Coventry 2 Colchester 1 - 23/10/2006
Coventry 2 Colchester 1 - 23/10/2006
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Elliott Ward, Richard Duffy, Robert Page, Clive Clarke, Colin Cameron (Christopher Birchall 89), Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Leon McKenzie (Jay Tabb 86), Stern John (Don Hutchison 89), Kevin Kyle
Subs not used: Matt Heath, Dele Adebola
Goals: John 46, Doyle 69
Colchester United: Aidan Davison, Pat Baldwin, Greg Halford, Wayne Brown, Chris Barker, Kevin Watson (Johnnie Jackson 29), Karl Duguid, Kemal Izzet, Richard Garcia (Kevin McLeod 41), Chris Iwelumo (Jamie Guy 80), Jamie Cureton
Subs not used: Dean Gerken, John White
Booked: Greg Halford 11, Chris Barker 34, Karl Duguid 39
Goals: Guy 85
Attendance: 16178
Ref: M Pike
Teamtalk
Goals from Stern John and Michael Doyle enabled Coventry to leapfrog Colchester in the Championship table with a 2-1 home victory.
The Sky Blues survived a late scare after substitute Jamie Guy's strike, but picked up a deserved win over a disappointing U's side.
The home team took a deserved lead in first-half injury time in what was the first league meeting between these sides in 42 years.
Leading scorer John grabbed his fourth of the season on his return to the side, beating U's goalkeeper Aidan Davison with a low strike into the bottom-right corner from 15 yards after being released by Colin Cameron.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 69th minute, with John again in the thick of the action. The 29-year-old striker did well to control the ball on the right of the box before unselfishly squaring to the unmarked Doyle, who coolly slotted the ball inside the right post from eight yards.
The away side gave themselves hope in the 85th minute when substitute Guy raced clear down the left before cutting inside and sending a right-footed curler inside Andy Marshall's left post.
Guy's goal made for a nervous ending but Coventry deserved the victory that put them in the top 10 of the Championship.
Earlier, Cameron came close to opening the scoring with a volley from the edge of the area which flashed wide of the left post after Colchester failed to clear their lines.
And John should have done better after shooting over from a cut back supplied by the excellent Leon McKenzie.
Welsh defender Robert Page also came close to making the breakthrough, rising highest to meet John's whipped cross from the right, but his header landed agonisingly wide of the right post.
The U's looked dangerous on the counter, spurred by just one defeat in their last eight games, with goalkeeper Marshall fortunate to escape embarrassment after clumsily spilling Jamie Cureton's long range effort.
After John's opener, Cureton was also close to the target midway through the second half when his shot from wide on the right flashed wide of the left post.
But it was City doubled the lead through Doyle and they looked likely to add to their advantage in the closing stages, with Cameron running the show.
McKenzie's header from Cameron's corner sailed just over the unguarded net with Davison stranded, and Kevin Kyle came close from another dangerous set piece.
Guy pulled one back but in the end Micky Adams' side had done enough to win and record their fourth home win of the season.
CCFC
City beat Colchester by two goals to one with Stern John and Michael Doyle getting on the scoresheet before the visitors netted a late consolation.
Micky Adams named Coventry's two new loan signings in the starting eleven with Richard Duffy coming in at right back and Clive Clarke slotting into the left hand side of defence.
Upfront Stern John partnered Kevin Kyle while Leon McKenzie was deployed on the left hand side with Colin Cameron on the right.
The Sky Blues started the game well with McKenzie in particular getting plenty of joy down the left flank. In the seventh minute intense pressure from the former Norwich man led to Cameron sending a volley narrowly wide and in the 16th minute he teed up an even better opportunity for John, who blazed over from 12 yards out.
With City applying all the pressure, Colchester were forced into some rash challenges and both their full-backs - Greg Halford and Chris Barker - were booked in the opening period as well as skipper Karl Duguid.
The U's only real chance of the first half came when Jamie Cureton blasted a powerful effort at Andy Marshall which the City keeper spilled, although Elliott Ward was on hand to clear.
After bossing the initial stages, as the half progressed Colchester began to look more comfortable controlling City's attacks but John capped an impressive performance with a finely taken goal in stoppage time.
