Coventry 2 Crystal Palace 4 - 13/01/2007
Coventry 2 Crystal Palace 4 13/01/2007
Coventry City: Luke Steele, Marcus Hall, Andrew Whing, Robert Page, Adam Virgo (Christopher Birchall 45), Isaac Osbourne, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Leon McKenzie (Michael Mifsud 71), Stern John, Kevin Kyle
Subs not used: Ben Turner, Dele Adebola, Arran Lee-Barrett
Booked: Robert Page 23
Goals: McKenzie 45, Kyle 57
Crystal Palace: Scott Flinders, Darren Ward, Mark Hudson, Leon Cort, Matthew Lawrence, Carl Fletcher, Jobi McAnuff, Mark Kennedy, Stuart Green (Tom Soares 75), Dougie Freedman (Paul Ifill 66), Shefki Kuqi
Subs not used: Clinton Morrison, David Wilkinson, Danny Butterfield
Goals: Fletcher 19, Kuqi 27, Cort 28, McAnuff 39
Attendance: 16582
Referee: G Laws
Teamtalk
Coventry boss Micky Adams faces an uncertain future after his side's first-half capitulation in a miserable 4-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
City, now seven games without a win, were ravaged inside 20 first half minutes, as Carl Fletcher, Shefki Kuqi, Leon Cort and the outstanding Jobi McAnuff netted for the merciless Eagles.
Leon McKenzie pulled one back for Coventry on the stroke of half-time and Kevin Kyle netted in an improved second-half performance, but the defeat left Adams' position at the club under serious threat.
Coventry had been the brighter side in the opening exchanges and Palace were caught off guard when Jay Tabb broke down the left flank at pace and flicked the ball to Marcus Hall, who crossed for Stern John to send a right-footed volley inches wide of the post.
McKenzie's trickery and good close control caused Palace's Matthew Lawrence problems and the home defence had been untroubled when a ball from McAnuff picked out the advancing Fletcher.
City were caught flat-footed at the back and Fletcher struck a shot from just inside the penalty area that beat Coventry goalkeeper Luke Steele and found the bottom corner of the net.
Invigorated after taking the lead, Palace continued to break quickly and City's afternoon worsened when defender Stephen Hughes failed to deal with Mark Kennedy's corner and Kuqi's weak header looped over the head of Steele and into the net.
The Palace attack showed no signs of easing the mounting pressure on Adams and, after a great piece of skill on the left, McAnuff left Tabb grounded and crossed to Cort who netted with simple header for 3-0.
McAnuff made it four when he ghosted into the box and met Dougie Freedman's cross with a simple header past Steele and there were few smiles on the faces of Coventry players or supporters when McKenzie was teed up by Tabb to slot home and make it 4-1.
Adams' only half-time change saw Adam Virgo replaced by Chris Birchall but Coventry showed few signs of improvement early in the second half.
Stuart Green's snapshot from 20 yards almost caught Steele off guard and the goalkeeper could only parry away to safety.
Slowly Coventry's midfield began to come to life and, with 12 minutes played in the second half, Kyle pulled a second goal back for the Sky Blues.
It was a cross from the right from McKenzie, who had looked dangerous earlier in the first half, that allowed Kyle to direct a header low into the net from close range and give the home side slim hopes of a comeback.
City's fans even mustered some enthusiasm as they sensed the possibility of a dramatic turnaround, while Palace boss Peter Taylor introduced new signing Paul Ifill in place of Freedman for the final 25 minutes.
Adams brought of McKenzie and sent of Michael Mifsud as he urged his side forward, but the Palace defence had locked the gates and restricted City to a speculative 25-yard volley over the crossbar from Tabb.
Ifill looked lively but was closely marked by Page and Palace appeared to be tiring with 10 minutes remaining.
Coventry's Andrew Whing tested Flinders' reactions with a volley from 18 yards but found the goalkeeper alert to the danger, as he was to Mifsud's low drive from 25 yards moments later, and he ensured Palace held their two-goal lead and all three points.
