Coventry 0 Birmingham 1 - 31/10/2006
Coventry 0 Birmingham 1 - 31/10/2006
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Elliott Ward, Richard Duffy, Robert Page, Colin Cameron (Wayne Andrews 76), Stephen Hughes (Don Hutchison 45), Michael Doyle, Leon McKenzie, Stern John, Kevin Kyle (Dele Adebola 67)
Subs not used: Jay Tabb, Clive Clarke
Booked: Richard Duffy 83, Robert Page 68
Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Radhi Jaidi, Mathew Sadler, Stephen Kelly, Fabrice Muamba, Stephen Clemence, Neil Danns, Cameron Jerome (Sebastian Larsson 87), Nicklas Bendtner, Gary McSheffrey (DJ Campbell 90)
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Julian Gray, Medhi Nafti
Booked: Stephen Kelly 39, Stephen Clemence 79, Gary McSheffrey 82
Attendance: 27212
Referee: A D'Urso
Teamtalk
Birmingham's Nicklas Bendtner scored the only goal of the game as Midlands rivals Coventry were beaten 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena.
t was Blues' third successive Championship win and their fourth in all competitions as the hosts' sequence of back-to-back league victories was halted.
But, although the game had started at a frantic pace, the early action took place outside the penalty boxes with both sets of strikers seemingly having left their shooting boots in the dressing rooms.
Stern John's 25th-minute effort, which was screwed from right to left and wide of the Birmingham goal, was typical of the finishing on show.
But, only a minute later, Birmingham went in front, largely through the efforts of left-back Mat Sadler, although it was Bendtner who claimed the goal after his team-mate ran more than half the length of the wing to deliver the ball accurately onto the Dane's forehead.
Goalkeeper Andy Marshall partially parried the powerful downward header but was unable to hang onto the ball which squirmed over the line.
Next, Fabrice Muamba, who, like Bendtner, is on loan with Blues from Arsenal, chanced his arm with an ambitious lob from the right channel which drifted wide of goalkeeper Andy Marshall's right post.
In the 39th minute, Blues' Stephen Kelly was booked after taking down John from behind but referee Andy D'Urso first allowed the Sky Blues advantage although their attack broke down when Richard Duffy came off worst with a block tackle involving Sadler.
Moments before the break, Muamba again fired wide before play swung to the other end and John matched the Birmingham midfielder's inaccuracy from 18 yards.
Coventry captain Stephen Hughes made way for Don Hutchison in time for the start of the second half, which opened with Sky Blues striker Leon McKenzie hitting the post after meeting Colin Cameron's right-wing cross with a flying header.
Next, Hutchison set up Micky Doyle but the Irishman lifted his shot high and wide.
Marshall needed a second attempt to properly collect a Cameron Jerome shot before Hutchison blazed wide at the other end.
A confrontation involving Kelly and McKenzie sparked a shoving contest involving a dozen players but D'Urso calmed tempers ahead of Kevin Kyle heading Cameron's right-wing corner wide.
But Blues carved open Coventry in the 65th minute when Bendtner had Elliott Ward backpedalling and then found Jerome, who forced a one-handed diving save from Marshall.
Dele Adebola replaced Kyle shortly afterwards, before Robert Page earned a yellow card for bringing down Jerome.
And it was Jerome who ought to have put paid to any possibility of a Coventry comeback when he was sent clear in the left channel by Bendtner, but he could only prod the ball wide with just Marshall to beat.
Bendtner threatened late on but his low shot was saved by the Sky Blues keeper.
CCFC
A first half goal by Nikklas Bendtner is enough to give Birmingham a narrow victory over the Sky Blues in front of a record league crowd at the Ricoh.
Over 27,000 supporters came along to cheer on the two sides but it was the Blues who went away with a priceless three points.
Micky Adams made two changes to the side which beat Barnsley at Oakwell at the weekend, bringing back Stern John in place of Dele Adebola and Marcus Hall at left-back in preference to Clive Clarke.
