
The visitors' dominance continued after the break and Fryatt should have done better after five minutes when he was played in by lively full debutant Levi Porter, but his curling shot was blocked by Michael Doyle.
Adams introduced midfielder Faysal el Idrissi in a desperate attempt to add some creativity to his misfiring engine room, and his dipping shot from 25 yards flashed just wide on the hour.
The further introductions of Kevin Thornton and Dele Adebola changed Coventry and they looked the most likely to break the deadlock as the game moved into the final quarter.
But they were nearly stung by a Leicester break in the 79th minute, which ended with Marshall saving smartly from a powerful Iain Hume shot.
The Sky Blues almost took the lead themselves two minutes afterwards when Colin Cameron, making his full debut, got to the byline and his low cross was deflected just wide off a series of shins as the game finally opened up at the death.
Both sides are left with four points from four games as a result of the stalemate.
CCFC
A scrappy local derby between the Sky Blues and Leicester ends goalless.
Micky Adams shuffled his pack for the tie as Colin Cameron made his first competitive start for the Club since joining from Wolves during the summer.
With David McNamee and Adam Virgo both suffering injuries against Cardiff at Ninian Park last Saturday Andy Whing reclaimed his place at right back, while Don Hutchison was named alongside Stern John upfront in place of Dele Adebola.
Robert Page was fit enough to make the bench having recovered from a back injury and joining the Welsh international among the substitutes was Adebola, Isaac Osbourne, Kevin Thornton and the Moroccan Faysal El-Idrissi.
The opening exchanges were scrappy, with neither team able to take a stranglehold on proceedings as the ball went from one end to the other with nobody really putting their foot on it.
Leicester were making it very tricky for their hosts to maintain possession, harrying a Coventry player every time he received possession, and it was the Foxes who had the first shot on target in the 12th minute, although Andy Marshall was able to make a routine save from Matty Fryatt's low drive.
A far better opportunity came Josh Low's way just three minutes later after Fryatt's effort was blocked, but thankfully the Foxes winger pulled his shot well wide of the target.
Sky Blues fans had to wait until the 26th minute for their side's first shot on goal, as Don Hutchison's low free-kick forced Foxes keeper Paul Henderson into action.
City were coming back into the match as the first half progressed and Hutchison's second free-kick had far more zip on it, but this time flew inches wide of the post.
Great work from Cameron - who chased a lost cause to block a Henderson clearance - led to Birchall trying his luck from 25 yards but his on-target effort was blocked by a Leicester defender.
But it was the visitors who ended the first interval more positively, pinning the Sky Blues into their own penalty area as they peppered the goal with shots, but all credit to City for some stout defending.
The Foxes picked up where they had left off at the start of the second period as the Sky Blues again failed to stamp their authority on the tie, and but for some woeful finishing, Coventry could well have found themselves behind.
Matt Heath then had City's best chance of the game so far as he found space in the area to connect with Stephen Hughes' corner with a crisp header, which went just high and wide.
Just ten minutes after the interval Micky Adams made his first switch, introducing Faysal El-Idrissi for his Sky Blues debut in place of Birchall, after which Rob Kelly brought on striker Iain Hume for Elvis Hammond.
With no noticeable shift in play, Adams acted again by swapping Hutchison for Adebola as it became increasingly clear that this was a tie likely to be settled by a solitary goal. City had not shown a great deal of invention during the match and with just over 20 to play, Kev Thornton replaced the out of sorts Doyle in Adams' final throw of the dice.
The lively youngster certainly added an extra dimension to City's game, causing havoc in the Leicester defence at times, as did El-Idrissi who looked to have excellent touch and a burst of pace. However, he did show naivety by playing a needless crossfield ball which led to Iain Hume forcing a good save from Marshall.
The Sky Blues were getting closer to taking the lead and with ten left on the clock Whing released Cameron with an excellent ball down the right wing. The former Scottish international pulled the ball back into the six-yard box but no City man could connect as Leicester scrambled the ball clear.
After a poor first half performance, City improved considerably after the break but will need to show more as an attacking unit throughout the 90 minutes as the season progresses.
4thegame
Coventry City battled their way to a home point at the end of a turbulent week.
Two successive defeats and the sale of home-town hero Gary McSheffrey to Birmingham City had made this a big game for so early in the season.