CCFC
The Sky Blues conceded three goals in the space of nine first half minutes on the way to a disappointing home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Carl Fletcher, Shefki Kuqi, Leon McCort and Jobi McAnuff netted in the opening period and strikes from Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle either side of the break were not enough for the Sky Blues.
Marcus Hall returned to the team at left-back while Jay Tabb replaced the injured Colin Cameron on the right-hand side of midfield, while Stephen Hughes started in the middle of the park for the suspended Michael Doyle. Up front, Stern John replaced Dele Adebola, with new signing Michael Mifsud starting on the bench.
City started confidently, passing the ball around smartly and keeping the visitors on the back foot, without really testing goalkeeper Scott Flinders although a great move in the ninth minute almost gave the Sky Blues the lead with Hall whipping in a delightful low cross that John got a flick onto, only for his effort to go narrowly wide of the far post.
But in the 19th minute Palace went ahead with their first shot on goal as Fletcher burst through the middle and managed to reach the ball before Virgo, to stab his shot past Luke Steele, who got something on it but could not prevent the ball from going on.
Two minutes later and City were unfortunate not to be on level terms when Kyle rose to head an accurate McKenzie cross onto the crossbar.
But in the 26th minute Palace went 2-0 up through Kuqi, who responded quickest to a fine point blank save by Steele after Virgo had headed towards his own goal, and headed into the roof of the net. And it took just another two minutes for the Eagles to go three up, this time Leon Cort heading Jobi McAnuff's cross home, with City's defence at sixes and sevens.
It was a remarkable turnaround as the Sky Blues had bossed the vast majority of the opening 20 minutes, but once again raised serious question marks about the strength of City's defence, which shipped three goals in seven minutes last week and three in nine today.
It really looked like it wasn't Coventry's day when Kyle hit the woodwork again with ten minutes remaining in the first half, this time connecting with a Hughes corner.
And once again, City's fragility was exposed when Palace broke upfield rapidly and McAnuff headed a fourth from a precise Stuart Green cross.
Just before half time McKenzie pulled a goal back for the Sky Blues to give them some glimmer of hope. They had shown an ability to battle back last week at Ashton Gate and would have to demonstrate even greater resolve if they were to get their way out of this mess.
At the interval Micky Adams brought Chris Birchall on for Virgo who had really struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game. It meant a re-shuffle with Birchall coming in at right-back, Whing swapping to the left and Marcus Hall slotting into the centre of the rearguard.
And in the 56th minute, Kyle pulled another one back for the Sky Blues, heading home from McKenzie's ball into the six yard box, for a goal that the Scotsman definitely deserved after his poor luck in the opening 45.
With 20 minutes left on the clock Adams made another switch, bringing on new boy Mifsud for McKenzie. He instantly showed a calmness in possession allied with a good touch as City looked for another goal.
Whing tested Flinders with an acrobatic scissor kick from 18 yards before Kyle did well to nod a deep cross back into the six-yard box only for there to be no teammate available to tap the ball in.
Mifsud then had a decent shot from all of 30 yards which Flinders gathered well.
On the positive side, City battled well after going four goals down, but the priority for Micky Adams and the players will be to eradicate the defensive errors which can see the Sky Blues go from a team in control to one trailing heavily in such a short space of time.
4thegame
Coventry City's dreadful form continued as they slipped to another defeat thanks to a disastrous opening 45 minutes which saw them concede four goals against Crystal Palace.
Carl Fletcher, Shefki Kuqi, Leon Cort and Jobi McAnuff did the damage as the Eagles threatened to run riot.
Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle scored what turned out to be consolations as Coventry put in a vastly improved second-half performance.
But it was too little too late as the south London side secured back-to-back victories in the league for the first time this season.
Coventry started the brighter of the two sides forcing three corners in the first seven minutes.
But it was Palace who took the lead with their first real effort on goal in the 18th minute.
The Eagles' captain Fletcher played a one-two with McAnuff before despatching a shot which flew beyond goalkeeper Luke Steele's despairing dive.
The Sky Blues almost gave an instant response as Marcus Hall delivered another excellent ball from the left, but Kyle directed his header on to the post and it bounced to safety.