There was action at both ends at the start of this keenly awaited contest with former Sky Blue Gary McSheffrey whipping in an early cross from the left which just evaded Neil Danns. Kevin Kyle then spurned a better opportunity for the Sky Blues after he was played in by Colin Cameron - the Scotsman blazing his effort high, wide and handsome from 15 yards.
That instigated a spell where City were well in control with Michael Doyle attempting a couple of shots from outside the area which were blocked by Blues defenders who coped well with some pretty impressive pressure from the Sky Blues. Stern John also sent a volley just wide after a good knock-down at the far post by Kyle.
But it was Birmingham who took the lead in the 26th minute through Arsenal loan man Nikklas Bendtner who nodded down Stephen Clemence's cross at the far post after he had left Stephen Hughes for dead. Andy Marshall seemed to have done enough to keep the header out but somehow it slipped through his grasp and just crept over the line.
City had been bossing possession up until then but Birmingham did look extremely dangerous on the counter attack with pace and skill coming from all angles to keep the Sky Blues' rearguard firmly on their toes.
There were worries for Coventry five minutes before the interval when Richard Duffy was left writhing in agony following a heavy collision with Birmingham centre-half Martin Taylor but thankfully the City right-back was soon on his feet again.
The Sky Blues were continuing to put their opponents under pressure but were struggling to get the breaks in the final third. Stern John got a decent sight of goal in the dying moments of the first half but pulled his low shot well wide of the target.
And whatever Micky Adams said to his players at the interval seemed to do the trick as City emerged fired up for the start of the second. Don Hutchison replaced Stephen Hughes and the veteran instantly provided a spark, sending in a good cross that Leon McKenzie stooped to head against the post with Maik Taylor only able to stand as watch as the woodwork came to his rescue. Hutchison then had a crack himself, sending a thumping 30-yarder not too far wide.
Shots were coming from everywhere and Kyle should have done better as he found space in the box to get his head onto a Doyle corner but he failed to force Taylor to make a save.
As City surged forward but failed to get back on level terms, Birmingham were inevitably finding space at the other end and it took a good save from Marshall to tip a Cameron Jerome shot over his bar in the 65th minute.
With 67 on the clock Micky made his second switch, bringing on Dele Adebola for Kyle in a straight swap up front and five minutes later Coventry had an extremely lucky escape when Jerome was played clean through but placed his shot wide of the post to keep the Sky Blues in it.
With Birmingham threatening to finish the tie off by scoring a second, Adams made his final substitution as Saturday's hero Wayne Andrews replaced Colin Cameron.
But it was the visitors who were well in control by now, hitting City on the break continuously with Bendtner in particular looking a class above. As long as they failed to score again City were always in with a shout of nicking an equalizer but by the dying stages seemed incapable of getting the ball into Birmingham's half.
The last opportunity fell to the man you would want it to, Stern John, but he failed to divert Marcus Hall's deep free-kick on target.
Micky Adams' men certainly couldn't be criticized for a lack of effort and had they grabbed a goal at the start of the second half when they seemed well in control it might have been a different story. But over the 90 minutes the Blues will feel worthy victors and could have beaten City by a bigger margin but for some wasteful finishing in the final 20 minutes.
4thegame
Birmingham City's on-loan teenager Nicklas Bendtner settled the second city derby with a classic striker's goal at the Ricoh Arena.
The Arsenal man headed home in the 26th minute to upstage the return of Gary McSheffrey.
It was his first visit back to his hometown club following his controversial sale in the transfer window.
Birmingham, buoyed by their weekend win over rivals West Bromwich Albion, started the stronger and Danns forced Andy Marshall into action in the third minute with a 20-yard effort.
But slowly Coventry began to get their game going and pressed the visitors back. Leon McKenzie's pace on the left was clearly going to be problem for Steve Bruce's men and he got around Stephen Kelly and provided a useful cross but Kevin Kyle fired wide.
