Wolves 1 Coventry 0 - 17/10/2006
Wolves 1 Coventry 0 - 17/10/2006
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Matthew Murray, Jamie Clapham, Gary Breen, Jody Craddock, Rob Edwards, Seyi George Olofinjana, Karl Henry, Darren Potter, Rohan Ricketts, Jemal Johnson (Craig Davies 61), Jay Bothroyd (Leon Clarke 61)
Subs not used: Lewis Gobern, Carl Ikeme, David Wheater
Booked: Seyi George Olofinjana 58, Jay Bothroyd 56, Leon Clarke 82
Goals: Ward(OG) 20
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Elliott Ward, David McNamee (Jay Tabb 11), Robert Page, Matt Heath (Stern John 79), Christopher Birchall, Colin Cameron, Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle (Kevin Kyle 70), Dele Adebola, Leon McKenzie
Subs not used: Kevin Thornton, Don Hutchison
Booked: Christopher Birchall 20, Kevin Kyle 89
Attendance: 19823
Referee: L Mason
Teamtalk
Elliott Ward's own goal separated the two sides as Wolves picked up their third straight home win with a 1-0 victory at home to Coventry.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will have been left scratching his head as to how any of his players failed to register on the scoresheet, but will certainly be content with his side's defensive display after the miserly defence kept their seventh clean sheet of the season.
Ex-Blackburn forward Jemal Johnson began the move which led to the goal, accelerating past the Coventry midfield before releasing Rohan Ricketts in space down the right.
Ricketts crossed the ball to Nigerian midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, who spun on the penalty spot before sending a shot which deflected off the unfortunate Ward and past the wrong-footed Andy Marshall into the bottom-right corner.
McCarthy's strike pairing of Johnson and former Sky Blue Jay Bothroyd were proving a constant thorn in the City defence, with the pair combining to almost double the home side's lead.
Johnson found Bothroyd down the right flank, who stood up an inviting cross to the back post which Karl Henry was whiskers away from meeting.
The Sky Blues were forced to make an early substitution when David McNamee pulled his hamstring. And it was replacement Jay Tabb who came the closest to netting for Micky Adams' side in the first half, sending a low, swerving shot with the outside of his boot just wide of Matt Murray's right post.
Wolves continued where they left off in the second-half with Olofinjana and Johnson both testing Marshall early on.
McCarthy made the surprise move of bringing off Johnson and Bothroyd, but with City's nervous defence starting to tire, the decision soon looked inspired, with the fresh legs of Leon Clarke and Craig Davies proving equally problematic.
Wanderers should have doubled their lead in the 70th minute. Clarke timed his run to perfection to meet Darren Potter's free-kick from wide on the right, but his powerful six-yard effort flew just above the right angle of the post with Marshall beaten.
And only minutes later McCarthy's side were handed a gilt-edged opportunity to seal the points.
Olofinjana's delightful chipped pass sent Davies clean through but the young striker's clumsy touch took him too wide - enabling Welsh defender Robert Page to recover and make an interception.
Ironically it was former City defender Gary Breen who came closest to netting for the away side, slicing a cross agonisingly over his own bar.
But Wolves held on following a nervy five minutes of injury-time to claim their first victory over Adams' team since the 2001/2002 season.
CCFC
Coventry City fail to make it back-to-back wins on the road at Molineux this evening as an Elliott Ward own goal consigns the Sky Blues to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Micky Adams was forced to make one change to side that was victorious over Southend on Friday evening.
Chris Birchall returned from international duty with Trinidad and Tobago to replace the injured Marcus Hall, with David McNamee switching to left-wing-back to accommodate.
Stern John had to do make do with a place on the bench alongside Kevin Kyle, who returned to the squad following illness. Dele Adebola kept his place in the starting 11 after scoring his first league goal of the season for the Sky Blues.
Colin Cameron, who also scored for the first time at Roots Hall, returned to Molineux to face his former club for the first time since his summer move to Coventry City.