Colin Cameron threaded a beautiful ball through to the Trinidad and Tobago international which he controlled neatly before placing his shot past U's goalkeeper Aidan Davidson.
To add insult to injury Colchester were forced into two midfield substitutions during the first half with Watson and Garcia going off injured, meaning they had little by way of tactical options going into the secod period. One of their switches saw the introduction of former City loanee Johnnie Jackson who was injured early in the season and struggled to force his way back into the side following Colchester's excellent run of form during September.
Coventry were quite content to play keep ball in the early stages of the second period and once again McKenzie was getting acres of space onn his side of the pitch. Unfortunately he could not provide the killer ball as he had done before the break but City were still getting into some dangerous positions and looked more than capable of extending their lead.
And they did just that through Michael Doyle in the 68th minute. The goal came from more excellent work by John as he used all his control to fend off two Colchester defenders before laying a sqaure ball to the Irishman who finished with aplomb. It was the 25-year-old's first goal since March 2005 and as he reeled off to celebrate his joy was clear to see.
The Sky Blues continued to dominate, playing some delightful football with the irrepresible John at the centre of much of it, but Colchester gave themselves a glimmer of hope fiove minutes from full-time when substitute Jamie Guy cut in from the left and fired a crisp low drive past Marshall into the far corner of the net.
Micky Adams reacted by making his first switch with Jay Tabb replacing the impressive McKenzie on the left. A double switch soon followed as Hutchison and Birchall replaced John and Cameron as the City boss introduced fresh legs to ensure that Colchester did not make an unlikely comeback.
In the end, City were worthy winners after a professional performance, interspersed with some fine moments of individual quality.
4thegame
Stern John proved there's no place like home as he fired Coventry City to victory.
The Trinidad & Tobago international struck in first-half injury time to end a poor run for the home side, before Michael Doyle chipped in with a rare goal to make certain of victory.
Coventry City boss Micky Adams made four changes from the side which fell to defeat at neighbours Wolves.
Richard Duffy returned on his third loan spell from Portsmouth, while Clive Clarke came in for his debut after agreeing a one-month deal from Sunderland.
The two were involved more than they would have wished in the opening minutes as Colchester started very brightly.
Robert Page had to make half a dozen interventions in as many minutes, twice cutting out dangerous attacks with well-timed headers.
But after weathering that early pressure, it was Coventry who really should have taken the lead when they launched their first real attack of note.
Colin Cameron, loitering on the edge of the area, tried his luck with a left-foot volley which went skimming just wide of goal, before John managed to sky an effort over the bar following good work from Leon McKenzie.
The U's went closest through Jamie Cureton, whose long-range effort was spilled by Andy Marshall and had to be hacked to safety by Page.
Coventry were becoming increasingly frustrated but managed to finally get it right inside the first minute of injury time.
Cameron and John combined well for the striker to stroke the ball in past Aidan Davison.
The goal knocked the visitors - who were on a high after their thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday - and they could have gone further behind after the restart when McKenzie saw a header fizz just over the bar from a Cameron corner.
But while they were forcing most of the play and limited Colchester to long-range effort, they needed a second goal to be certain of victory.
And when it came in the 68th minute, it was from an unlikely source.
Combative midfielder Doyle had not found the net for 18 months, but John gave him an unmissable chance and he slid the ball home to end a fine move.
The visitors did rally and Cureton almost found the net with a fine a 25-yard shot before Wayne Brown also went close, But then, with just six minutes left, Jamie Guy netted and Coventry were left hanging on.
Referee Mike Pike allowed four minutes of overtime and Colchester pressed for all they were worth, but it was too little too late.
City manager Micky Adams said: "It was an important win. We are a little bit inconsistent at the moment so it was crucial for us to get a result at home.
"The home form was vital for us last season and it is good to get that going again.
"It was not the best of games but we are more than happy to take the three points.
U's boss Geraint Williams added: "We are all disappointed because that is probably one of our worst performances of the season.
"I didn't think there was much in the game but Coventry made the most of their two chances.
