Coventry 1 Southend 1- 30/12/2006
Coventry 1 Southend 1 - 30/12/2006
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Andrew Whing, Elliott Ward, Robert Page, Christopher Birchall (Dele Adebola 71), Michael Doyle, Darren Currie, Stephen Hughes (Isaac Osbourne 74), Kevin Kyle, Leon McKenzie (Jay Tabb 77)
Subs not used: Colin Cameron, Adam Virgo
Booked: Kevin Kyle 64, Dele Adebola 90
Goals: Ward 12
Southend United: Darryl Flahavan, Peter Clarke, Lewis Hunt, Adam Barrett, Steven Hammell, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Alan McCormack (Simon Francis 81), Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Lee Bradbury, Matt Harrold (Freddy Eastwood 68)
Subs not used: Gary Hooper, Caldentey Arnau Riera, Joe Welch
Goals: Gower 54
Attendance: 16623
Referee: D Whitestone
Teamtalk
Mark Gower's equaliser earned struggling Southend a richly-deserved 1-1 Championship draw at out-of-form Coventry on Saturday.
The visitors had failed to score in all but one of their previous eight matches and they looked to be staring defeat in the face after Elliott Ward gave Coventry an early lead.
The centre-back's second goal of the season from a 12th-minute corner filled the hosts with renewed confidence after three successive defeats, although Alan McCormack should have levelled in the final minute before the break.
But Gower cancelled out Ward's strike with a composed finish in the 54th minute - Southend's first goal in five games.
Southend looked the most likely to snatch victory in the moments after the equaliser, and Adam Barrett was only denied by the crossbar.
But the visitors had to survive a late onslaught to deny victory to a Coventry side who have not won in four matches.
Sky Blues manager Micky Adams made six changes but it was Southend, who have not won away in the league all season, who began strongly.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce fed inside for Lee Bradbury to turn and shoot wide with less than two minutes gone.
The visitors caused Coventry a couple more anxious moments but after a brief spell of pressure, the Sky Blues took the lead 11 minutes into the match.
Darren Currie's corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Robert Page and Ward hit the back of the net with a low finish back across goal from 10 yards.
Winger Campbell-Ryce was a constant threat and his lofted cross found Bradbury at the far post but the experienced forward's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Andy Marshall and Andrew Whing although Southend created little with their superior possession.
With a minute of the half left McCormack broke through and shot straight at Marshall, who took the pace off the ball and was alert to backtrack and push off the line.
After the restart, the greasy conditions began to dictate more and a couple of minutes in Marshall made a scrambling stop from Gower's shot, which had taken a wicked deflection.
Coventry's Stephen Hughes had a low effort blocked after he was slipped through by Leon McKenzie.
But eight minutes into the second period Gower grabbed a rare goal for Southend, surging into the area on the left and tucking the ball inside the near post.
Just past the hour, Shrimpers skipper Kevin Maher's low stab from 20 yards flew just past the post and Hughes flicked away Campbell-Ryce's dipping cross.
From the resulting corner, Barrett's header thumped back off the bar.
By that time, water was sitting on the surface of the pitch and the game was turning into a scrappy affair.
With five minutes on the clock Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan pushed a Currie half-volley over the bar.
Coventry bombarded Southend's box in the final minutes but the visitors stood firm and held on for a draw and the final whistle was greeted with boos.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are held to a draw by Southend with Mark Gower cancelling out Elliott Ward's opener.
Micky Adams made no less than six changes for the match at a rain-sodden Ricoh Arena, with three new starters coming in to shore up City's leaky rearguard.
Andrew Whing was back in the team after being recalled from his loan at Brighton, replacing the injured Richard Duffy at right-back. Marcus Hall replaced Clive Clarke at left-back with skipper Robert Page the final alteration to the defence, coming in for Mikkel Bischoff.
Kevin Kyle was favoured up front instead of Dele Adebola and played alongside Leon McKenzie, while Chris Birchall came into the midfield for Colin Cameron.
Southend were without their top scorer Freddy Eastwood, although he was named as one of their substitutes despite suffering from an infection. The Shrimpers got off to a lively start despite the absence of their star man, keeping hold of the ball well and having a couple of early shots on goal without testing Andy Marshall.
But the Sky Blues took the lead in the 12th minute through Elliott Ward with their first shot on target. The centre-back hit a crisp shot back across goal from a Currie corner, which nestled in the far corner giving Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan no chance.
There were worrying looks on the City bench halfway through the first half when Robert Page took a knock but the tough centre-half ran it off without the need for treatment.
Southend had a good chance to equalise in the 28th minute when Lee Bradbury was picked out with a deep cross six yards from goal but Marshall blocked his close range shot brilliantly.
But it was City who were looking the more dominant side as the half progressed and Michael Doyle was guilty of indecision when the Sky Blues caught Southend short at the back but the Irishman failed to pick his pass before being tackled.
