Coventry 1 Ipswich 2 - 26/12/2006
Coventry 1 Ipswich 2 - 26/12/2006
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Mikkel Bischoff, Clive Clarke (Marcus Hall 66), Richard Duffy, Elliott Ward, Colin Cameron (Christopher Birchall 63), Michael Doyle, Stephen Hughes, Stern John, Dele Adebola (Kevin Kyle 63), Leon McKenzie
Subs not used: Adam Virgo, Isaac Osbourne
Goals: Doyle 90
Ipswich Town: Lewis Price, Daniel Harding (Matthew Richards 35), Jason De Vos, Alex Bruce, Richard Naylor, Sylvain Legwinski, Owen Garvan, Gavin Williams (Simon Walton 87), Gary Roberts, Jon Macken (Billy Clarke 79), Alan Lee
Subs not used: Danny Haynes, Shane Supple
Booked: Sylvain Legwinski 16, Alan Lee 19
Attendance: 22154
Referee: C Oliver
Teamtalk
On-loan striker Jonathan Macken and top scorer Alan Lee eased Ipswich's relegation fears with a 2-1 victory over Coventry at the Ricoh Arena.
Macken, on loan from Crystal Palace, opened the scoring in the 62nd minute when he poked home Gavin Williams' corner from inside the six-yard box.
Lee took his tally for the season into double figures by heading a Billy Clarke cross beyond the outstretched arm of Andy Marshall and into the bottom corner with just five minutes remaining.
Michael Doyle's drive from the edge of the area was more deserving of the mere consolation it gave City.
It was a game of few chances but the hosts started brightly and went close in the first minute when Colin Cameron fired wide from outside the area.
The Scottish midfielder's long-range effort set the tone and Ipswich responded with a shot from distance of their own through Macken in the third minute but, like Cameron's shot, it failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Cameron linked up with Leon McKenzie midway through the half before sending another effort wide, this time from inside the box.
Ipswich defender Richard Naylor perhaps wasted the best opportunity when he headed over Owen Garvan's free-kick.
Stern John and Stephen Hughes both flashed angled shots past the post before the latter stung the palms of Lewis Price from 25 yards, but that was as close as anyone came in the first half.
Naylor headed over the crossbar again after the break, this time from Roberts' free-kick, before Macken flashed a warning shot across City's bow on the hour.
Two minutes later Macken poked home his third goal of the season prompting a double substitution by Coventry boss Micky Adams, who took off Cameron and Dele Adebola and replaced them with Kevin Kyle and Chris Birchall.
The new arrivals almost made an immediate impact as Birchall was only denied an equaliser by Price's outstretched arm.
Kyle then saw his shot saved at point-blank range after good work by Birchall before the big striker headed Doyle's cross wide 12 minutes from time.
Coventry were made to pay for that miss when Lee struck his 10th goal of the season and Marshall had to tip Roberts' curling effort over the crossbar as Ipswich threatened to make the scoreline more emphatic.
Doyle gave his side hope with three minutes of injury time to be played but City were unable to fashion the chance they needed to secure a point.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are beaten 2-1 by Ipswich with the visitors scoring twice in the second half through Jon Macken and Alan Lee before a late consolation from Michael Doyle.
Micky Adams made one change with Andy Marshall returning in goal for Luke Steele, who sustained a gash to his knee against Luton Town on Saturday. There was no place in the starting eleven for Robert Page, available after suspension, as his wife has gone into labour with their third child. As a result Michael Doyle wore the skipper's armband for the second match in succession.
City were in need of a positive result following two consecutive defeats and created a chance within the first 60 seconds thanks to a bustling run from former Norwich man Leon McKenzie, who squared for Colin Cameron on the edge of the box although he sliced his effort wide.
The Sky Blues were caught napping not long afterwards as Jon Macken went on a weaving run into the City penalty area without even being challenged but thankfully he also failed to hit the target.
With 20 minutes played Ipswich striker Alan Lee went down in the penalty area following a challenge from Elliott Ward, but the referee booked the former Cardiff player for diving.
The match was flowing nicely from end to end and City really should have been ahead in the 22nd minute. More good work from McKenzie down the left flank presented Cameron with a gilt-edged opportunity, but he sidefooted wide from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Jim Magilton made a substitution before half time, taking off Dan Harding, who had suffered a blow to the head early in the game, and replacing him with Matt Richards.
After a spell where neither side created a huge number of openings, City stamped their authority on the tie inn the final five of the first half. Stephen Hughes tested Ipswich keeper Lewis Price with a well struck shot from 25 yards before a McKenzie chip went just wide of the far post.
The visitors came out brightly at the start of the second period and Andy Marshall did well to get down to a deflected shot from Owen Garvan and fingertip it around the post.