Michael Doyle, who had scored a rare goal on his last outing, fired wide and then had a pile-driver blocked in the nick of time.
The game needed a goal and Bendtner provided it. Mathew Sadler was allowed to gallop forward unchecked for 30 yards before delivering a super cross for the big Dane who headed powerfully down.
Coventry keeper Andy Marshall got his hand to the ball but it was not enough to stop it rolling away and over the line.
Sky Blues boss Micky Adams must have expected a reaction from his side but there was precious little and when they did carve out a chance they lacked the quality to make it really count.
Stern John could have levelled the score deep in first-half injury-time but he pulled his shot poorly wide.
Adams added the quality of Don Hutchison after the interval and the veteran did make a telling difference. The former Liverpool man set up Doyle for an effort which spun wide before having a go himself from 25 yards. His right-foot effort flew just part Maik Taylor's left post.
Kelly then had to produce a superb challenge to rob John just as the Trinidad and Tobago striker looked set to shoot from well inside the area.
Kyle, who had done precious little throughout the game, saw a header skate just wide from a Colin Cameron corner.
But while Coventry were pushing forward it let them vulnerable on the break and they came very close to conceding a second goal when Cameron Jerome was put through by Bendtner.
His curling right-foot effort seemed to be heading for the top corner before Marshall palmed it clear.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce said: "Our defeat against Norwich was about as bad a night as I have had in football, but when you have ten players, many of whom are young, you have to hit rock bottom. But the players' hunger and attitude since has been terrific.
"But we are only a quarter of the way through the season and we have to carry it on. If we keep going like this we will be there or thereabouts.
"Nicklas (Bendtner) still has a lot to learn but he is only 18 and his talent is there for all to see." Coventry manager Micky Adams said: "On reflection I thought we created the best chances in the first half and had the effort from Leon gone in rather than hitting the post it might have been a different story.
"I am pleased that although we have lost, we have really had a go.
"It is just not dropping for us in front of goal, but on another day it might have done. It was a very competitive game."
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Elliott Ward, Richard Duffy, Robert Page, Colin Cameron (Wayne Andrews 76), Stephen Hughes (Don Hutchison 45), Michael Doyle, Leon McKenzie, Stern John, Kevin Kyle (Dele Adebola 67)
Subs not used: Jay Tabb, Clive Clarke
Booked: Richard Duffy 83, Robert Page 68
Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Radhi Jaidi, Mathew Sadler, Stephen Kelly, Fabrice Muamba, Stephen Clemence, Neil Danns, Cameron Jerome (Sebastian Larsson 87), Nicklas Bendtner, Gary McSheffrey (DJ Campbell 90)
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Julian Gray, Medhi Nafti
Booked: Stephen Kelly 39, Stephen Clemence 79, Gary McSheffrey 82
Attendance: 27212
Referee: A D'Urso
Teamtalk
Birmingham's Nicklas Bendtner scored the only goal of the game as Midlands rivals Coventry were beaten 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena.
t was Blues' third successive Championship win and their fourth in all competitions as the hosts' sequence of back-to-back league victories was halted.
But, although the game had started at a frantic pace, the early action took place outside the penalty boxes with both sets of strikers seemingly having left their shooting boots in the dressing rooms.
Stern John's 25th-minute effort, which was screwed from right to left and wide of the Birmingham goal, was typical of the finishing on show.
But, only a minute later, Birmingham went in front, largely through the efforts of left-back Mat Sadler, although it was Bendtner who claimed the goal after his team-mate ran more than half the length of the wing to deliver the ball accurately onto the Dane's forehead.
Goalkeeper Andy Marshall partially parried the powerful downward header but was unable to hang onto the ball which squirmed over the line.
Next, Fabrice Muamba, who, like Bendtner, is on loan with Blues from Arsenal, chanced his arm with an ambitious lob from the right channel which drifted wide of goalkeeper Andy Marshall's right post.