Matt Heath had the first opportunity of the night for the Sky Blues when his header flicked disappointingly wide from a Cameron free-kick with six minutes on the clock.
Micky Adams was enforced to make an early substitution when McNamee pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury, with Jay Tabb taking his place five minutes later.
Tabb made an instant impact when he unleashed a 25-yard shot on the half-volley which squirmed just wide of the left upright.
Disaster struck for Coventry on 17 minutes when Jemal Johnson won the ball in the middle of the park although he appeared to foul Birchall along the way. His through ball found Rohan Ricketts on the left hand side, who chipped it into the area for Olofinjana-the forward finishing courtesy of the boot of Elliott Ward.
Tabb, again was proving to be a real handful for the Wolves defence, smashing another long range effort just over the top of Murray's crossbar.
Stephen Hughes forced Matt Murray into a good save at the near post but it was to be the last real chance of the half.
With Micky Adams' half-time team talk no doubt still ringing in their ears the Sky Blues started the second period looking for a leveler, Chris Birchall finding space down the right before curling his cross over the bar two minutes in.
At the other end the diminutive Jemal Johnson was continuing to look lively and Andy Marshall did well to watch his dipping effort harmlessly over the bar.
With City starting to take control of the game in midfield Mick McCarthy opted to replace the front duo of Bothroyd and Johnson with Leon Clarke and Craig Davies just after the hour.
Just seconds later Leon McKenzie brought the ball under control in the box before turning and firing at the hands of an advancing Matt Murray in the Wolves goal.
Marshall - who had little to do in the second period - was sprung into action as Leon Clarke met a deep corner at the far post only for the former Millwall shot-stopper to beat the ball away on 65.
Clarke then had another golden opportunity to double the home side's advantage as he rose unmarked in the box before planting his header just over.
With the Sky Blues still desperately looking for an equalizer Micky Adams threw on a third striker in the shape of Kevin Kyle to give the Wolves defence something to think about for the final 20 minutes.
Substitute Clarke could have bagged himself a hat trick with a touch more composure in front of goal as he sent a soft header into the hands of Marshall on 77.
The gaffer made his final change of the evening with 10 minutes remaining, Trinidad and Tobago striker replacing centre-back Matt Heath as City went for broke, finishing the game with four strikers on the pitch.
Despite the attacking options it was defender Ward who almost grabbed an equalizer as he crept in at the far post to throw himself at the ball and force Murray into an impressive save at the far post.
The lads were certainly giving it everything to secure a share of the spoils and almost found it through the unlikely figure of Gary Breen who wildly sliced the ball over his own bar in a frantic finish.
Despite five minutes of added time Micky Adams' men just couldn't find the back of the net on a disappointing night at Molineux.
4thegame
Elliott Ward's own goal handed high-flying Wolves their third successive home win as Coventry City's problems on their travels continued at Molineux.
Coventry have only managed to win twice away from home this season, but they at least deserved some kind of reward against Wolves having enjoyed long spells of possession in the second half.
But Ward's 20th minute deflection into his own net proved to be decisive as Coventry crashed to their first defeat in four visits to Molineux.
As soon as the goal went in the writing was on the wall for Coventry as Wolves are making a habit of winning 1-0 this season.
This was their sixth success by that scoreline in 12 league games and set them up perfectly for Sunday's crunch local derby at arch-rivals West Bromwich Albion.
For all their possession, Coventry struggled to really carry a threat in attack despite ending the game with four strikers - Dele Adebola, Leon McKenzie, Kevin Kyle and Stern John - on the pitch.
But what little they could muster up front was ably dealt with by goalkeeper Matt Murray, while central defender Gary Breen was again outstanding at the heart of the defence.
Murray beat away McKenzie's close-range drive in the 62nd minute before smothering a header from Stephen Hughes at his near post seven minutes from time.
But Wolves should have been out of sight by then only for substitute Leon Clarke to squander two gift wrapped chances.