With the rain lashing down ever harder, conditions were getting tricky, and Bradbury got another sight of goal just before the break which he fired straight at Marshall, but the shot slipped through his hands and legs and the shot stopper only just recovered to flick the ball off the line and save any embarrassment.
Southend may have felt slightly aggrieved as their players contested the decision not to give a goal and the visitors came out fired up at the start of the second period with Marshall having to scramble rapidly to his left to save a deflected shot.
City fashioned an excellent opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute when Stephen Hughes was played clean through but could only shoot straight at Flahavan and they were made to regret that missed chance when Southend made it all square just a minute later through Mark Gower, who finished well after a rapid break down the left hand side by Steve Hammell.
With 68 minutes played Southend introduced Freddy Eastwood for Harrold, giving a clear indication that Steve Tilson was looking for all three points rather than just settling for a share of the spoils.
A few minutes later and City made their first switch with Dele Adebola replacing Birchall who had worked hard down the right flank without much joy. That was followed by the substitution of Hughes for Isaac Osbourne who was making his first appearance since the Norwich game in September, with Jay Tabb soon replacing McKenzie.
With five minutes remaining Flahavan pulled off a great save from Currie's 18-yard shot which appeared to take a slight deflection on the way through to the Southend keeper. The loan winger then forced him into another block after he weaved his way in from the left.
Coventry were throwing everything at the Shrimpers come stoppage time but could not find a breakthrough and had to be content for a point.
4thegame
Coventry City's second lowest home league crowd of the season watched their team fail to beat basement boys Southend United.
Micky Adams made six changes to Coventry's line-up following their dismal 2-1 Boxing Day defeat to Ipswich.
Andy Whing was recalled from his loan spell at Brighton to feature at right-back and Kevin Kyle partnered Leon McKenzie up front, with Stern John not even featuring on the bench as 16,623 fans gathered at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues had a let-off in the second minute when Jamal Campbell-Ryce's right-wing cross dropped to Lee Bradbury. The former Manchester City striker turned Robert Page but his deflected shot trickled past a post.
Despite Southend's bright start with their neat passing, it was the home side who showed a cutting edge by taking the lead in the 12th minute.
Darren Currie's corner from the right evaded everyone until it reached Elliott Ward at the far post. The centre-half stroked a fine shot from eight yards into the corner of the net beyond Darryl Flahavan.
In heavy rain, Steve Tilson's men might have equalised in the 28th minute. Campbell-Ryce again deceived left-back Marcus Hall to whip in a cross to Bradbury at the back post, but Whing made a vital block to prevent Bradbury's shot from hitting the back of the net.
The old adage that when teams are struggling they have no luck was again proved in the 44th minute. Southend midfielder Alan McCormack unleashed a fierce angled shot from 12 yards which went through Andy Marshall's legs.
The Coventry keeper made a desperate bid to stop the ball crossing the line and referee Dean Whitestone agreed he had been successful despite the visiting team's howls of protests.
Southend started the second half brightly. Centre-half Adam Barrett surged forward and after exchanging passes with two team-mates he found himself inside the box.
Instead of shooting after turning Page, he delayed his shot which gave the Coventry skipper enough time to recover and block his eventual shot.
Mark Gower forced Marshall to scramble to his left to parry his angled effort and then Stephen Hughes forced Flahavan to make a smart save following excellent work by Michael Doyle, Kyle and McKenzie.
It was no surprise when the visitors drew level in the 53rd minute. Steve Hammell was the creator, laying a pass into the path of Gower, who turned and fired a fierce shot into the net in front of Southend's delirious fans.
The visitors should have taken the lead 16 minutes later when Barrett headed captain Kevin Maher's corner against the bar.
Coventry responded with substitute Jay Tabb sending over a cross and Currie's shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by Flahavan as the teams shared the spoils.
Coventry boss Adams said: "I think it is frustrating for everybody concerned. At half-time and full-time the fans voiced their displeasure and that's the way to do it, because during the game they supported their football team like they should do.
"Stern John has gone eight games without a goal, Dele Adebola and Leon McKenzie six or seven games without a goal and Kevin Kyle longer than that.
"I'm trying to find a striking balance. I have not lost faith in them, but they have probably lost a bit of confidence and belief in themselves, but that can be restored very quickly.
"I was pleased with Kyle and McKenzie's first-half performance more than in the second half. With strikers you have to keep persevering or when January comes along you buy another one, but I doubt that will happen." Southend manager Steve Tilson added: "We have not had any bids yet. Freddy Eastwood is a Southend player and that's the situation until someone makes a telephone call.
"I'm not saying he will go because we want to keep our best players. We have not had any firm bids.
"It was a good performance by us. I felt we created enough good chances to win the game."
