Coventry 1 Colchester 0 - 27/10/2007
Coventry 1 Colchester 0 - 27/10/2007
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, David McNamee, Marcus Hall, Arjan De Zeeuw, Ben Turner, Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray (Jay Tabb 90), Michael Mifsud, Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 66), Kevin Kyle (Dele Adebola 60),
Subs not used: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Ellery Cairo
Booked: Isaac Osbourne 75, Kevin Kyle 47
Goals: Michael Mifsud 81
Colchester United: Aidan Davison, George Elokobi (Adam Virgo 87), Matthew Connolly, Pat Baldwin, Danny Granville (Kevin McLeod 56), Karl Duguid, Kemal Izzet, Johnnie Jackson, Mark Yeates, Clive Platt (Teddy Sheringham 60), Kevin Lisbie,
Subs not used: Dean Gerken, Kevin Watson
Booked: Pat Baldwin 53
Sent off: Teddy Sheringham 90
Attendance: 23431
Referee: R Lee
Teamtalk
Michael Mifsud rescued Coventry from yet another goalless day's work with his brilliant late strike sinking 10-man Colchester 1-0 at The Ricoh.
The Sky Blues' top scorer was the shining light in what was otherwise a desperate Championship performance by the administration-threatened club.
They were on course for a fourth game without a goal until manager Iain Dowie switched Mifsud from the right to a more central role and the move paid off in spectacular fashion with just eight minutes remaining.
Colchester's frustration boiled over in stoppage-time when substitute Teddy Sheringham was sent off for elbowing City skipper Michael Doyle.
Injury forced Dowie into changes, with defenders Arjan de Zeeuw and Marcus Hall both making their first starts for five weeks, while Leon Best was also drafted in.
Karl Duguid returned to captain Colchester after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.
After their recent struggles, Coventry must have been relieved to face a side with only one away win all season.
But Tuesday night's confidence-sapping 3-0 defeat to Watford appeared to have taken its toll as they toiled to break down the well-organised visitors.
Colchester had the first effort on goal, Kemi Izzet's long-range volley well over after two minutes.
At the other end, De Zeeuw flicked a header wide from Doyle's corner.
Mifsud was patently Coventry's most threatening outlet and he almost slid Best in behind.
It was turgid, aimless stuff at times although Colchester's Clive Platt, who turned 30 on Saturday, could have ended the malaise had he got more power on a glancing header.
United goalkeeper Aidan Davison almost embarrassed himself when he flapped at a Doyle free-kick but the mistake went unpunished.
The two sides boasted only one clean sheet in the league each this season so hope of a goal remained after half-time.
Kevin Kyle's yellow card for a striker's tackle on Duguid demonstrated the aggression Coventry had been lacking, even if it was misdirected.
But it was Colchester who looked more threatening early on, top scorer Mark Yeates heading Granville's cross over.
A raft of substitutions followed, including Kyle for Dele Adebola and Platt for Sheringham.
Another jinking Mifsud run ended with a weak left-foot finish as City upped the tempo considerably.
But it was substitute Robbie Simpson who so nearly broke the deadlock moments after coming on as his header from Doyle's corner was cleared off the line.
Simpson's arrival allowed Mifsud to play through the middle.
He began popping up all over the place and was flagged offside when through on goal.
Kevin Lisbie was then presented with what appeared a golden opportunity for Colchester but his close-range volley was somehow blocked by Andy Marshall.
But the only moment of genuine quality in the entire afternoon proved to be the winner as Mifsud took aim from 25 yards and his low strike flew in off the post.
The home side almost wrapped up the win when Adebola's left-foot strike was beaten out by Davison.
But Colchester offered little in the way of a response other than Sheringham's uncharacteristic loss of control.
CCFC
A late goal from top scorer Michael Mifsud gave the Sky Blues a morale boosting victory over Colchester at the Ricoh Arena.
The Maltese striker struck in the 82nd minute as Iain Dowie's men ended a stuttering October in the Championship on a high.
City dominated possession throughout but struggled to apply the finish to a number of chances until Mifsud struck from the edge of the area.
Veteran former England striker Teddy Sheringham was sent off in stoppage time for the visitors, who went closest when Kevin Lisbie was denied by Andy Marshall in the second-half.
Arjan de Zeeuw, one of three changes to the side which were beaten 3-0 by league leaders Watford in midweek, headed a Michael Doyle cross wide early on while Colchester goalkeeper Aidan Davison rushed out of his goal to save at the feet of Leon Best as City set about putting a disappointing week behind them from the outset.
A header from Clive Platt at the other end was well held by Andy Marshall before the home 'keeper was almost left red faced as a Danny Granville cross almost looped over him, but Marshall adjusted well to push the ball away from danger.
Julian Gray is challenge by Kem Izzet
The closest the Sky Blues came to breaking the deadlock arrived midway through the half when Davison lost the ball in the area and a goalmouth scramble ensued, but neither Best or Kevin Kyle could force the ball home.