But although the game failed to live up to expectations, Micky Adams' side did enough to silence the unhappy supporters.
It could, however, have been very different as the early running was done by Leicester while Coventry's new post-McSheffrey formation struggled to make any impact.
Patrick Kisnorbo made the first foray on goal in only the sixth minute when he moved on to a free-kick from Stephen Hughes, but directed the ball wide of goal.
Matty Fryatt was causing problems to the heart of the Coventry defence. The former Walsall striker set up a chance for Elvis Hammond in the 12th minute and, three minutes later, when his shot was blocked by Matt Heath, Josh Low fired the loose ball wide.
Coventry full-back Andrew Whing, in for the injured David McNamee, got forward to good effect after 17 minutes when he played a pass to Don Hutchison and continued forward to collect the return ball.
He managed to get into the visitors' area and forced Paul Henderson into his first save of the game.
Hutchison was working hard alongside Stern John, but his best two attempts came from set-pieces from outside the area. He hit the first wide and the second was kept out by Henderson.
Colin Cameron, making his first appearance at the Ricoh Arena since his close season move from Wolves, was also working effectively in an advanced midfield role. He created a half chance for John and then ran 25 yards to charge down an attempted clearance from Henderson, only for Chris Birchall's shot to be blocked.
Leicester recovered their rhythm and ended the half the stronger, Nils Eric Johansson should have done better in the second minute of added time, but his right-foot shot was pushed clear by Andy Marshall.
Heath, who joined Coventry from Leicester a year ago, had the perfect chance to bury his former team-mates right at the start of the second half.
Coventry strung together their best move of the game when Elliott Ward and Cameron combined to put Marcus Hall free down the left flank. The full-back delivered the perfect cross but Heath, unmarked ten yards out, managed to head wide.
Both sides made their full allocation of subs in a bid to steal the points but they lacked the quality to make a decisive breakthrough.
Moroccan midfielder Faysal El-Idrissi, signed on a short term deal in the summer, could have made an instant impact when, just short of hour, he tried his luck from 25 yards and sent a shot just wide of goal.
Coventry ended the game in the ascendancy. El-Idrissi had clearly made a difference and, from the early indications, looks a real find.
Leicester were lucky to survive a late scare as Cameron again caused them trouble by moving ahead of the strikers to move on to an inch-perfect pass from Whing.
Dele Adebola moved in for the kill, but Patrick McCarthy got there in time to concede a corner.
Coventry manager Micky Adams said afterwards: "We could have been without Gary McSheffrey for all sorts of reasons.
"He could have been suspended or injured. We have played with him and without him before so it was not something that could concern us.
"He has certain qualities that might have helped us but it wasn't something we could worry about.
"I told the players that Gary has been a great player for us, but we need a new hero and that we needed someone else to step up and be that man.
"We are in no rush to sign someone before the transfer window closes because we can get someone in loan and then spend the money in January if we need to. There are funds there but the kitty is far less than the £4million." Foxes boss Rob Kelly added: "We can't go anywhere and set our stall out to get a draw because we can come unstuck doing that.
"I am pleased with our last two performances especially after the first two. I thought we played well in the first half and then had to show the other side of our game in the second period.
"Our players showed they were up for the challenge and didn't shirk a single thing and that is pleasing after the disappointment of the first couple of matches."
Coventry: Marshall, Whing, Heath, Ward, Hall,Birchall (El Idrissi 54), Hughes, Cameron, Doyle (Thornton 68),John, Hutchison (Adebola 64).
Subs Not Used: Page, Osbourne.
Booked: Doyle, Whing.
Leicester: Henderson, Kenton (Stearman 74), McCarthy, Kisnorbo,Johansson, Low, Hughes, Johnson, Porter (Wesolowski 70),Fryatt, Hammond (Hume 57).
Subs Not Used: Logan, Maybury.
Booked: Porter, McCarthy.
Att: 20,261
Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).
Teamtalk
Micky Adams found out just how difficult life could be without Gary McSheffrey as Coventry struggled to a goalless draw against Leicester.
Following the winger's £4million move to Birmingham this week, the visitors dominated for the majority of the game and the Sky Blues were booed from the pitch at the end of a game high in effort but woefully short on quality and genuine chances.