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall, Andrew Whing, Elliott Ward, Robert Page, Christopher Birchall (Dele Adebola 71), Michael Doyle, Darren Currie, Stephen Hughes (Isaac Osbourne 74), Kevin Kyle, Leon McKenzie (Jay Tabb 77)
Subs not used: Colin Cameron, Adam Virgo
Booked: Kevin Kyle 64, Dele Adebola 90
Goals: Ward 12
Southend United: Darryl Flahavan, Peter Clarke, Lewis Hunt, Adam Barrett, Steven Hammell, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Alan McCormack (Simon Francis 81), Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Lee Bradbury, Matt Harrold (Freddy Eastwood 68)
Subs not used: Gary Hooper, Caldentey Arnau Riera, Joe Welch
Goals: Gower 54
Attendance: 16623
Referee: D Whitestone
Teamtalk
Mark Gower's equaliser earned struggling Southend a richly-deserved 1-1 Championship draw at out-of-form Coventry on Saturday.
The visitors had failed to score in all but one of their previous eight matches and they looked to be staring defeat in the face after Elliott Ward gave Coventry an early lead.
The centre-back's second goal of the season from a 12th-minute corner filled the hosts with renewed confidence after three successive defeats, although Alan McCormack should have levelled in the final minute before the break.
But Gower cancelled out Ward's strike with a composed finish in the 54th minute - Southend's first goal in five games.
Southend looked the most likely to snatch victory in the moments after the equaliser, and Adam Barrett was only denied by the crossbar.
But the visitors had to survive a late onslaught to deny victory to a Coventry side who have not won in four matches.
Sky Blues manager Micky Adams made six changes but it was Southend, who have not won away in the league all season, who began strongly.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce fed inside for Lee Bradbury to turn and shoot wide with less than two minutes gone.
The visitors caused Coventry a couple more anxious moments but after a brief spell of pressure, the Sky Blues took the lead 11 minutes into the match.
Darren Currie's corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Robert Page and Ward hit the back of the net with a low finish back across goal from 10 yards.
Winger Campbell-Ryce was a constant threat and his lofted cross found Bradbury at the far post but the experienced forward's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Andy Marshall and Andrew Whing although Southend created little with their superior possession.
With a minute of the half left McCormack broke through and shot straight at Marshall, who took the pace off the ball and was alert to backtrack and push off the line.
After the restart, the greasy conditions began to dictate more and a couple of minutes in Marshall made a scrambling stop from Gower's shot, which had taken a wicked deflection.
Coventry's Stephen Hughes had a low effort blocked after he was slipped through by Leon McKenzie.
But eight minutes into the second period Gower grabbed a rare goal for Southend, surging into the area on the left and tucking the ball inside the near post.
Just past the hour, Shrimpers skipper Kevin Maher's low stab from 20 yards flew just past the post and Hughes flicked away Campbell-Ryce's dipping cross.
From the resulting corner, Barrett's header thumped back off the bar.
By that time, water was sitting on the surface of the pitch and the game was turning into a scrappy affair.
With five minutes on the clock Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan pushed a Currie half-volley over the bar.
Coventry bombarded Southend's box in the final minutes but the visitors stood firm and held on for a draw and the final whistle was greeted with boos.
CCFC
The Sky Blues are held to a draw by Southend with Mark Gower cancelling out Elliott Ward's opener.
Micky Adams made no less than six changes for the match at a rain-sodden Ricoh Arena, with three new starters coming in to shore up City's leaky rearguard.
Andrew Whing was back in the team after being recalled from his loan at Brighton, replacing the injured Richard Duffy at right-back. Marcus Hall replaced Clive Clarke at left-back with skipper Robert Page the final alteration to the defence, coming in for Mikkel Bischoff.
Kevin Kyle was favoured up front instead of Dele Adebola and played alongside Leon McKenzie, while Chris Birchall came into the midfield for Colin Cameron.
Southend were without their top scorer Freddy Eastwood, although he was named as one of their substitutes despite suffering from an infection. The Shrimpers got off to a lively start despite the absence of their star man, keeping hold of the ball well and having a couple of early shots on goal without testing Andy Marshall.
But the Sky Blues took the lead in the 12th minute through Elliott Ward with their first shot on target. The centre-back hit a crisp shot back across goal from a Currie corner, which nestled in the far corner giving Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan no chance.
There were worrying looks on the City bench halfway through the first half when Robert Page took a knock but the tough centre-half ran it off without the need for treatment.
Southend had a good chance to equalise in the 28th minute when Lee Bradbury was picked out with a deep cross six yards from goal but Marshall blocked his close range shot brilliantly.
But it was City who were looking the more dominant side as the half progressed and Michael Doyle was guilty of indecision when the Sky Blues caught Southend short at the back but the Irishman failed to pick his pass before being tackled.