"I think Micky Adams is an honest man and we both know we've played better than that this season."
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Elliott Ward, Richard Duffy, Robert Page, Clive Clarke, Colin Cameron (Christopher Birchall 89), Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Leon McKenzie (Jay Tabb 86), Stern John (Don Hutchison 89), Kevin Kyle
Subs not used: Matt Heath, Dele Adebola
Goals: John 46, Doyle 69
Colchester United: Aidan Davison, Pat Baldwin, Greg Halford, Wayne Brown, Chris Barker, Kevin Watson (Johnnie Jackson 29), Karl Duguid, Kemal Izzet, Richard Garcia (Kevin McLeod 41), Chris Iwelumo (Jamie Guy 80), Jamie Cureton
Subs not used: Dean Gerken, John White
Booked: Greg Halford 11, Chris Barker 34, Karl Duguid 39
Goals: Guy 85
Attendance: 16178
Ref: M Pike
Teamtalk
Goals from Stern John and Michael Doyle enabled Coventry to leapfrog Colchester in the Championship table with a 2-1 home victory.
The Sky Blues survived a late scare after substitute Jamie Guy's strike, but picked up a deserved win over a disappointing U's side.
The home team took a deserved lead in first-half injury time in what was the first league meeting between these sides in 42 years.
Leading scorer John grabbed his fourth of the season on his return to the side, beating U's goalkeeper Aidan Davison with a low strike into the bottom-right corner from 15 yards after being released by Colin Cameron.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 69th minute, with John again in the thick of the action. The 29-year-old striker did well to control the ball on the right of the box before unselfishly squaring to the unmarked Doyle, who coolly slotted the ball inside the right post from eight yards.
The away side gave themselves hope in the 85th minute when substitute Guy raced clear down the left before cutting inside and sending a right-footed curler inside Andy Marshall's left post.
Guy's goal made for a nervous ending but Coventry deserved the victory that put them in the top 10 of the Championship.
Earlier, Cameron came close to opening the scoring with a volley from the edge of the area which flashed wide of the left post after Colchester failed to clear their lines.
And John should have done better after shooting over from a cut back supplied by the excellent Leon McKenzie.
Welsh defender Robert Page also came close to making the breakthrough, rising highest to meet John's whipped cross from the right, but his header landed agonisingly wide of the right post.
The U's looked dangerous on the counter, spurred by just one defeat in their last eight games, with goalkeeper Marshall fortunate to escape embarrassment after clumsily spilling Jamie Cureton's long range effort.
After John's opener, Cureton was also close to the target midway through the second half when his shot from wide on the right flashed wide of the left post.
But it was City doubled the lead through Doyle and they looked likely to add to their advantage in the closing stages, with Cameron running the show.
McKenzie's header from Cameron's corner sailed just over the unguarded net with Davison stranded, and Kevin Kyle came close from another dangerous set piece.
Guy pulled one back but in the end Micky Adams' side had done enough to win and record their fourth home win of the season.
CCFC
City beat Colchester by two goals to one with Stern John and Michael Doyle getting on the scoresheet before the visitors netted a late consolation.
Micky Adams named Coventry's two new loan signings in the starting eleven with Richard Duffy coming in at right back and Clive Clarke slotting into the left hand side of defence.
Upfront Stern John partnered Kevin Kyle while Leon McKenzie was deployed on the left hand side with Colin Cameron on the right.
The Sky Blues started the game well with McKenzie in particular getting plenty of joy down the left flank. In the seventh minute intense pressure from the former Norwich man led to Cameron sending a volley narrowly wide and in the 16th minute he teed up an even better opportunity for John, who blazed over from 12 yards out.
With City applying all the pressure, Colchester were forced into some rash challenges and both their full-backs - Greg Halford and Chris Barker - were booked in the opening period as well as skipper Karl Duguid.
The U's only real chance of the first half came when Jamie Cureton blasted a powerful effort at Andy Marshall which the City keeper spilled, although Elliott Ward was on hand to clear.
After bossing the initial stages, as the half progressed Colchester began to look more comfortable controlling City's attacks but John capped an impressive performance with a finely taken goal in stoppage time.
