Coventry 2 Southampton 1 - 20/02/2007
Coventry 2 Southampton 1 - 20/02/2007
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Stephen Hughes, Elliott Ward, David McNamee (Isaac Osbourne 53), Jay Tabb (Leon McKenzie 73), Marcus Hall, Colin Hawkins, Kevin Kyle (Michael Mifsud 81), Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle, Andrew Whing
Subs not used: Adam Virgo, Luke Steele
Booked: David McNamee 12, Kevin Kyle 48
Goals: Adebola 5, Kyle 30
Southampton: Jermaine Wright, Marek Saganowski, Gareth Bale, Claus Lundekvam, Pedro Miguel Pele (Alexander Ostlund 45), Rudolf Skacel (Djamel Belmadi 45), John Viafara, Andrew Surman, Kelvin Davis, Chris Baird, Kenwyne Jones (Grzegorz Rasiak 78)
Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Bradley Wright-Phillips
Booked: Alexander Ostlund 77
Goals: Saganowski 14
Attendance: 17194
Referee: N Miller
Teamtalk
Kevin Kyle's first-half header ensured new Coventry boss Iain Dowie enjoyed a winning start with a 2-1 win over Southampton at the Ricoh Arena.
City, who had picked up just five points from their last 11 games, put in a much-improved performance for their new boss, with Dele Adebola opening the scoring before Marek Saganowski squared things up.
Dowie's side kicked off with the unenviable record of just one win from their last 13 games, but eased some of the pressure within five minutes thanks to Adebola's fifth league goal of the season.
The City striker raced on to Kyle's flick header before sending the sweetest of strikes past Kelvin Davis, who could only look on as the ball flew in off his near post to give Dowie a dream start to his new job.
George Burley's side, who had lost just one of their last eight away games, were shocked into action and soon began to ask questions of a City defence which has looked vulnerable of late.
Wales international Gareth Bale soon had a chance to deliver one of his devastating trademark free-kicks but the City wall did its job, blocking the ball for a corner.
But Dowie's day was to soon turn sour as Southampton struck an equaliser.
Again it was Bale's wand of a left boot which did the damage, curling a corner in from the left which was initially cleared off the line by David McNamee.
Trinidad & Tobago frontman Kenwyne Jones managed to outmuscle flapping City keeper Andy Marshall to the ball before Polish striker Saganowski poked home his first for the club from close range.
The goal did little to deter the home side, with Kyle's driven cross from the left crying out for a finishing touch.
And soon after it was the Scot who restored the lead, muscling in front of his marker before planting a towering header over Davis from Michael Doyle's whipped cross on the half-hour mark.
In the second half, some impressive interplay from the silky Saints came close to unlocking the Sky Blues' backline but Andrew Whing was able to make a superb recovery tackle.
City had chances of their own, with Hughes inches away from a third with a measured free-kick narrowly sneaking the wrong side of the right post.
But Burley's boys had all the play down the left and it seemed only a matter of time before they forced an equaliser.
Jones somehow pulled his shot over from a yard out after the lively Bale had drilled the ball across the face of goal.
And Saints striker Saganowski almost scored seconds later after cutting in well from the left, but Davis was able to smother the shot.
The Saints' attempts to press for an equaliser left gaping holes in their defence. Substitute Leon McKenzie should have done better after breaking the offside trap, but his cross failed to find Michael Mifsud at the back post.
And with seconds of injury time remaining Marshall was forced into a super save to again deny Bale as City recorded their first home victory over Saints since 1999.
CCFC
The Iain Dowie era began in victory as the Sky Blues claimed a determined victory over high-flying Southampton.
Kevin Kyle grabbed the decisive strike in the 30th minute after Marek Saganowski cancelled out a sublime early strike from Dele Adebola.
The new boss, paraded to a rapturous applause before kick-off, made several changes to the side beaten at Leicester on Saturday, with Elliott Ward returning from injury and taking the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Robert Page.
Marcus Hall returned to the back-line with Andy Whing pushing into a more attacking wide right berth and Michael Doyle returned to partner Stephen Hughes at the centre of midfield.
Kevin Kyle was handed a chance to impress in attack after recovering from a broken hand and immediately set about repaying his new manager's faith.
With the game only five minutes old, the Scottish international flicked on a long ball forward to the feet of Adebola, who left Saints 'keeper Kelvin Davis stranded with an unstoppable volley which flew in off the left-hand post from just inside the area.
