Coventry 2 Cardiff 2 - 10/02/2007
Coventry 2 Cardiff 2 - 10/02/2007
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Robert Page, Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud, Colin Hawkins, David McNamee, Leon McKenzie, Isaac Osbourne, Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle, Andrew Whing (Stuart Giddings 58)
Subs not used: Christopher Birchall, Che Bunce, Luke Steele, Adam Virgo
Booked: Robert Page 45, Jay Tabb 33, Leon McKenzie 28
Goals: McKenzie 8, Adebola 71
Cardiff City: Steven Thompson (Iwan Redan 73), Joe Ledley, Stephen McPhail, Michael Chopra, Glenn Loovens, Kerrea Gilbert (Willo Flood 79), Simon Walton, Paul Parry, Peter Whittingham (Kevin McNaughton 68), Neil Alexander, Roger Johnson
Subs not used: Kevin Campbell, David Forde
Booked: Glenn Loovens 35, Kerrea Gilbert 45
Sent off: Glenn Loovens 67
Goals: Chopra(P) 46, Whittingham 58
Attendance: 17107
Referee: G Poll
Teamtalk
Dele Adebola scored for Coventry to earn a crucial point in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff who finished the game with 10 men.
Adebola, who last found the net against Preston on November 28, was on hand to head home Jay Tabb's right wing cross from inside the six-yard box just four minutes after Glenn Loovens' sending-off.
Loovens was booked in the first half and was shown a second yellow card in the 67th-minute for a foul on Michael Mifsud.
It looked like Cardiff, who had won their last three league matches, would continue to breathe new life into their promotion challenge when Peter Whittingham curled a superb 25-yard shot beyond Andy Marshall and into the top left-hand corner.
Michael Chopra's penalty on the stroke of half-time had cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener for Coventry.
Andrew Whing was adjudged to have fouled Roger Johnson and Chopra stepped up to calmly claim his 18th league goal of the season.
McKenzie had taken just eight minutes to open the scoring. Mifsud broke down the right wing before crossing low for McKenzie, who beat Neil Alexander from 12-yards out.
The striker came close to doubling his and Coventry's tally when Alexander spilled Isaac Osbourne's shot but he lifted the rebound over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Cardiff almost equalised in the 19th minute after Robert Page - the Coventry captain back in the side after being left out against Luton and Sunderland following a training ground bust-up with Michael Doyle - brought down Paul Parry but Chopra curled the resultant free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
Tabb flashed an effort wide and Mifsud crashed a shot against a post before Chopra struck from the spot.
The second half started brightly and Whittingham flashed a warning shot across Coventry's bow in the 57th-minute before finding the net just moments later.
Mifsud and McKenzie went close before Loovens was shown the red card and the hosts set about making their numerical advantage count with gusto.
Coventry launched wave after wave of attack before they were finally rewarded with Adebola's header. But they did not stop there and went in search of a winning goal.
Alexander produced a fine one-handed save to tip McKenzie's 75th-minute shot around the post before Kevin McNaughton was forced to clear a dangerous-looking cross from David McNamee from under his own crossbar.
Tabb and Doyle both saw shots blocked as the two sides were made to settle for a point that will do little to enhance their respective relegation and promotion challenges.
CCFC
The Sky Blues continued their resurgence under caretaker boss Adrian Heath but had to settle for a point in a fiery affair against 10-man Cardiff at the Ricoh Arena.
Dele Adebola grabbed a 71st minute equaliser after a disputed penalty from Michael Chopra and a Peter Whittingham strike cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener.
McKenzie handed City a dream start when he rifled in from ten yards after Michael Mifsud had disposed his marker on the right and cut the ball back from the byline.
The Bluebirds' response saw Chopra, the Championship's top goalscorer, send a free-kick flying over the bar, but the home side continued to dictate the play and could have added a second in the 16th minute.
Michael Doyle's precise through-ball sent Jay Tabb racing through on goal, but the pint-sized midfielder fired straight at Cardiff 'keeper Neil Alexander before McKenzie lifted the rebound over.
The woodwork came to the visitors rescue on the stroke of half-time when Mifsud side-footed against the post.
But referee Graham Poll took centre stage moments later when he awarded Cardiff a penalty after spotting a push on Roger Johnson by skipper Robert Page in the area as the visitors prepared to take a corner.