But there was nothing the City shot stopper could do to prevent Ipswich taking the lead on the hour mark when Jon Macken stabbed home from virtually on the goalline with the Sky Blues unable to clear the ball at a corner.
Micky Adams had a double switch lined up before the goal and stuck to his guns despite going a goal behind, introducing Kevin Kyle and Chris Birchall for Adebola and Cameron, with Marcus Hall soon coming on in place of Clive Clarke.
McKenzie came close to bringing City level in the 68th minute but Price did well to touch his lofted effort onto the crossbar and behind for a corner.
The Sky Blues were looking increasingly dangerous on the attack and a delightful cross from Birchall nearly presented Kyle with a close range opportunity but Price was quick to smother the Scot's effort.
But City were not really creating enough for a home side trailing by a goal to nil and with five minutes left on the clock Ipswich made it 2-0 with another soft goal from Coventry's point-of-view. The Tractor Boys worked the ball into a wide area and Alan Lee was left unmarked to nod the ball past a helpless Marshall.
Michael Doyle gave the Sky Blues a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 90th minute - smashing a low shot past Price from the edge of the box after McKenzie's square ball was cleared to him.
Despite some late pressure - with McKenzie forcing a great save from Price - it was too little, too late for City and the fans will be demanding more next time out at the Ricoh against Southend on Saturday.
4thegame
Coventry's bogey side Ipswich Town confirmed their hoodoo status as they eased to victory at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues have failed to beat the Tractor Boys home or away in any competition since October 1994.
Ipswich strikers Jon Macken and Alan Lee were the difference with two second-half strike separating the sides, with Michael Doyle replying late on for the Sky Blues.
It saw Coventry slip to their third successive defeat, proving a miserable Christmas for manager Micky Adams.
Coventry received a blow before the game started when inspirational skipper Rob Page pulled out of the side with his wife in labour, having their third child.
But the Sky Blues started the brighter of the two sides and Leon McKenzie's mazy run in the second minute found his way to the by-line as he beat Alex Bruce.
McKenzie's cross eventually found its way to Colin Cameron, but the 34-year-old's shot on the half volley flashed wide.
Ipswich immediately responded and should have taken the lead in the fourth minute. Macken played a one-two with Lee in Coventry's penalty box and the former Manchester City striker put his shot wide when he really should have done better.
Ipswich started to dominate in midfield and a ball into the box got Lee away, who fell under the challenge of Elliott Ward. The Suffolk side appealed for a penalty, but Northumberland referee Clive Oliver booked the forward for diving.
Coventry almost took the lead just before half-time as a long ball from Clive Clarke found McKenzie, who saw Ipswich keeper Lewis Price off his line but his lob from 35 yards fell just wide.
The second half started as tightly as the first half had been with both sides struggling to gain midfield dominance.
A shot from Ipswich's teenage midfielder Owen Garvan from the edge of the penalty area deflected off of Coventry's Richard Duffy and keeper Andy Marshall did well to push the ball behind.
But Ipswich took the lead in the 61st minute following a corner from Gavin Williams.
His cross was met by Richard Naylor's header which Marshall pushed onto the post, but on-loan Crystal Palace forward Macken made amends for his earlier miss by scoring.
Coventry responded by making three quick substitutions bring on Kevin Kyle, Chris Birchall and Marcus Hall.
It almost paid off as Kyle found McKenzie, but his flighted shot was brilliantly tipped over by Price.
Coventry again went close as Birchall's cross found Kyle, but his shot from point blank was smothered by Price.
But the game was over as Lee got his head to a Billy Clarke cross in the 85th to put the result beyond doubt, leading to a chorus of boos from the home side.
Doyle scored an 89th minute consolation for Coventry from the edge of the area after a poor clearance from defence, but it proved too little too late.
Sky Blues assistant boss Adrian Heath said afterwards: "Micky is very, very down. He is a proud man who doesn't want to listen to that (boos from the fans) and he does know what he is doing.
"We are all quite emotional at the moment. When we reflect on the game and watch the video we might have a different appraisal.
"Sometimes you go through something where you have to sit down and reflect if you could have done any more.
"We were looking forward to back-to-back games at home and thought that if we could get a boost we would be up there and around the action, but in the end our late goal masked what was a pretty poor performance." Town boss Jim Magilton added: "This is a massive three points for us.
"We have had a few false dawns so far this season but our performances recently have been good without us picking up the results.
"We expected Coventry to come at us and they did and certainly they had the best chances in the first half, but I said to the guys at half-time that if they could up the tempo and increase the quality we could go on to win the game.
"We got our just rewards when we went two goals up, but still nearly managed to shoot ourselves in the foot and it was all hands to the pump."