The opening exchanges between the midlands rivals were typically frenetic as the ball skidded around on a pitch lubricated by torrential downpours an hour before kick-off.
Matt Fryatt and Elvis Hammond had early long-range efforts for the Foxes, but midfielder Josh Low had the game's first genuine chance in the 15th minute when Fryatt's blocked shot rebounded fortuitously into his path.
However, his finish from eight yards lacked any composure as the ball screwed wide of Marshall's right-hand post.
The home side finally created a half-chance of their own two minutes later when veteran Don Hutchison sent through right-back Andrew Whing, whose floated cross-cum-shot was punched nervously away by Leicester keeper Paul Henderson.
Henderson could only watch in the 34th minute, however, as a Hutchison set piece from 30 yards cracked against the foot of his left-hand post and away to safety.
Five minutes from half-time a rare moment of interplay saw Low played in to the right byline.
His first time cross was met at the near post by a charging Fryatt, but his goal-bound shot from six yards was deflected for a corner by a superb Matt Heath challenge.
The visitors' dominance continued after the break and Fryatt should have done better after five minutes when he was played in by lively full debutant Levi Porter, but his curling shot was blocked by Michael Doyle.
Adams introduced midfielder Faysal el Idrissi in a desperate attempt to add some creativity to his misfiring engine room, and his dipping shot from 25 yards flashed just wide on the hour.
The further introductions of Kevin Thornton and Dele Adebola changed Coventry and they looked the most likely to break the deadlock as the game moved into the final quarter.
But they were nearly stung by a Leicester break in the 79th minute, which ended with Marshall saving smartly from a powerful Iain Hume shot.
The Sky Blues almost took the lead themselves two minutes afterwards when Colin Cameron, making his full debut, got to the byline and his low cross was deflected just wide off a series of shins as the game finally opened up at the death.
Both sides are left with four points from four games as a result of the stalemate.
CCFC
A scrappy local derby between the Sky Blues and Leicester ends goalless.
Micky Adams shuffled his pack for the tie as Colin Cameron made his first competitive start for the Club since joining from Wolves during the summer.
With David McNamee and Adam Virgo both suffering injuries against Cardiff at Ninian Park last Saturday Andy Whing reclaimed his place at right back, while Don Hutchison was named alongside Stern John upfront in place of Dele Adebola.
Robert Page was fit enough to make the bench having recovered from a back injury and joining the Welsh international among the substitutes was Adebola, Isaac Osbourne, Kevin Thornton and the Moroccan Faysal El-Idrissi.
The opening exchanges were scrappy, with neither team able to take a stranglehold on proceedings as the ball went from one end to the other with nobody really putting their foot on it.
Leicester were making it very tricky for their hosts to maintain possession, harrying a Coventry player every time he received possession, and it was the Foxes who had the first shot on target in the 12th minute, although Andy Marshall was able to make a routine save from Matty Fryatt's low drive.
A far better opportunity came Josh Low's way just three minutes later after Fryatt's effort was blocked, but thankfully the Foxes winger pulled his shot well wide of the target.
Sky Blues fans had to wait until the 26th minute for their side's first shot on goal, as Don Hutchison's low free-kick forced Foxes keeper Paul Henderson into action.
City were coming back into the match as the first half progressed and Hutchison's second free-kick had far more zip on it, but this time flew inches wide of the post.
Great work from Cameron - who chased a lost cause to block a Henderson clearance - led to Birchall trying his luck from 25 yards but his on-target effort was blocked by a Leicester defender.
But it was the visitors who ended the first interval more positively, pinning the Sky Blues into their own penalty area as they peppered the goal with shots, but all credit to City for some stout defending.
The Foxes picked up where they had left off at the start of the second period as the Sky Blues again failed to stamp their authority on the tie, and but for some woeful finishing, Coventry could well have found themselves behind.
Matt Heath then had City's best chance of the game so far as he found space in the area to connect with Stephen Hughes' corner with a crisp header, which went just high and wide.
Just ten minutes after the interval Micky Adams made his first switch, introducing Faysal El-Idrissi for his Sky Blues debut in place of Birchall, after which Rob Kelly brought on striker Iain Hume for Elvis Hammond.