A weak Mifsud shot which was comfortably gathered by Davison aside, action at either ends of the pitch was at a premium at the start of the second-half.
That was until the introduction of substitutes Dele Adebola and Robbie Simpson, with the latter seeing a goal-bound header from a Doyle corner hacked off the line by Kem Izzet.
Adebola then flashed a header over the bar before a dubious offside flag denied Mifsud when through on goal.
But Colchester almost snatched a goal with their first real effort of the second-half on 78 minutes when Lisbie found space to shoot in the area only for Marshall to spread himself well and block the striker's powerful drive at his near post.
The elusive opener finally arrived eight minutes from time though - and it went the way of the home side.
Mifsud picked up the ball 35-yards from goal and cleverly turned away from his man to open up space before unleashing a low shot past Davison which ricocheted off defender Pat Baldwin before finding the net via the inside of the post.
Good saves from Davison then kept out Adebola and Mifsud while JulianGray fired over as City finished strongly and the U's were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time when substitute Teddy Sheringham was given a straight red card for an elbow on Doyle.
City celebrate Michael Mifsud's late winner
4thegame
Michael Mifsud scored another valuable goal as Coventry City recorded only their second win in nine games.
The Malta international struck with just nine minutes left in very poor game.
There looked little on when Mifsud cut in from the right before letting fly with a shot which took a small deflection on its way past Aidan Davison.
The game ended in controversy when former England international Teddy Sheringham was red carded to directing an elbow aimed at Coventry skipper Michael Doyle.
Sky Blues boss Iain Dowie will have been pleased to see a match after a week of speculation that he may be on his way to Leicester City and endless takeover talks.
The Coventry manager made changes after the comprehensive midweek defeat at the hands of Watford, but again there was not noticeable reaction from his players as they struggled to really break Colchester down.
They had more of the ball but their play in the final third let them down all too often.
In fact it was the visitors - who started the day one point behind Coventry - that made the first impression when Kemal Izzet fired over the bar in only the second minute.
Coventry then began to get a grip on midfield and for a while forced Colchester back into their own half but without really making their superiority count.
George Elokobi was enjoying a battle royal with little Mifsud and, by and large, was handling the Malta international.
Colchester may have had less of the ball but carved out the best chance of the first half when, in the 19th minute Danny Granville beat Mifsud and crossed in for Clive Platt whose glancing header forced Andy Marshall into a save.
Granville then went closer when his floated cross threatened to float over the keeper and into the net.
Both managers made early changes but, while the urgency increased, the quality didn't.
Coventry did continue to press and were rewarded when Mifsud provided a much-needed flash of inspiration.
That opened the game up and a frantic final few minutes was capped by Sheringham's red mist moment.
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, David McNamee, Marcus Hall, Arjan De Zeeuw, Ben Turner, Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray (Jay Tabb 90), Michael Mifsud, Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 66), Kevin Kyle (Dele Adebola 60),
Subs not used: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Ellery Cairo
Booked: Isaac Osbourne 75, Kevin Kyle 47
Goals: Michael Mifsud 81
Colchester United: Aidan Davison, George Elokobi (Adam Virgo 87), Matthew Connolly, Pat Baldwin, Danny Granville (Kevin McLeod 56), Karl Duguid, Kemal Izzet, Johnnie Jackson, Mark Yeates, Clive Platt (Teddy Sheringham 60), Kevin Lisbie,
Subs not used: Dean Gerken, Kevin Watson
Booked: Pat Baldwin 53
Sent off: Teddy Sheringham 90
Attendance: 23431
Referee: R Lee
Teamtalk
Michael Mifsud rescued Coventry from yet another goalless day's work with his brilliant late strike sinking 10-man Colchester 1-0 at The Ricoh.
The Sky Blues' top scorer was the shining light in what was otherwise a desperate Championship performance by the administration-threatened club.
They were on course for a fourth game without a goal until manager Iain Dowie switched Mifsud from the right to a more central role and the move paid off in spectacular fashion with just eight minutes remaining.
Colchester's frustration boiled over in stoppage-time when substitute Teddy Sheringham was sent off for elbowing City skipper Michael Doyle.
Injury forced Dowie into changes, with defenders Arjan de Zeeuw and Marcus Hall both making their first starts for five weeks, while Leon Best was also drafted in.
Karl Duguid returned to captain Colchester after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.
After their recent struggles, Coventry must have been relieved to face a side with only one away win all season.
But Tuesday night's confidence-sapping 3-0 defeat to Watford appeared to have taken its toll as they toiled to break down the well-organised visitors.
Colchester had the first effort on goal, Kemi Izzet's long-range volley well over after two minutes.
At the other end, De Zeeuw flicked a header wide from Doyle's corner.
Mifsud was patently Coventry's most threatening outlet and he almost slid Best in behind.