Without a win since the beginning of December, the goal against the run of play clearly affected Coventry's confidence as the away side started to dominate.
Palace doubled their lead in the 26th minute as Mark Kennedy's cross was almost put into his own net by on-loan Celtic player Adam Virgo. His header was parried by Steele, but Kuqi was on hand to put the ball into an empty net.
Things went from bad to worse for Coventry as they went 3-0 down two minutes later. This time McAnuff easily beat Jay Tabb on the left before delivering an inch-perfect cross for defender Cort to head home.
With Coventry fans starting to chant "what a load of rubbish" the Sky Blues almost responded in the 36th minute as a Stephen Hughes corner was headed on to the angle of post and bar by the unlucky Kyle, with the ball rebounding into the grateful arms of keeper Scott Flinders.
But just as the home fans thought things could not get any worse - it did. This time Fletcher broke down the right and his cross was headed home by McAnuff, who beat Andrew Whing to the ball.
Coventry finally did respond in the 44th minute as Tabb fed the on-rushing McKenzie, who coolly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.
A half-time rollicking by Sky Blues manager Micky Adams did the trick as Coventry came out firing on all cylinders in the second half.
They were rewarded in the 57th minute as McKenzie's cross found Kyle whose header this time nestled in the corner of the net.
With the fans now behind them, Coventry grew in confidence and Tabb and substitute Chris Birchall both went close with long-range efforts, but the damage had already been done in the opening 45 minutes.
Palace manager Peter Taylor said: "I think our first-half performance was the best away from home that we have produced all season.
"Coventry started the better side, but we got into our stride and scored four excellent goals that were all very well taken.
"Give Coventry credit, the came back well from 4-0 down, but my players did brilliantly and I am delighted for them." Sky Blues boss Micky Adams added: "It is a definite possibility that I will try to bring in a defender and I will speak to the chairman and the board as soon as I can.
"Elliott Ward is out injured and we are missing him so bringing someone in has to be a possibility.
"We were undone by individual errors which you can never legislate for and to be fair we never gave up and kept going."
Coventry City: Luke Steele, Marcus Hall, Andrew Whing, Robert Page, Adam Virgo (Christopher Birchall 45), Isaac Osbourne, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Leon McKenzie (Michael Mifsud 71), Stern John, Kevin Kyle
Subs not used: Ben Turner, Dele Adebola, Arran Lee-Barrett
Booked: Robert Page 23
Goals: McKenzie 45, Kyle 57
Crystal Palace: Scott Flinders, Darren Ward, Mark Hudson, Leon Cort, Matthew Lawrence, Carl Fletcher, Jobi McAnuff, Mark Kennedy, Stuart Green (Tom Soares 75), Dougie Freedman (Paul Ifill 66), Shefki Kuqi
Subs not used: Clinton Morrison, David Wilkinson, Danny Butterfield
Goals: Fletcher 19, Kuqi 27, Cort 28, McAnuff 39
Attendance: 16582
Referee: G Laws
Teamtalk
Coventry boss Micky Adams faces an uncertain future after his side's first-half capitulation in a miserable 4-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
City, now seven games without a win, were ravaged inside 20 first half minutes, as Carl Fletcher, Shefki Kuqi, Leon Cort and the outstanding Jobi McAnuff netted for the merciless Eagles.
Leon McKenzie pulled one back for Coventry on the stroke of half-time and Kevin Kyle netted in an improved second-half performance, but the defeat left Adams' position at the club under serious threat.
Coventry had been the brighter side in the opening exchanges and Palace were caught off guard when Jay Tabb broke down the left flank at pace and flicked the ball to Marcus Hall, who crossed for Stern John to send a right-footed volley inches wide of the post.
McKenzie's trickery and good close control caused Palace's Matthew Lawrence problems and the home defence had been untroubled when a ball from McAnuff picked out the advancing Fletcher.
City were caught flat-footed at the back and Fletcher struck a shot from just inside the penalty area that beat Coventry goalkeeper Luke Steele and found the bottom corner of the net.