However, the visitors reply was instant and they could have equalised three minutes later when Colin Hawkins headed off the line from Kenwyne Jones.
But they did find the net in the 13th minute. City 'keeper Andy Marshall fumbled a Saints corner, with Kyle hacking desperately off the line, but Saganowski was on hand to scramble the ball home.
The home side were soon back in front, though, and this time the influential Kyle turned scorer, leaping above Pele before sending a looping header beyond Davis from a teasing Michael Doyle cross.
Kevin Kyle and Stephen Hughes
Hughes almost added a third shortly after the break with a low free-kick which skimmed narrowly wide of the target, while Jones should have levelled on the hour when he skewed high and wide from two yards out.
Marshall produced fine saves to deny Sagonowski and Gareth Bale as George Burley's promotion chasers attempted to engineer a way back into the game, but City held firm.
And as the Saints poured men forward, they left gaps at the back and they were nearly pounced upon late on when a last-gasp challenge from Bale denied substitute Michael Mifsud as the striker surged through on goal.
Bale almost notched an equaliser when he drove at Marshall from the edge of the area, but it turned out to be the last kick of the game as the Sky Blues earned a morale boosting victory.
4thegame
Ian Dowie celebrated his first match as Coventry manager with a vital win to steer his new club away from the relegation zone at the expense of promotion-hunting Southampton.
First-half goals from strike partners Dele Adebola and Kevin Kyle ensured Dowie's tenure as Sky Blues boss got off to a winning start.
Dowie's first decision was to install the injury-free Elliott Ward as captain instead of Robert Page who was missing with a knee problem.
The new manager had a perfect start when Coventry went in front in the fifth minute.
Andy Marshall's goal kick was expertly headed on by Kyle to Adebola and the striker lashed a powerful strike into the corner of the net from 15 yards.
The fourth-placed Saints put their hosts under pressure when Kenwyne Jones challenged Marshall in the air and when the ball dropped near the line, Colin Hawkins cleared the danger.
David McNamee was harshly shown a yellow card for fouling Jones 30 yards from goal and Gareth Bale stepped up to take the free-kick but the 17-year-old's strike took a deflection off the wall.
Southampton equalised from the resulting corner in the 13th minute. Bale swung the ball over from the right and Jones' header was headed off the line by Kyle. The ball came back into the box, and when Marshall fumbled the clearance, Marek Saganowski prodded in a close-range shot for his first goal for the club.
Coventry continued to attack and played with more energy and vision than in their recent poor spell which has seen the club win just one of their last 13 games.
And they were rewarded by re-taking the lead in the 29th minute. Michael Doyle's fantastic cross from the left fell perfectly to Kyle to arch a superb header over keeper Kelvin Davis.
Doyle started another fine move for the home team by teeing up Andy Whing and his right-wing centre was hit into the side-netting by Kyle.
The visitors responded when Bale released Jones and he went on a mazy run before unleashing a firm shot which was deflected wide.
George Burley made two substitutions at the start of the second half when he replaced Rudi Skacel and Pele with Djamel Belmadi and Alexander Ostlund.
Dowie was forced into a change eight minutes later when Isaac Osbourne came on for the injured McNamee.
Coventry were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and Stephen Hughes curled a low shot beyond the wall and the far post.
Southampton put the Sky Blues under increasing pressure with Bale proving a major threat. He first of all sent over a far post cross which Jones knocked just wide and the teenager then dispossessed Osbourne to unleash a shot which Marshall blocked.
The injured Jay Tabb was replaced by Leon McKenzie and the mis-firing Jones was substituted for leading scorer Grzegorz Rasiak with 12 minutes remaining but Southampton team were unable to prevent Dowie from experiencing that winning feeling just 36 hours after taking over at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry manager Iain Dowie said: "We have got to talk about the players because their commitment, their spirit and their togetherness was second to none.
"There were a few players out there that have not played a lot and they put in a huge effort against one of the top sides in the division.
"I have crammed a lot in during a day and a half. We had a training session this morning which I think surprised a few of them but the response has been terrific." Southampton manager George Burley said: "I think it was the normal scenario with a new manager and the crowd - it gives everybody a lift. It certainly did in the first half.
"We were very poor in the first half and I was disappointed with the manner in which we played.
"We gave a simple flick-on away after a few minutes and one ball into the box.
"I think Coventry hit the target twice and got two goals. In the first half we deserved nothing because we were poor.
"In the second half we picked it up and took the game to Coventry. We had some opportunities and Marshall made a couple of saves but the first half cost us."