Chopra stepped-up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to hand the Bluebirds a route back into the game, albeit against the run of play.
Mifsud tested Alexander shortly after the interval as the Sky Blues looked to build on an industrious first-half display, but it was Cardiff who seized the initiative in the 58th minute.
Winger Whittingham picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a magnificent effort with his left foot beyond a helpless Andy Marshall.
But the game turned on its head again nine minutes later when Poll dished out a second yellow card to Bluebirds centre-back Glenn Loovens for a foul on Mifsud.
And City instantly made their extra-man pay as Adebola stooped to head home Tabb's teasing cross at the far post.
McKenzie then saw two goals disallowed for fouls either side of forcing Alexander into a superb reaction save from point-blank range.
City continue to pile men forward put couldn't make their numerical advantage prevail and were forced to settle for a point.
4thegame
Coventry City battled for a point as they came from behind to earn a share of the spoils against 10-man Cardiff City.
Leon McKenzie and Dele Adebola scored for the home side either side of goals from Michael Chopra - his sixth goal in four games - and Peter Whittingham.
Referee Graham Poll was the busiest man on the pitch as he issued six yellow cards and sent off Bluebirds defender Glenn Loovens.
The result left Coventry with just one win in their last 12 games but brought Cardiff's run of three consecutive victories to an end.
In a tight opening to the game Coventry took the lead with the first real chance.
Michael Doyle picked up the ball in midfield and his long diagonal pass released Michael Mifsud on Coventry's right.
The Malta international beat Cardiff defender Joe Ledley before picking out McKenzie with a pin-point pass.
The former Norwich forward turned to get the ball on his favoured right foot before shooting past the despairing dive of Bluebirds keeper Neil Alexander for his sixth goal of the season.
Coventry almost doubled their lead in the 17th minute as a ball over the top saw Jay Tabb race clear but his shot was parried by Alexander. The ball dropped to McKenzie but he scooped the ball over the top.
Chopra put a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over the top and Paul Parry shot just wide as Cardiff began to show the class that has seen them challenge for a play-off place.
Tabb crossed the ball in the 27th minute and brave Alexander smothered the ball but was clattered by a lunging McKenzie - which earned the Coventry forward a yellow card and led to lengthy treatment for the keeper.
The game started to get scrappy with Tabb for Coventry and Loovens for Cardiff picking up yellow cards for untidy challenges.
But Coventry almost stretched their lead in the 43rd minute as a mistake by Loovens let in Adebola. He played in Mifsud whose shot hit the inside of the post and rebounded to safety.
The miss proved costly as Cardiff equalised in first-half injury time. Poll awarded a penalty after adjudging that Robert Page had obstructed Roger Johnson from a corner.
It gave Chopra the chance to score his 18th goal of the season as he sent keeper Andy Marshall the wrong way.
The second half started as scrappily as the first had ended, with both sides struggling to get a grip on the game - a 20-yard snap-shot from Mifsud that flew straight at the goalkeeper proving to be the best chance.
A mistake by David McNamee let in Whittingham in the 57th minute only for him to blaze over, but he was to take another chance a minute later.
Parry found the former Aston Villa midfielder and, from 25 yards, he curled a delightful shot into Marshall's top right corner.
Cardiff were reduced to 10 men when Loovens brought down Mifsud, He was handed a second yellow card but substitute Stuart Giddings put the resulting free-kick just over.
Coventry started to pressurise and drew level with a lovely flowing move in the 71st minute.
It resulted in Tabb flighting in a cross from the left-hand side which was emphatically headed home by Adebola.
McKenzie then twice had the ball in the net in a five-minute spell but each time his headers were ruled out for pushing as Cardiff held on.
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones said: "At 2-1 we were comfortable and there was only one team going to win it and that was us.
"If anything we were going to go on and score a third but the sending-off changed all of that and gave them hope.
"The second booking was deserved as it was a lazy challenge on Michael Mifsud but the card in the first half was harsh. You never know what you are going to get with Graham (Poll).
"It definitely changed the game and probably for the first time in my career I had to change things to try and hold on for a point." Coventry's caretaker manager Adrian Heath said:" "I don't really want to talk about the referee's performance otherwise I will get into trouble.
"Let's just say that I thought it was inconsistent and I could not see anything wrong with the second disallowed goal.
"But I was pleased with our overall performance and think we've got better and better in the past four games."