Colin Cameron threaded a beautiful ball through to the Trinidad and Tobago international which he controlled neatly before placing his shot past U's goalkeeper Aidan Davidson.
To add insult to injury Colchester were forced into two midfield substitutions during the first half with Watson and Garcia going off injured, meaning they had little by way of tactical options going into the secod period. One of their switches saw the introduction of former City loanee Johnnie Jackson who was injured early in the season and struggled to force his way back into the side following Colchester's excellent run of form during September.
Coventry were quite content to play keep ball in the early stages of the second period and once again McKenzie was getting acres of space onn his side of the pitch. Unfortunately he could not provide the killer ball as he had done before the break but City were still getting into some dangerous positions and looked more than capable of extending their lead.
And they did just that through Michael Doyle in the 68th minute. The goal came from more excellent work by John as he used all his control to fend off two Colchester defenders before laying a sqaure ball to the Irishman who finished with aplomb. It was the 25-year-old's first goal since March 2005 and as he reeled off to celebrate his joy was clear to see.
The Sky Blues continued to dominate, playing some delightful football with the irrepresible John at the centre of much of it, but Colchester gave themselves a glimmer of hope fiove minutes from full-time when substitute Jamie Guy cut in from the left and fired a crisp low drive past Marshall into the far corner of the net.
Micky Adams reacted by making his first switch with Jay Tabb replacing the impressive McKenzie on the left. A double switch soon followed as Hutchison and Birchall replaced John and Cameron as the City boss introduced fresh legs to ensure that Colchester did not make an unlikely comeback.
In the end, City were worthy winners after a professional performance, interspersed with some fine moments of individual quality.
4thegame
Stern John proved there's no place like home as he fired Coventry City to victory.
The Trinidad & Tobago international struck in first-half injury time to end a poor run for the home side, before Michael Doyle chipped in with a rare goal to make certain of victory.
Coventry City boss Micky Adams made four changes from the side which fell to defeat at neighbours Wolves.
Richard Duffy returned on his third loan spell from Portsmouth, while Clive Clarke came in for his debut after agreeing a one-month deal from Sunderland.
The two were involved more than they would have wished in the opening minutes as Colchester started very brightly.
Robert Page had to make half a dozen interventions in as many minutes, twice cutting out dangerous attacks with well-timed headers.
But after weathering that early pressure, it was Coventry who really should have taken the lead when they launched their first real attack of note.
Colin Cameron, loitering on the edge of the area, tried his luck with a left-foot volley which went skimming just wide of goal, before John managed to sky an effort over the bar following good work from Leon McKenzie.
The U's went closest through Jamie Cureton, whose long-range effort was spilled by Andy Marshall and had to be hacked to safety by Page.
Coventry were becoming increasingly frustrated but managed to finally get it right inside the first minute of injury time.
Cameron and John combined well for the striker to stroke the ball in past Aidan Davison.
The goal knocked the visitors - who were on a high after their thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday - and they could have gone further behind after the restart when McKenzie saw a header fizz just over the bar from a Cameron corner.
But while they were forcing most of the play and limited Colchester to long-range effort, they needed a second goal to be certain of victory.
And when it came in the 68th minute, it was from an unlikely source.
Combative midfielder Doyle had not found the net for 18 months, but John gave him an unmissable chance and he slid the ball home to end a fine move.
The visitors did rally and Cureton almost found the net with a fine a 25-yard shot before Wayne Brown also went close, But then, with just six minutes left, Jamie Guy netted and Coventry were left hanging on.
Referee Mike Pike allowed four minutes of overtime and Colchester pressed for all they were worth, but it was too little too late.
City manager Micky Adams said: "It was an important win. We are a little bit inconsistent at the moment so it was crucial for us to get a result at home.
"The home form was vital for us last season and it is good to get that going again.
"It was not the best of games but we are more than happy to take the three points.
U's boss Geraint Williams added: "We are all disappointed because that is probably one of our worst performances of the season.
"I didn't think there was much in the game but Coventry made the most of their two chances.
"I think Micky Adams is an honest man and we both know we've played better than that this season."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 9:00 am
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