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Stephen Hughes, Elliott Ward, David McNamee (Isaac Osbourne 53), Jay Tabb (Leon McKenzie 73), Marcus Hall, Colin Hawkins, Kevin Kyle (Michael Mifsud 81), Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle, Andrew Whing
Subs not used: Adam Virgo, Luke Steele
Booked: David McNamee 12, Kevin Kyle 48
Goals: Adebola 5, Kyle 30
Southampton: Jermaine Wright, Marek Saganowski, Gareth Bale, Claus Lundekvam, Pedro Miguel Pele (Alexander Ostlund 45), Rudolf Skacel (Djamel Belmadi 45), John Viafara, Andrew Surman, Kelvin Davis, Chris Baird, Kenwyne Jones (Grzegorz Rasiak 78)
Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Bradley Wright-Phillips
Booked: Alexander Ostlund 77
Goals: Saganowski 14
Attendance: 17194
Referee: N Miller
Teamtalk
Kevin Kyle's first-half header ensured new Coventry boss Iain Dowie enjoyed a winning start with a 2-1 win over Southampton at the Ricoh Arena.
City, who had picked up just five points from their last 11 games, put in a much-improved performance for their new boss, with Dele Adebola opening the scoring before Marek Saganowski squared things up.
Dowie's side kicked off with the unenviable record of just one win from their last 13 games, but eased some of the pressure within five minutes thanks to Adebola's fifth league goal of the season.
The City striker raced on to Kyle's flick header before sending the sweetest of strikes past Kelvin Davis, who could only look on as the ball flew in off his near post to give Dowie a dream start to his new job.
George Burley's side, who had lost just one of their last eight away games, were shocked into action and soon began to ask questions of a City defence which has looked vulnerable of late.
Wales international Gareth Bale soon had a chance to deliver one of his devastating trademark free-kicks but the City wall did its job, blocking the ball for a corner.
But Dowie's day was to soon turn sour as Southampton struck an equaliser.
Again it was Bale's wand of a left boot which did the damage, curling a corner in from the left which was initially cleared off the line by David McNamee.
Trinidad & Tobago frontman Kenwyne Jones managed to outmuscle flapping City keeper Andy Marshall to the ball before Polish striker Saganowski poked home his first for the club from close range.
The goal did little to deter the home side, with Kyle's driven cross from the left crying out for a finishing touch.
And soon after it was the Scot who restored the lead, muscling in front of his marker before planting a towering header over Davis from Michael Doyle's whipped cross on the half-hour mark.
In the second half, some impressive interplay from the silky Saints came close to unlocking the Sky Blues' backline but Andrew Whing was able to make a superb recovery tackle.
City had chances of their own, with Hughes inches away from a third with a measured free-kick narrowly sneaking the wrong side of the right post.
But Burley's boys had all the play down the left and it seemed only a matter of time before they forced an equaliser.
Jones somehow pulled his shot over from a yard out after the lively Bale had drilled the ball across the face of goal.
And Saints striker Saganowski almost scored seconds later after cutting in well from the left, but Davis was able to smother the shot.
The Saints' attempts to press for an equaliser left gaping holes in their defence. Substitute Leon McKenzie should have done better after breaking the offside trap, but his cross failed to find Michael Mifsud at the back post.
And with seconds of injury time remaining Marshall was forced into a super save to again deny Bale as City recorded their first home victory over Saints since 1999.
CCFC
The Iain Dowie era began in victory as the Sky Blues claimed a determined victory over high-flying Southampton.
Kevin Kyle grabbed the decisive strike in the 30th minute after Marek Saganowski cancelled out a sublime early strike from Dele Adebola.
The new boss, paraded to a rapturous applause before kick-off, made several changes to the side beaten at Leicester on Saturday, with Elliott Ward returning from injury and taking the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Robert Page.
Marcus Hall returned to the back-line with Andy Whing pushing into a more attacking wide right berth and Michael Doyle returned to partner Stephen Hughes at the centre of midfield.
Kevin Kyle was handed a chance to impress in attack after recovering from a broken hand and immediately set about repaying his new manager's faith.
With the game only five minutes old, the Scottish international flicked on a long ball forward to the feet of Adebola, who left Saints 'keeper Kelvin Davis stranded with an unstoppable volley which flew in off the left-hand post from just inside the area.
However, the visitors reply was instant and they could have equalised three minutes later when Colin Hawkins headed off the line from Kenwyne Jones.