His 65th minute header was saved by Andy Marshall and then Clarke headed over the bar from three yards.
It all came down to the luckless former West Ham United central defender Ward inadvertently handing Wolves all three points.
Jemal Johnson set up the opening with a powerful run before feeding Rohan Ricketts on the left wing.
Ricketts' cross picked out Seyi Olofinjana, whose weak shot would have been comfortably dealt with by Marshall.
Unfortunately for Marshall, he was left flat-footed when the ball was deflected past him off Ward's right boot.
To their credit, Coventry did not allow the unfortunate nature of falling behind to affect them and they were unlucky not to be back on level terms by half-time.
The lively Jay Tabb, who had replaced the injured David McNamee after just 11 minutes, saw his shot deflected wide before Murray pulled off a smart save to keep out a goalbound drive from skipper Hughes.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy hailed the defensive strength of his side after the win against Coventry City.
Wolves have kept seven clean sheets in 12 league games this season and McCarthy said: "We had to work hard as a team and I am delighted to have got the three points.
"We defended well but I feel relieved and fortunate we got the win.
"I know Coventry thought there was a foul in the build up to the goal and there might well have been so if fortune has favoured us I will take it.
"Coventry probably deserved something but I am pleased to have got the win.
"We are all enjoying the position we are in but I am not going to be getting carried away as I know what is round the corner. There is still a long way to go this season." Coventry boss Micky Adams felt his side should have had some kind of reward for their efforts.
Adams said: "I can't ask any more from the players. They gave me everything and if we continue to play like that we will be alright this season.
"We threw everything at Wolves and you have got to say well done to them for the way that they defended." Adams was unhappy that Wolves' match winner stood after claiming Chris Birchall had been fouled in the build-up to Elliott Ward's own goal.
He added: "The referee had a good game but he missed the key decision.
"It was an unfortunate goal by Elliott. He was running at full tilt and he could not get out of the way." Meanwhile, Adams revealed that Coventry are to sign the Portsmouth defender Richard Duffy on a month's loan to ease their injury problems.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Matthew Murray, Jamie Clapham, Gary Breen, Jody Craddock, Rob Edwards, Seyi George Olofinjana, Karl Henry, Darren Potter, Rohan Ricketts, Jemal Johnson (Craig Davies 61), Jay Bothroyd (Leon Clarke 61)
Subs not used: Lewis Gobern, Carl Ikeme, David Wheater
Booked: Seyi George Olofinjana 58, Jay Bothroyd 56, Leon Clarke 82
Goals: Ward(OG) 20
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Elliott Ward, David McNamee (Jay Tabb 11), Robert Page, Matt Heath (Stern John 79), Christopher Birchall, Colin Cameron, Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle (Kevin Kyle 70), Dele Adebola, Leon McKenzie
Subs not used: Kevin Thornton, Don Hutchison
Booked: Christopher Birchall 20, Kevin Kyle 89
Attendance: 19823
Referee: L Mason
Teamtalk
Elliott Ward's own goal separated the two sides as Wolves picked up their third straight home win with a 1-0 victory at home to Coventry.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will have been left scratching his head as to how any of his players failed to register on the scoresheet, but will certainly be content with his side's defensive display after the miserly defence kept their seventh clean sheet of the season.
Ex-Blackburn forward Jemal Johnson began the move which led to the goal, accelerating past the Coventry midfield before releasing Rohan Ricketts in space down the right.
Ricketts crossed the ball to Nigerian midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, who spun on the penalty spot before sending a shot which deflected off the unfortunate Ward and past the wrong-footed Andy Marshall into the bottom-right corner.
McCarthy's strike pairing of Johnson and former Sky Blue Jay Bothroyd were proving a constant thorn in the City defence, with the pair combining to almost double the home side's lead.
Johnson found Bothroyd down the right flank, who stood up an inviting cross to the back post which Karl Henry was whiskers away from meeting.