With no noticeable shift in play, Adams acted again by swapping Hutchison for Adebola as it became increasingly clear that this was a tie likely to be settled by a solitary goal. City had not shown a great deal of invention during the match and with just over 20 to play, Kev Thornton replaced the out of sorts Doyle in Adams' final throw of the dice.
The lively youngster certainly added an extra dimension to City's game, causing havoc in the Leicester defence at times, as did El-Idrissi who looked to have excellent touch and a burst of pace. However, he did show naivety by playing a needless crossfield ball which led to Iain Hume forcing a good save from Marshall.
The Sky Blues were getting closer to taking the lead and with ten left on the clock Whing released Cameron with an excellent ball down the right wing. The former Scottish international pulled the ball back into the six-yard box but no City man could connect as Leicester scrambled the ball clear.
After a poor first half performance, City improved considerably after the break but will need to show more as an attacking unit throughout the 90 minutes as the season progresses.
4thegame
Coventry City battled their way to a home point at the end of a turbulent week.
Two successive defeats and the sale of home-town hero Gary McSheffrey to Birmingham City had made this a big game for so early in the season.
But although the game failed to live up to expectations, Micky Adams' side did enough to silence the unhappy supporters.
It could, however, have been very different as the early running was done by Leicester while Coventry's new post-McSheffrey formation struggled to make any impact.
Patrick Kisnorbo made the first foray on goal in only the sixth minute when he moved on to a free-kick from Stephen Hughes, but directed the ball wide of goal.
Matty Fryatt was causing problems to the heart of the Coventry defence. The former Walsall striker set up a chance for Elvis Hammond in the 12th minute and, three minutes later, when his shot was blocked by Matt Heath, Josh Low fired the loose ball wide.
Coventry full-back Andrew Whing, in for the injured David McNamee, got forward to good effect after 17 minutes when he played a pass to Don Hutchison and continued forward to collect the return ball.
He managed to get into the visitors' area and forced Paul Henderson into his first save of the game.
Hutchison was working hard alongside Stern John, but his best two attempts came from set-pieces from outside the area. He hit the first wide and the second was kept out by Henderson.
Colin Cameron, making his first appearance at the Ricoh Arena since his close season move from Wolves, was also working effectively in an advanced midfield role. He created a half chance for John and then ran 25 yards to charge down an attempted clearance from Henderson, only for Chris Birchall's shot to be blocked.
Leicester recovered their rhythm and ended the half the stronger, Nils Eric Johansson should have done better in the second minute of added time, but his right-foot shot was pushed clear by Andy Marshall.
Heath, who joined Coventry from Leicester a year ago, had the perfect chance to bury his former team-mates right at the start of the second half.
Coventry strung together their best move of the game when Elliott Ward and Cameron combined to put Marcus Hall free down the left flank. The full-back delivered the perfect cross but Heath, unmarked ten yards out, managed to head wide.
Both sides made their full allocation of subs in a bid to steal the points but they lacked the quality to make a decisive breakthrough.
Moroccan midfielder Faysal El-Idrissi, signed on a short term deal in the summer, could have made an instant impact when, just short of hour, he tried his luck from 25 yards and sent a shot just wide of goal.
Coventry ended the game in the ascendancy. El-Idrissi had clearly made a difference and, from the early indications, looks a real find.
Leicester were lucky to survive a late scare as Cameron again caused them trouble by moving ahead of the strikers to move on to an inch-perfect pass from Whing.
Dele Adebola moved in for the kill, but Patrick McCarthy got there in time to concede a corner.
Coventry manager Micky Adams said afterwards: "We could have been without Gary McSheffrey for all sorts of reasons.
"He could have been suspended or injured. We have played with him and without him before so it was not something that could concern us.
"He has certain qualities that might have helped us but it wasn't something we could worry about.
"I told the players that Gary has been a great player for us, but we need a new hero and that we needed someone else to step up and be that man.
"We are in no rush to sign someone before the transfer window closes because we can get someone in loan and then spend the money in January if we need to. There are funds there but the kitty is far less than the £4million." Foxes boss Rob Kelly added: "We can't go anywhere and set our stall out to get a draw because we can come unstuck doing that.
"I am pleased with our last two performances especially after the first two. I thought we played well in the first half and then had to show the other side of our game in the second period.
"Our players showed they were up for the challenge and didn't shirk a single thing and that is pleasing after the disappointment of the first couple of matches."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 8:13 am
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