But they did find the net in the 13th minute. City 'keeper Andy Marshall fumbled a Saints corner, with Kyle hacking desperately off the line, but Saganowski was on hand to scramble the ball home.
The home side were soon back in front, though, and this time the influential Kyle turned scorer, leaping above Pele before sending a looping header beyond Davis from a teasing Michael Doyle cross.
Kevin Kyle and Stephen Hughes
Hughes almost added a third shortly after the break with a low free-kick which skimmed narrowly wide of the target, while Jones should have levelled on the hour when he skewed high and wide from two yards out.
Marshall produced fine saves to deny Sagonowski and Gareth Bale as George Burley's promotion chasers attempted to engineer a way back into the game, but City held firm.
And as the Saints poured men forward, they left gaps at the back and they were nearly pounced upon late on when a last-gasp challenge from Bale denied substitute Michael Mifsud as the striker surged through on goal.
Bale almost notched an equaliser when he drove at Marshall from the edge of the area, but it turned out to be the last kick of the game as the Sky Blues earned a morale boosting victory.
4thegame
Ian Dowie celebrated his first match as Coventry manager with a vital win to steer his new club away from the relegation zone at the expense of promotion-hunting Southampton.
First-half goals from strike partners Dele Adebola and Kevin Kyle ensured Dowie's tenure as Sky Blues boss got off to a winning start.
Dowie's first decision was to install the injury-free Elliott Ward as captain instead of Robert Page who was missing with a knee problem.
The new manager had a perfect start when Coventry went in front in the fifth minute.
Andy Marshall's goal kick was expertly headed on by Kyle to Adebola and the striker lashed a powerful strike into the corner of the net from 15 yards.
The fourth-placed Saints put their hosts under pressure when Kenwyne Jones challenged Marshall in the air and when the ball dropped near the line, Colin Hawkins cleared the danger.
David McNamee was harshly shown a yellow card for fouling Jones 30 yards from goal and Gareth Bale stepped up to take the free-kick but the 17-year-old's strike took a deflection off the wall.
Southampton equalised from the resulting corner in the 13th minute. Bale swung the ball over from the right and Jones' header was headed off the line by Kyle. The ball came back into the box, and when Marshall fumbled the clearance, Marek Saganowski prodded in a close-range shot for his first goal for the club.
Coventry continued to attack and played with more energy and vision than in their recent poor spell which has seen the club win just one of their last 13 games.
And they were rewarded by re-taking the lead in the 29th minute. Michael Doyle's fantastic cross from the left fell perfectly to Kyle to arch a superb header over keeper Kelvin Davis.
Doyle started another fine move for the home team by teeing up Andy Whing and his right-wing centre was hit into the side-netting by Kyle.
The visitors responded when Bale released Jones and he went on a mazy run before unleashing a firm shot which was deflected wide.
George Burley made two substitutions at the start of the second half when he replaced Rudi Skacel and Pele with Djamel Belmadi and Alexander Ostlund.
Dowie was forced into a change eight minutes later when Isaac Osbourne came on for the injured McNamee.
Coventry were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and Stephen Hughes curled a low shot beyond the wall and the far post.
Southampton put the Sky Blues under increasing pressure with Bale proving a major threat. He first of all sent over a far post cross which Jones knocked just wide and the teenager then dispossessed Osbourne to unleash a shot which Marshall blocked.
The injured Jay Tabb was replaced by Leon McKenzie and the mis-firing Jones was substituted for leading scorer Grzegorz Rasiak with 12 minutes remaining but Southampton team were unable to prevent Dowie from experiencing that winning feeling just 36 hours after taking over at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry manager Iain Dowie said: "We have got to talk about the players because their commitment, their spirit and their togetherness was second to none.
"There were a few players out there that have not played a lot and they put in a huge effort against one of the top sides in the division.
"I have crammed a lot in during a day and a half. We had a training session this morning which I think surprised a few of them but the response has been terrific." Southampton manager George Burley said: "I think it was the normal scenario with a new manager and the crowd - it gives everybody a lift. It certainly did in the first half.
"We were very poor in the first half and I was disappointed with the manner in which we played.
"We gave a simple flick-on away after a few minutes and one ball into the box.
"I think Coventry hit the target twice and got two goals. In the first half we deserved nothing because we were poor.
"In the second half we picked it up and took the game to Coventry. We had some opportunities and Marshall made a couple of saves but the first half cost us."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 8:19 pm
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