With the rain lashing down ever harder, conditions were getting tricky, and Bradbury got another sight of goal just before the break which he fired straight at Marshall, but the shot slipped through his hands and legs and the shot stopper only just recovered to flick the ball off the line and save any embarrassment.
Southend may have felt slightly aggrieved as their players contested the decision not to give a goal and the visitors came out fired up at the start of the second period with Marshall having to scramble rapidly to his left to save a deflected shot.
City fashioned an excellent opportunity to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute when Stephen Hughes was played clean through but could only shoot straight at Flahavan and they were made to regret that missed chance when Southend made it all square just a minute later through Mark Gower, who finished well after a rapid break down the left hand side by Steve Hammell.
With 68 minutes played Southend introduced Freddy Eastwood for Harrold, giving a clear indication that Steve Tilson was looking for all three points rather than just settling for a share of the spoils.
A few minutes later and City made their first switch with Dele Adebola replacing Birchall who had worked hard down the right flank without much joy. That was followed by the substitution of Hughes for Isaac Osbourne who was making his first appearance since the Norwich game in September, with Jay Tabb soon replacing McKenzie.
With five minutes remaining Flahavan pulled off a great save from Currie's 18-yard shot which appeared to take a slight deflection on the way through to the Southend keeper. The loan winger then forced him into another block after he weaved his way in from the left.
Coventry were throwing everything at the Shrimpers come stoppage time but could not find a breakthrough and had to be content for a point.
4thegame
Coventry City's second lowest home league crowd of the season watched their team fail to beat basement boys Southend United.
Micky Adams made six changes to Coventry's line-up following their dismal 2-1 Boxing Day defeat to Ipswich.
Andy Whing was recalled from his loan spell at Brighton to feature at right-back and Kevin Kyle partnered Leon McKenzie up front, with Stern John not even featuring on the bench as 16,623 fans gathered at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues had a let-off in the second minute when Jamal Campbell-Ryce's right-wing cross dropped to Lee Bradbury. The former Manchester City striker turned Robert Page but his deflected shot trickled past a post.
Despite Southend's bright start with their neat passing, it was the home side who showed a cutting edge by taking the lead in the 12th minute.
Darren Currie's corner from the right evaded everyone until it reached Elliott Ward at the far post. The centre-half stroked a fine shot from eight yards into the corner of the net beyond Darryl Flahavan.
In heavy rain, Steve Tilson's men might have equalised in the 28th minute. Campbell-Ryce again deceived left-back Marcus Hall to whip in a cross to Bradbury at the back post, but Whing made a vital block to prevent Bradbury's shot from hitting the back of the net.
The old adage that when teams are struggling they have no luck was again proved in the 44th minute. Southend midfielder Alan McCormack unleashed a fierce angled shot from 12 yards which went through Andy Marshall's legs.
The Coventry keeper made a desperate bid to stop the ball crossing the line and referee Dean Whitestone agreed he had been successful despite the visiting team's howls of protests.
Southend started the second half brightly. Centre-half Adam Barrett surged forward and after exchanging passes with two team-mates he found himself inside the box.
Instead of shooting after turning Page, he delayed his shot which gave the Coventry skipper enough time to recover and block his eventual shot.
Mark Gower forced Marshall to scramble to his left to parry his angled effort and then Stephen Hughes forced Flahavan to make a smart save following excellent work by Michael Doyle, Kyle and McKenzie.
It was no surprise when the visitors drew level in the 53rd minute. Steve Hammell was the creator, laying a pass into the path of Gower, who turned and fired a fierce shot into the net in front of Southend's delirious fans.
The visitors should have taken the lead 16 minutes later when Barrett headed captain Kevin Maher's corner against the bar.
Coventry responded with substitute Jay Tabb sending over a cross and Currie's shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by Flahavan as the teams shared the spoils.
Coventry boss Adams said: "I think it is frustrating for everybody concerned. At half-time and full-time the fans voiced their displeasure and that's the way to do it, because during the game they supported their football team like they should do.
"Stern John has gone eight games without a goal, Dele Adebola and Leon McKenzie six or seven games without a goal and Kevin Kyle longer than that.
"I'm trying to find a striking balance. I have not lost faith in them, but they have probably lost a bit of confidence and belief in themselves, but that can be restored very quickly.
"I was pleased with Kyle and McKenzie's first-half performance more than in the second half. With strikers you have to keep persevering or when January comes along you buy another one, but I doubt that will happen." Southend manager Steve Tilson added: "We have not had any bids yet. Freddy Eastwood is a Southend player and that's the situation until someone makes a telephone call.
"I'm not saying he will go because we want to keep our best players. We have not had any firm bids.
"It was a good performance by us. I felt we created enough good chances to win the game."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 7:30 pm
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