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Robert Page, Jay Tabb, Michael Mifsud, Colin Hawkins, David McNamee, Leon McKenzie, Isaac Osbourne, Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle, Andrew Whing (Stuart Giddings 58)
Subs not used: Christopher Birchall, Che Bunce, Luke Steele, Adam Virgo
Booked: Robert Page 45, Jay Tabb 33, Leon McKenzie 28
Goals: McKenzie 8, Adebola 71
Cardiff City: Steven Thompson (Iwan Redan 73), Joe Ledley, Stephen McPhail, Michael Chopra, Glenn Loovens, Kerrea Gilbert (Willo Flood 79), Simon Walton, Paul Parry, Peter Whittingham (Kevin McNaughton 68), Neil Alexander, Roger Johnson
Subs not used: Kevin Campbell, David Forde
Booked: Glenn Loovens 35, Kerrea Gilbert 45
Sent off: Glenn Loovens 67
Goals: Chopra(P) 46, Whittingham 58
Attendance: 17107
Referee: G Poll
Teamtalk
Dele Adebola scored for Coventry to earn a crucial point in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff who finished the game with 10 men.
Adebola, who last found the net against Preston on November 28, was on hand to head home Jay Tabb's right wing cross from inside the six-yard box just four minutes after Glenn Loovens' sending-off.
Loovens was booked in the first half and was shown a second yellow card in the 67th-minute for a foul on Michael Mifsud.
It looked like Cardiff, who had won their last three league matches, would continue to breathe new life into their promotion challenge when Peter Whittingham curled a superb 25-yard shot beyond Andy Marshall and into the top left-hand corner.
Michael Chopra's penalty on the stroke of half-time had cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener for Coventry.
Andrew Whing was adjudged to have fouled Roger Johnson and Chopra stepped up to calmly claim his 18th league goal of the season.
McKenzie had taken just eight minutes to open the scoring. Mifsud broke down the right wing before crossing low for McKenzie, who beat Neil Alexander from 12-yards out.
The striker came close to doubling his and Coventry's tally when Alexander spilled Isaac Osbourne's shot but he lifted the rebound over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Cardiff almost equalised in the 19th minute after Robert Page - the Coventry captain back in the side after being left out against Luton and Sunderland following a training ground bust-up with Michael Doyle - brought down Paul Parry but Chopra curled the resultant free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
Tabb flashed an effort wide and Mifsud crashed a shot against a post before Chopra struck from the spot.
The second half started brightly and Whittingham flashed a warning shot across Coventry's bow in the 57th-minute before finding the net just moments later.
Mifsud and McKenzie went close before Loovens was shown the red card and the hosts set about making their numerical advantage count with gusto.
Coventry launched wave after wave of attack before they were finally rewarded with Adebola's header. But they did not stop there and went in search of a winning goal.
Alexander produced a fine one-handed save to tip McKenzie's 75th-minute shot around the post before Kevin McNaughton was forced to clear a dangerous-looking cross from David McNamee from under his own crossbar.
Tabb and Doyle both saw shots blocked as the two sides were made to settle for a point that will do little to enhance their respective relegation and promotion challenges.
CCFC
The Sky Blues continued their resurgence under caretaker boss Adrian Heath but had to settle for a point in a fiery affair against 10-man Cardiff at the Ricoh Arena.
Dele Adebola grabbed a 71st minute equaliser after a disputed penalty from Michael Chopra and a Peter Whittingham strike cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener.
McKenzie handed City a dream start when he rifled in from ten yards after Michael Mifsud had disposed his marker on the right and cut the ball back from the byline.
The Bluebirds' response saw Chopra, the Championship's top goalscorer, send a free-kick flying over the bar, but the home side continued to dictate the play and could have added a second in the 16th minute.
Michael Doyle's precise through-ball sent Jay Tabb racing through on goal, but the pint-sized midfielder fired straight at Cardiff 'keeper Neil Alexander before McKenzie lifted the rebound over.
The woodwork came to the visitors rescue on the stroke of half-time when Mifsud side-footed against the post.
But referee Graham Poll took centre stage moments later when he awarded Cardiff a penalty after spotting a push on Roger Johnson by skipper Robert Page in the area as the visitors prepared to take a corner.
Chopra stepped-up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to hand the Bluebirds a route back into the game, albeit against the run of play.