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Mikkel Bischoff, Clive Clarke (Marcus Hall 66), Richard Duffy, Elliott Ward, Colin Cameron (Christopher Birchall 63), Michael Doyle, Stephen Hughes, Stern John, Dele Adebola (Kevin Kyle 63), Leon McKenzie
Subs not used: Adam Virgo, Isaac Osbourne
Goals: Doyle 90
Ipswich Town: Lewis Price, Daniel Harding (Matthew Richards 35), Jason De Vos, Alex Bruce, Richard Naylor, Sylvain Legwinski, Owen Garvan, Gavin Williams (Simon Walton 87), Gary Roberts, Jon Macken (Billy Clarke 79), Alan Lee
Subs not used: Danny Haynes, Shane Supple
Booked: Sylvain Legwinski 16, Alan Lee 19
Attendance: 22154
Referee: C Oliver
Teamtalk
On-loan striker Jonathan Macken and top scorer Alan Lee eased Ipswich's relegation fears with a 2-1 victory over Coventry at the Ricoh Arena.
Macken, on loan from Crystal Palace, opened the scoring in the 62nd minute when he poked home Gavin Williams' corner from inside the six-yard box.
Lee took his tally for the season into double figures by heading a Billy Clarke cross beyond the outstretched arm of Andy Marshall and into the bottom corner with just five minutes remaining.
Michael Doyle's drive from the edge of the area was more deserving of the mere consolation it gave City.
It was a game of few chances but the hosts started brightly and went close in the first minute when Colin Cameron fired wide from outside the area.
The Scottish midfielder's long-range effort set the tone and Ipswich responded with a shot from distance of their own through Macken in the third minute but, like Cameron's shot, it failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Cameron linked up with Leon McKenzie midway through the half before sending another effort wide, this time from inside the box.
Ipswich defender Richard Naylor perhaps wasted the best opportunity when he headed over Owen Garvan's free-kick.
Stern John and Stephen Hughes both flashed angled shots past the post before the latter stung the palms of Lewis Price from 25 yards, but that was as close as anyone came in the first half.
Naylor headed over the crossbar again after the break, this time from Roberts' free-kick, before Macken flashed a warning shot across City's bow on the hour.
Two minutes later Macken poked home his third goal of the season prompting a double substitution by Coventry boss Micky Adams, who took off Cameron and Dele Adebola and replaced them with Kevin Kyle and Chris Birchall.
The new arrivals almost made an immediate impact as Birchall was only denied an equaliser by Price's outstretched arm.
Kyle then saw his shot saved at point-blank range after good work by Birchall before the big striker headed Doyle's cross wide 12 minutes from time.
Coventry were made to pay for that miss when Lee struck his 10th goal of the season and Marshall had to tip Roberts' curling effort over the crossbar as Ipswich threatened to make the scoreline more emphatic.
Doyle gave his side hope with three minutes of injury time to be played but City were unable to fashion the chance they needed to secure a point.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are beaten 2-1 by Ipswich with the visitors scoring twice in the second half through Jon Macken and Alan Lee before a late consolation from Michael Doyle.
Micky Adams made one change with Andy Marshall returning in goal for Luke Steele, who sustained a gash to his knee against Luton Town on Saturday. There was no place in the starting eleven for Robert Page, available after suspension, as his wife has gone into labour with their third child. As a result Michael Doyle wore the skipper's armband for the second match in succession.
City were in need of a positive result following two consecutive defeats and created a chance within the first 60 seconds thanks to a bustling run from former Norwich man Leon McKenzie, who squared for Colin Cameron on the edge of the box although he sliced his effort wide.
The Sky Blues were caught napping not long afterwards as Jon Macken went on a weaving run into the City penalty area without even being challenged but thankfully he also failed to hit the target.
With 20 minutes played Ipswich striker Alan Lee went down in the penalty area following a challenge from Elliott Ward, but the referee booked the former Cardiff player for diving.
The match was flowing nicely from end to end and City really should have been ahead in the 22nd minute. More good work from McKenzie down the left flank presented Cameron with a gilt-edged opportunity, but he sidefooted wide from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Jim Magilton made a substitution before half time, taking off Dan Harding, who had suffered a blow to the head early in the game, and replacing him with Matt Richards.
After a spell where neither side created a huge number of openings, City stamped their authority on the tie inn the final five of the first half. Stephen Hughes tested Ipswich keeper Lewis Price with a well struck shot from 25 yards before a McKenzie chip went just wide of the far post.
The visitors came out brightly at the start of the second period and Andy Marshall did well to get down to a deflected shot from Owen Garvan and fingertip it around the post.