The Sky Blues were forced to make an early substitution when David McNamee pulled his hamstring. And it was replacement Jay Tabb who came the closest to netting for Micky Adams' side in the first half, sending a low, swerving shot with the outside of his boot just wide of Matt Murray's right post.
Wolves continued where they left off in the second-half with Olofinjana and Johnson both testing Marshall early on.
McCarthy made the surprise move of bringing off Johnson and Bothroyd, but with City's nervous defence starting to tire, the decision soon looked inspired, with the fresh legs of Leon Clarke and Craig Davies proving equally problematic.
Wanderers should have doubled their lead in the 70th minute. Clarke timed his run to perfection to meet Darren Potter's free-kick from wide on the right, but his powerful six-yard effort flew just above the right angle of the post with Marshall beaten.
And only minutes later McCarthy's side were handed a gilt-edged opportunity to seal the points.
Olofinjana's delightful chipped pass sent Davies clean through but the young striker's clumsy touch took him too wide - enabling Welsh defender Robert Page to recover and make an interception.
Ironically it was former City defender Gary Breen who came closest to netting for the away side, slicing a cross agonisingly over his own bar.
But Wolves held on following a nervy five minutes of injury-time to claim their first victory over Adams' team since the 2001/2002 season.
CCFC
Coventry City fail to make it back-to-back wins on the road at Molineux this evening as an Elliott Ward own goal consigns the Sky Blues to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Micky Adams was forced to make one change to side that was victorious over Southend on Friday evening.
Chris Birchall returned from international duty with Trinidad and Tobago to replace the injured Marcus Hall, with David McNamee switching to left-wing-back to accommodate.
Stern John had to do make do with a place on the bench alongside Kevin Kyle, who returned to the squad following illness. Dele Adebola kept his place in the starting 11 after scoring his first league goal of the season for the Sky Blues.
Colin Cameron, who also scored for the first time at Roots Hall, returned to Molineux to face his former club for the first time since his summer move to Coventry City.
Matt Heath had the first opportunity of the night for the Sky Blues when his header flicked disappointingly wide from a Cameron free-kick with six minutes on the clock.
Micky Adams was enforced to make an early substitution when McNamee pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury, with Jay Tabb taking his place five minutes later.
Tabb made an instant impact when he unleashed a 25-yard shot on the half-volley which squirmed just wide of the left upright.
Disaster struck for Coventry on 17 minutes when Jemal Johnson won the ball in the middle of the park although he appeared to foul Birchall along the way. His through ball found Rohan Ricketts on the left hand side, who chipped it into the area for Olofinjana-the forward finishing courtesy of the boot of Elliott Ward.
Tabb, again was proving to be a real handful for the Wolves defence, smashing another long range effort just over the top of Murray's crossbar.
Stephen Hughes forced Matt Murray into a good save at the near post but it was to be the last real chance of the half.
With Micky Adams' half-time team talk no doubt still ringing in their ears the Sky Blues started the second period looking for a leveler, Chris Birchall finding space down the right before curling his cross over the bar two minutes in.
At the other end the diminutive Jemal Johnson was continuing to look lively and Andy Marshall did well to watch his dipping effort harmlessly over the bar.
With City starting to take control of the game in midfield Mick McCarthy opted to replace the front duo of Bothroyd and Johnson with Leon Clarke and Craig Davies just after the hour.
Just seconds later Leon McKenzie brought the ball under control in the box before turning and firing at the hands of an advancing Matt Murray in the Wolves goal.
Marshall - who had little to do in the second period - was sprung into action as Leon Clarke met a deep corner at the far post only for the former Millwall shot-stopper to beat the ball away on 65.
Clarke then had another golden opportunity to double the home side's advantage as he rose unmarked in the box before planting his header just over.
With the Sky Blues still desperately looking for an equalizer Micky Adams threw on a third striker in the shape of Kevin Kyle to give the Wolves defence something to think about for the final 20 minutes.