Invigorated after taking the lead, Palace continued to break quickly and City's afternoon worsened when defender Stephen Hughes failed to deal with Mark Kennedy's corner and Kuqi's weak header looped over the head of Steele and into the net.
The Palace attack showed no signs of easing the mounting pressure on Adams and, after a great piece of skill on the left, McAnuff left Tabb grounded and crossed to Cort who netted with simple header for 3-0.
McAnuff made it four when he ghosted into the box and met Dougie Freedman's cross with a simple header past Steele and there were few smiles on the faces of Coventry players or supporters when McKenzie was teed up by Tabb to slot home and make it 4-1.
Adams' only half-time change saw Adam Virgo replaced by Chris Birchall but Coventry showed few signs of improvement early in the second half.
Stuart Green's snapshot from 20 yards almost caught Steele off guard and the goalkeeper could only parry away to safety.
Slowly Coventry's midfield began to come to life and, with 12 minutes played in the second half, Kyle pulled a second goal back for the Sky Blues.
It was a cross from the right from McKenzie, who had looked dangerous earlier in the first half, that allowed Kyle to direct a header low into the net from close range and give the home side slim hopes of a comeback.
City's fans even mustered some enthusiasm as they sensed the possibility of a dramatic turnaround, while Palace boss Peter Taylor introduced new signing Paul Ifill in place of Freedman for the final 25 minutes.
Adams brought of McKenzie and sent of Michael Mifsud as he urged his side forward, but the Palace defence had locked the gates and restricted City to a speculative 25-yard volley over the crossbar from Tabb.
Ifill looked lively but was closely marked by Page and Palace appeared to be tiring with 10 minutes remaining.
Coventry's Andrew Whing tested Flinders' reactions with a volley from 18 yards but found the goalkeeper alert to the danger, as he was to Mifsud's low drive from 25 yards moments later, and he ensured Palace held their two-goal lead and all three points.
CCFC
The Sky Blues conceded three goals in the space of nine first half minutes on the way to a disappointing home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Carl Fletcher, Shefki Kuqi, Leon McCort and Jobi McAnuff netted in the opening period and strikes from Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle either side of the break were not enough for the Sky Blues.
Marcus Hall returned to the team at left-back while Jay Tabb replaced the injured Colin Cameron on the right-hand side of midfield, while Stephen Hughes started in the middle of the park for the suspended Michael Doyle. Up front, Stern John replaced Dele Adebola, with new signing Michael Mifsud starting on the bench.
City started confidently, passing the ball around smartly and keeping the visitors on the back foot, without really testing goalkeeper Scott Flinders although a great move in the ninth minute almost gave the Sky Blues the lead with Hall whipping in a delightful low cross that John got a flick onto, only for his effort to go narrowly wide of the far post.
But in the 19th minute Palace went ahead with their first shot on goal as Fletcher burst through the middle and managed to reach the ball before Virgo, to stab his shot past Luke Steele, who got something on it but could not prevent the ball from going on.
Two minutes later and City were unfortunate not to be on level terms when Kyle rose to head an accurate McKenzie cross onto the crossbar.
But in the 26th minute Palace went 2-0 up through Kuqi, who responded quickest to a fine point blank save by Steele after Virgo had headed towards his own goal, and headed into the roof of the net. And it took just another two minutes for the Eagles to go three up, this time Leon Cort heading Jobi McAnuff's cross home, with City's defence at sixes and sevens.
It was a remarkable turnaround as the Sky Blues had bossed the vast majority of the opening 20 minutes, but once again raised serious question marks about the strength of City's defence, which shipped three goals in seven minutes last week and three in nine today.
It really looked like it wasn't Coventry's day when Kyle hit the woodwork again with ten minutes remaining in the first half, this time connecting with a Hughes corner.
And once again, City's fragility was exposed when Palace broke upfield rapidly and McAnuff headed a fourth from a precise Stuart Green cross.
Just before half time McKenzie pulled a goal back for the Sky Blues to give them some glimmer of hope. They had shown an ability to battle back last week at Ashton Gate and would have to demonstrate even greater resolve if they were to get their way out of this mess.