But there was nothing the City shot stopper could do to prevent Ipswich taking the lead on the hour mark when Jon Macken stabbed home from virtually on the goalline with the Sky Blues unable to clear the ball at a corner.
Micky Adams had a double switch lined up before the goal and stuck to his guns despite going a goal behind, introducing Kevin Kyle and Chris Birchall for Adebola and Cameron, with Marcus Hall soon coming on in place of Clive Clarke.
McKenzie came close to bringing City level in the 68th minute but Price did well to touch his lofted effort onto the crossbar and behind for a corner.
The Sky Blues were looking increasingly dangerous on the attack and a delightful cross from Birchall nearly presented Kyle with a close range opportunity but Price was quick to smother the Scot's effort.
But City were not really creating enough for a home side trailing by a goal to nil and with five minutes left on the clock Ipswich made it 2-0 with another soft goal from Coventry's point-of-view. The Tractor Boys worked the ball into a wide area and Alan Lee was left unmarked to nod the ball past a helpless Marshall.
Michael Doyle gave the Sky Blues a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 90th minute - smashing a low shot past Price from the edge of the box after McKenzie's square ball was cleared to him.
Despite some late pressure - with McKenzie forcing a great save from Price - it was too little, too late for City and the fans will be demanding more next time out at the Ricoh against Southend on Saturday.
4thegame
Coventry's bogey side Ipswich Town confirmed their hoodoo status as they eased to victory at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues have failed to beat the Tractor Boys home or away in any competition since October 1994.
Ipswich strikers Jon Macken and Alan Lee were the difference with two second-half strike separating the sides, with Michael Doyle replying late on for the Sky Blues.
It saw Coventry slip to their third successive defeat, proving a miserable Christmas for manager Micky Adams.
Coventry received a blow before the game started when inspirational skipper Rob Page pulled out of the side with his wife in labour, having their third child.
But the Sky Blues started the brighter of the two sides and Leon McKenzie's mazy run in the second minute found his way to the by-line as he beat Alex Bruce.
McKenzie's cross eventually found its way to Colin Cameron, but the 34-year-old's shot on the half volley flashed wide.
Ipswich immediately responded and should have taken the lead in the fourth minute. Macken played a one-two with Lee in Coventry's penalty box and the former Manchester City striker put his shot wide when he really should have done better.
Ipswich started to dominate in midfield and a ball into the box got Lee away, who fell under the challenge of Elliott Ward. The Suffolk side appealed for a penalty, but Northumberland referee Clive Oliver booked the forward for diving.
Coventry almost took the lead just before half-time as a long ball from Clive Clarke found McKenzie, who saw Ipswich keeper Lewis Price off his line but his lob from 35 yards fell just wide.
The second half started as tightly as the first half had been with both sides struggling to gain midfield dominance.
A shot from Ipswich's teenage midfielder Owen Garvan from the edge of the penalty area deflected off of Coventry's Richard Duffy and keeper Andy Marshall did well to push the ball behind.
But Ipswich took the lead in the 61st minute following a corner from Gavin Williams.
His cross was met by Richard Naylor's header which Marshall pushed onto the post, but on-loan Crystal Palace forward Macken made amends for his earlier miss by scoring.
Coventry responded by making three quick substitutions bring on Kevin Kyle, Chris Birchall and Marcus Hall.
It almost paid off as Kyle found McKenzie, but his flighted shot was brilliantly tipped over by Price.
Coventry again went close as Birchall's cross found Kyle, but his shot from point blank was smothered by Price.
But the game was over as Lee got his head to a Billy Clarke cross in the 85th to put the result beyond doubt, leading to a chorus of boos from the home side.
Doyle scored an 89th minute consolation for Coventry from the edge of the area after a poor clearance from defence, but it proved too little too late.
Sky Blues assistant boss Adrian Heath said afterwards: "Micky is very, very down. He is a proud man who doesn't want to listen to that (boos from the fans) and he does know what he is doing.
"We are all quite emotional at the moment. When we reflect on the game and watch the video we might have a different appraisal.
"Sometimes you go through something where you have to sit down and reflect if you could have done any more.
"We were looking forward to back-to-back games at home and thought that if we could get a boost we would be up there and around the action, but in the end our late goal masked what was a pretty poor performance." Town boss Jim Magilton added: "This is a massive three points for us.
"We have had a few false dawns so far this season but our performances recently have been good without us picking up the results.
"We expected Coventry to come at us and they did and certainly they had the best chances in the first half, but I said to the guys at half-time that if they could up the tempo and increase the quality we could go on to win the game.
"We got our just rewards when we went two goals up, but still nearly managed to shoot ourselves in the foot and it was all hands to the pump."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 7:44 pm
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