Mifsud tested Alexander shortly after the interval as the Sky Blues looked to build on an industrious first-half display, but it was Cardiff who seized the initiative in the 58th minute.
Winger Whittingham picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a magnificent effort with his left foot beyond a helpless Andy Marshall.
But the game turned on its head again nine minutes later when Poll dished out a second yellow card to Bluebirds centre-back Glenn Loovens for a foul on Mifsud.
And City instantly made their extra-man pay as Adebola stooped to head home Tabb's teasing cross at the far post.
McKenzie then saw two goals disallowed for fouls either side of forcing Alexander into a superb reaction save from point-blank range.
City continue to pile men forward put couldn't make their numerical advantage prevail and were forced to settle for a point.
4thegame
Coventry City battled for a point as they came from behind to earn a share of the spoils against 10-man Cardiff City.
Leon McKenzie and Dele Adebola scored for the home side either side of goals from Michael Chopra - his sixth goal in four games - and Peter Whittingham.
Referee Graham Poll was the busiest man on the pitch as he issued six yellow cards and sent off Bluebirds defender Glenn Loovens.
The result left Coventry with just one win in their last 12 games but brought Cardiff's run of three consecutive victories to an end.
In a tight opening to the game Coventry took the lead with the first real chance.
Michael Doyle picked up the ball in midfield and his long diagonal pass released Michael Mifsud on Coventry's right.
The Malta international beat Cardiff defender Joe Ledley before picking out McKenzie with a pin-point pass.
The former Norwich forward turned to get the ball on his favoured right foot before shooting past the despairing dive of Bluebirds keeper Neil Alexander for his sixth goal of the season.
Coventry almost doubled their lead in the 17th minute as a ball over the top saw Jay Tabb race clear but his shot was parried by Alexander. The ball dropped to McKenzie but he scooped the ball over the top.
Chopra put a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over the top and Paul Parry shot just wide as Cardiff began to show the class that has seen them challenge for a play-off place.
Tabb crossed the ball in the 27th minute and brave Alexander smothered the ball but was clattered by a lunging McKenzie - which earned the Coventry forward a yellow card and led to lengthy treatment for the keeper.
The game started to get scrappy with Tabb for Coventry and Loovens for Cardiff picking up yellow cards for untidy challenges.
But Coventry almost stretched their lead in the 43rd minute as a mistake by Loovens let in Adebola. He played in Mifsud whose shot hit the inside of the post and rebounded to safety.
The miss proved costly as Cardiff equalised in first-half injury time. Poll awarded a penalty after adjudging that Robert Page had obstructed Roger Johnson from a corner.
It gave Chopra the chance to score his 18th goal of the season as he sent keeper Andy Marshall the wrong way.
The second half started as scrappily as the first had ended, with both sides struggling to get a grip on the game - a 20-yard snap-shot from Mifsud that flew straight at the goalkeeper proving to be the best chance.
A mistake by David McNamee let in Whittingham in the 57th minute only for him to blaze over, but he was to take another chance a minute later.
Parry found the former Aston Villa midfielder and, from 25 yards, he curled a delightful shot into Marshall's top right corner.
Cardiff were reduced to 10 men when Loovens brought down Mifsud, He was handed a second yellow card but substitute Stuart Giddings put the resulting free-kick just over.
Coventry started to pressurise and drew level with a lovely flowing move in the 71st minute.
It resulted in Tabb flighting in a cross from the left-hand side which was emphatically headed home by Adebola.
McKenzie then twice had the ball in the net in a five-minute spell but each time his headers were ruled out for pushing as Cardiff held on.
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones said: "At 2-1 we were comfortable and there was only one team going to win it and that was us.
"If anything we were going to go on and score a third but the sending-off changed all of that and gave them hope.
"The second booking was deserved as it was a lazy challenge on Michael Mifsud but the card in the first half was harsh. You never know what you are going to get with Graham (Poll).
"It definitely changed the game and probably for the first time in my career I had to change things to try and hold on for a point." Coventry's caretaker manager Adrian Heath said:" "I don't really want to talk about the referee's performance otherwise I will get into trouble.
"Let's just say that I thought it was inconsistent and I could not see anything wrong with the second disallowed goal.
"But I was pleased with our overall performance and think we've got better and better in the past four games."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 8:00 pm
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