Substitute Clarke could have bagged himself a hat trick with a touch more composure in front of goal as he sent a soft header into the hands of Marshall on 77.
The gaffer made his final change of the evening with 10 minutes remaining, Trinidad and Tobago striker replacing centre-back Matt Heath as City went for broke, finishing the game with four strikers on the pitch.
Despite the attacking options it was defender Ward who almost grabbed an equalizer as he crept in at the far post to throw himself at the ball and force Murray into an impressive save at the far post.
The lads were certainly giving it everything to secure a share of the spoils and almost found it through the unlikely figure of Gary Breen who wildly sliced the ball over his own bar in a frantic finish.
Despite five minutes of added time Micky Adams' men just couldn't find the back of the net on a disappointing night at Molineux.
4thegame
Elliott Ward's own goal handed high-flying Wolves their third successive home win as Coventry City's problems on their travels continued at Molineux.
Coventry have only managed to win twice away from home this season, but they at least deserved some kind of reward against Wolves having enjoyed long spells of possession in the second half.
But Ward's 20th minute deflection into his own net proved to be decisive as Coventry crashed to their first defeat in four visits to Molineux.
As soon as the goal went in the writing was on the wall for Coventry as Wolves are making a habit of winning 1-0 this season.
This was their sixth success by that scoreline in 12 league games and set them up perfectly for Sunday's crunch local derby at arch-rivals West Bromwich Albion.
For all their possession, Coventry struggled to really carry a threat in attack despite ending the game with four strikers - Dele Adebola, Leon McKenzie, Kevin Kyle and Stern John - on the pitch.
But what little they could muster up front was ably dealt with by goalkeeper Matt Murray, while central defender Gary Breen was again outstanding at the heart of the defence.
Murray beat away McKenzie's close-range drive in the 62nd minute before smothering a header from Stephen Hughes at his near post seven minutes from time.
But Wolves should have been out of sight by then only for substitute Leon Clarke to squander two gift wrapped chances.
His 65th minute header was saved by Andy Marshall and then Clarke headed over the bar from three yards.
It all came down to the luckless former West Ham United central defender Ward inadvertently handing Wolves all three points.
Jemal Johnson set up the opening with a powerful run before feeding Rohan Ricketts on the left wing.
Ricketts' cross picked out Seyi Olofinjana, whose weak shot would have been comfortably dealt with by Marshall.
Unfortunately for Marshall, he was left flat-footed when the ball was deflected past him off Ward's right boot.
To their credit, Coventry did not allow the unfortunate nature of falling behind to affect them and they were unlucky not to be back on level terms by half-time.
The lively Jay Tabb, who had replaced the injured David McNamee after just 11 minutes, saw his shot deflected wide before Murray pulled off a smart save to keep out a goalbound drive from skipper Hughes.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy hailed the defensive strength of his side after the win against Coventry City.
Wolves have kept seven clean sheets in 12 league games this season and McCarthy said: "We had to work hard as a team and I am delighted to have got the three points.
"We defended well but I feel relieved and fortunate we got the win.
"I know Coventry thought there was a foul in the build up to the goal and there might well have been so if fortune has favoured us I will take it.
"Coventry probably deserved something but I am pleased to have got the win.
"We are all enjoying the position we are in but I am not going to be getting carried away as I know what is round the corner. There is still a long way to go this season." Coventry boss Micky Adams felt his side should have had some kind of reward for their efforts.
Adams said: "I can't ask any more from the players. They gave me everything and if we continue to play like that we will be alright this season.
"We threw everything at Wolves and you have got to say well done to them for the way that they defended." Adams was unhappy that Wolves' match winner stood after claiming Chris Birchall had been fouled in the build-up to Elliott Ward's own goal.
He added: "The referee had a good game but he missed the key decision.
"It was an unfortunate goal by Elliott. He was running at full tilt and he could not get out of the way." Meanwhile, Adams revealed that Coventry are to sign the Portsmouth defender Richard Duffy on a month's loan to ease their injury problems.
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