In the 39th minute, Blues' Stephen Kelly was booked after taking down John from behind but referee Andy D'Urso first allowed the Sky Blues advantage although their attack broke down when Richard Duffy came off worst with a block tackle involving Sadler.
Moments before the break, Muamba again fired wide before play swung to the other end and John matched the Birmingham midfielder's inaccuracy from 18 yards.
Coventry captain Stephen Hughes made way for Don Hutchison in time for the start of the second half, which opened with Sky Blues striker Leon McKenzie hitting the post after meeting Colin Cameron's right-wing cross with a flying header.
Next, Hutchison set up Micky Doyle but the Irishman lifted his shot high and wide.
Marshall needed a second attempt to properly collect a Cameron Jerome shot before Hutchison blazed wide at the other end.
A confrontation involving Kelly and McKenzie sparked a shoving contest involving a dozen players but D'Urso calmed tempers ahead of Kevin Kyle heading Cameron's right-wing corner wide.
But Blues carved open Coventry in the 65th minute when Bendtner had Elliott Ward backpedalling and then found Jerome, who forced a one-handed diving save from Marshall.
Dele Adebola replaced Kyle shortly afterwards, before Robert Page earned a yellow card for bringing down Jerome.
And it was Jerome who ought to have put paid to any possibility of a Coventry comeback when he was sent clear in the left channel by Bendtner, but he could only prod the ball wide with just Marshall to beat.
Bendtner threatened late on but his low shot was saved by the Sky Blues keeper.
CCFC
A first half goal by Nikklas Bendtner is enough to give Birmingham a narrow victory over the Sky Blues in front of a record league crowd at the Ricoh.
Over 27,000 supporters came along to cheer on the two sides but it was the Blues who went away with a priceless three points.
Micky Adams made two changes to the side which beat Barnsley at Oakwell at the weekend, bringing back Stern John in place of Dele Adebola and Marcus Hall at left-back in preference to Clive Clarke.
There was action at both ends at the start of this keenly awaited contest with former Sky Blue Gary McSheffrey whipping in an early cross from the left which just evaded Neil Danns. Kevin Kyle then spurned a better opportunity for the Sky Blues after he was played in by Colin Cameron - the Scotsman blazing his effort high, wide and handsome from 15 yards.
That instigated a spell where City were well in control with Michael Doyle attempting a couple of shots from outside the area which were blocked by Blues defenders who coped well with some pretty impressive pressure from the Sky Blues. Stern John also sent a volley just wide after a good knock-down at the far post by Kyle.
But it was Birmingham who took the lead in the 26th minute through Arsenal loan man Nikklas Bendtner who nodded down Stephen Clemence's cross at the far post after he had left Stephen Hughes for dead. Andy Marshall seemed to have done enough to keep the header out but somehow it slipped through his grasp and just crept over the line.
City had been bossing possession up until then but Birmingham did look extremely dangerous on the counter attack with pace and skill coming from all angles to keep the Sky Blues' rearguard firmly on their toes.
There were worries for Coventry five minutes before the interval when Richard Duffy was left writhing in agony following a heavy collision with Birmingham centre-half Martin Taylor but thankfully the City right-back was soon on his feet again.
The Sky Blues were continuing to put their opponents under pressure but were struggling to get the breaks in the final third. Stern John got a decent sight of goal in the dying moments of the first half but pulled his low shot well wide of the target.
And whatever Micky Adams said to his players at the interval seemed to do the trick as City emerged fired up for the start of the second. Don Hutchison replaced Stephen Hughes and the veteran instantly provided a spark, sending in a good cross that Leon McKenzie stooped to head against the post with Maik Taylor only able to stand as watch as the woodwork came to his rescue. Hutchison then had a crack himself, sending a thumping 30-yarder not too far wide.
Shots were coming from everywhere and Kyle should have done better as he found space in the box to get his head onto a Doyle corner but he failed to force Taylor to make a save.