At the interval Micky Adams brought Chris Birchall on for Virgo who had really struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game. It meant a re-shuffle with Birchall coming in at right-back, Whing swapping to the left and Marcus Hall slotting into the centre of the rearguard.
And in the 56th minute, Kyle pulled another one back for the Sky Blues, heading home from McKenzie's ball into the six yard box, for a goal that the Scotsman definitely deserved after his poor luck in the opening 45.
With 20 minutes left on the clock Adams made another switch, bringing on new boy Mifsud for McKenzie. He instantly showed a calmness in possession allied with a good touch as City looked for another goal.
Whing tested Flinders with an acrobatic scissor kick from 18 yards before Kyle did well to nod a deep cross back into the six-yard box only for there to be no teammate available to tap the ball in.
Mifsud then had a decent shot from all of 30 yards which Flinders gathered well.
On the positive side, City battled well after going four goals down, but the priority for Micky Adams and the players will be to eradicate the defensive errors which can see the Sky Blues go from a team in control to one trailing heavily in such a short space of time.
4thegame
Coventry City's dreadful form continued as they slipped to another defeat thanks to a disastrous opening 45 minutes which saw them concede four goals against Crystal Palace.
Carl Fletcher, Shefki Kuqi, Leon Cort and Jobi McAnuff did the damage as the Eagles threatened to run riot.
Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle scored what turned out to be consolations as Coventry put in a vastly improved second-half performance.
But it was too little too late as the south London side secured back-to-back victories in the league for the first time this season.
Coventry started the brighter of the two sides forcing three corners in the first seven minutes.
But it was Palace who took the lead with their first real effort on goal in the 18th minute.
The Eagles' captain Fletcher played a one-two with McAnuff before despatching a shot which flew beyond goalkeeper Luke Steele's despairing dive.
The Sky Blues almost gave an instant response as Marcus Hall delivered another excellent ball from the left, but Kyle directed his header on to the post and it bounced to safety.
Without a win since the beginning of December, the goal against the run of play clearly affected Coventry's confidence as the away side started to dominate.
Palace doubled their lead in the 26th minute as Mark Kennedy's cross was almost put into his own net by on-loan Celtic player Adam Virgo. His header was parried by Steele, but Kuqi was on hand to put the ball into an empty net.
Things went from bad to worse for Coventry as they went 3-0 down two minutes later. This time McAnuff easily beat Jay Tabb on the left before delivering an inch-perfect cross for defender Cort to head home.
With Coventry fans starting to chant "what a load of rubbish" the Sky Blues almost responded in the 36th minute as a Stephen Hughes corner was headed on to the angle of post and bar by the unlucky Kyle, with the ball rebounding into the grateful arms of keeper Scott Flinders.
But just as the home fans thought things could not get any worse - it did. This time Fletcher broke down the right and his cross was headed home by McAnuff, who beat Andrew Whing to the ball.
Coventry finally did respond in the 44th minute as Tabb fed the on-rushing McKenzie, who coolly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.
A half-time rollicking by Sky Blues manager Micky Adams did the trick as Coventry came out firing on all cylinders in the second half.
They were rewarded in the 57th minute as McKenzie's cross found Kyle whose header this time nestled in the corner of the net.
With the fans now behind them, Coventry grew in confidence and Tabb and substitute Chris Birchall both went close with long-range efforts, but the damage had already been done in the opening 45 minutes.
Palace manager Peter Taylor said: "I think our first-half performance was the best away from home that we have produced all season.
"Coventry started the better side, but we got into our stride and scored four excellent goals that were all very well taken.
"Give Coventry credit, the came back well from 4-0 down, but my players did brilliantly and I am delighted for them." Sky Blues boss Micky Adams added: "It is a definite possibility that I will try to bring in a defender and I will speak to the chairman and the board as soon as I can.
"Elliott Ward is out injured and we are missing him so bringing someone in has to be a possibility.
"We were undone by individual errors which you can never legislate for and to be fair we never gave up and kept going."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 7:00 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home