As City surged forward but failed to get back on level terms, Birmingham were inevitably finding space at the other end and it took a good save from Marshall to tip a Cameron Jerome shot over his bar in the 65th minute.
With 67 on the clock Micky made his second switch, bringing on Dele Adebola for Kyle in a straight swap up front and five minutes later Coventry had an extremely lucky escape when Jerome was played clean through but placed his shot wide of the post to keep the Sky Blues in it.
With Birmingham threatening to finish the tie off by scoring a second, Adams made his final substitution as Saturday's hero Wayne Andrews replaced Colin Cameron.
But it was the visitors who were well in control by now, hitting City on the break continuously with Bendtner in particular looking a class above. As long as they failed to score again City were always in with a shout of nicking an equalizer but by the dying stages seemed incapable of getting the ball into Birmingham's half.
The last opportunity fell to the man you would want it to, Stern John, but he failed to divert Marcus Hall's deep free-kick on target.
Micky Adams' men certainly couldn't be criticized for a lack of effort and had they grabbed a goal at the start of the second half when they seemed well in control it might have been a different story. But over the 90 minutes the Blues will feel worthy victors and could have beaten City by a bigger margin but for some wasteful finishing in the final 20 minutes.
4thegame
Birmingham City's on-loan teenager Nicklas Bendtner settled the second city derby with a classic striker's goal at the Ricoh Arena.
The Arsenal man headed home in the 26th minute to upstage the return of Gary McSheffrey.
It was his first visit back to his hometown club following his controversial sale in the transfer window.
Birmingham, buoyed by their weekend win over rivals West Bromwich Albion, started the stronger and Danns forced Andy Marshall into action in the third minute with a 20-yard effort.
But slowly Coventry began to get their game going and pressed the visitors back. Leon McKenzie's pace on the left was clearly going to be problem for Steve Bruce's men and he got around Stephen Kelly and provided a useful cross but Kevin Kyle fired wide.
Michael Doyle, who had scored a rare goal on his last outing, fired wide and then had a pile-driver blocked in the nick of time.
The game needed a goal and Bendtner provided it. Mathew Sadler was allowed to gallop forward unchecked for 30 yards before delivering a super cross for the big Dane who headed powerfully down.
Coventry keeper Andy Marshall got his hand to the ball but it was not enough to stop it rolling away and over the line.
Sky Blues boss Micky Adams must have expected a reaction from his side but there was precious little and when they did carve out a chance they lacked the quality to make it really count.
Stern John could have levelled the score deep in first-half injury-time but he pulled his shot poorly wide.
Adams added the quality of Don Hutchison after the interval and the veteran did make a telling difference. The former Liverpool man set up Doyle for an effort which spun wide before having a go himself from 25 yards. His right-foot effort flew just part Maik Taylor's left post.
Kelly then had to produce a superb challenge to rob John just as the Trinidad and Tobago striker looked set to shoot from well inside the area.
Kyle, who had done precious little throughout the game, saw a header skate just wide from a Colin Cameron corner.
But while Coventry were pushing forward it let them vulnerable on the break and they came very close to conceding a second goal when Cameron Jerome was put through by Bendtner.
His curling right-foot effort seemed to be heading for the top corner before Marshall palmed it clear.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce said: "Our defeat against Norwich was about as bad a night as I have had in football, but when you have ten players, many of whom are young, you have to hit rock bottom. But the players' hunger and attitude since has been terrific.
"But we are only a quarter of the way through the season and we have to carry it on. If we keep going like this we will be there or thereabouts.
"Nicklas (Bendtner) still has a lot to learn but he is only 18 and his talent is there for all to see." Coventry manager Micky Adams said: "On reflection I thought we created the best chances in the first half and had the effort from Leon gone in rather than hitting the post it might have been a different story.
"I am pleased that although we have lost, we have really had a go.
"It is just not dropping for us in front of goal, but on another day it might have done. It was a very competitive game."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 8:31 am
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