It was turgid, aimless stuff at times although Colchester's Clive Platt, who turned 30 on Saturday, could have ended the malaise had he got more power on a glancing header.
United goalkeeper Aidan Davison almost embarrassed himself when he flapped at a Doyle free-kick but the mistake went unpunished.
The two sides boasted only one clean sheet in the league each this season so hope of a goal remained after half-time.
Kevin Kyle's yellow card for a striker's tackle on Duguid demonstrated the aggression Coventry had been lacking, even if it was misdirected.
But it was Colchester who looked more threatening early on, top scorer Mark Yeates heading Granville's cross over.
A raft of substitutions followed, including Kyle for Dele Adebola and Platt for Sheringham.
Another jinking Mifsud run ended with a weak left-foot finish as City upped the tempo considerably.
But it was substitute Robbie Simpson who so nearly broke the deadlock moments after coming on as his header from Doyle's corner was cleared off the line.
Simpson's arrival allowed Mifsud to play through the middle.
He began popping up all over the place and was flagged offside when through on goal.
Kevin Lisbie was then presented with what appeared a golden opportunity for Colchester but his close-range volley was somehow blocked by Andy Marshall.
But the only moment of genuine quality in the entire afternoon proved to be the winner as Mifsud took aim from 25 yards and his low strike flew in off the post.
The home side almost wrapped up the win when Adebola's left-foot strike was beaten out by Davison.
But Colchester offered little in the way of a response other than Sheringham's uncharacteristic loss of control.
CCFC
A late goal from top scorer Michael Mifsud gave the Sky Blues a morale boosting victory over Colchester at the Ricoh Arena.
The Maltese striker struck in the 82nd minute as Iain Dowie's men ended a stuttering October in the Championship on a high.
City dominated possession throughout but struggled to apply the finish to a number of chances until Mifsud struck from the edge of the area.
Veteran former England striker Teddy Sheringham was sent off in stoppage time for the visitors, who went closest when Kevin Lisbie was denied by Andy Marshall in the second-half.
Arjan de Zeeuw, one of three changes to the side which were beaten 3-0 by league leaders Watford in midweek, headed a Michael Doyle cross wide early on while Colchester goalkeeper Aidan Davison rushed out of his goal to save at the feet of Leon Best as City set about putting a disappointing week behind them from the outset.
A header from Clive Platt at the other end was well held by Andy Marshall before the home 'keeper was almost left red faced as a Danny Granville cross almost looped over him, but Marshall adjusted well to push the ball away from danger.
Julian Gray is challenge by Kem Izzet
The closest the Sky Blues came to breaking the deadlock arrived midway through the half when Davison lost the ball in the area and a goalmouth scramble ensued, but neither Best or Kevin Kyle could force the ball home.
A weak Mifsud shot which was comfortably gathered by Davison aside, action at either ends of the pitch was at a premium at the start of the second-half.
That was until the introduction of substitutes Dele Adebola and Robbie Simpson, with the latter seeing a goal-bound header from a Doyle corner hacked off the line by Kem Izzet.
Adebola then flashed a header over the bar before a dubious offside flag denied Mifsud when through on goal.
But Colchester almost snatched a goal with their first real effort of the second-half on 78 minutes when Lisbie found space to shoot in the area only for Marshall to spread himself well and block the striker's powerful drive at his near post.
The elusive opener finally arrived eight minutes from time though - and it went the way of the home side.
Mifsud picked up the ball 35-yards from goal and cleverly turned away from his man to open up space before unleashing a low shot past Davison which ricocheted off defender Pat Baldwin before finding the net via the inside of the post.
Good saves from Davison then kept out Adebola and Mifsud while JulianGray fired over as City finished strongly and the U's were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time when substitute Teddy Sheringham was given a straight red card for an elbow on Doyle.
City celebrate Michael Mifsud's late winner
4thegame
Michael Mifsud scored another valuable goal as Coventry City recorded only their second win in nine games.
The Malta international struck with just nine minutes left in very poor game.
There looked little on when Mifsud cut in from the right before letting fly with a shot which took a small deflection on its way past Aidan Davison.
The game ended in controversy when former England international Teddy Sheringham was red carded to directing an elbow aimed at Coventry skipper Michael Doyle.
Sky Blues boss Iain Dowie will have been pleased to see a match after a week of speculation that he may be on his way to Leicester City and endless takeover talks.
The Coventry manager made changes after the comprehensive midweek defeat at the hands of Watford, but again there was not noticeable reaction from his players as they struggled to really break Colchester down.
They had more of the ball but their play in the final third let them down all too often.
In fact it was the visitors - who started the day one point behind Coventry - that made the first impression when Kemal Izzet fired over the bar in only the second minute.
Coventry then began to get a grip on midfield and for a while forced Colchester back into their own half but without really making their superiority count.
George Elokobi was enjoying a battle royal with little Mifsud and, by and large, was handling the Malta international.
Colchester may have had less of the ball but carved out the best chance of the first half when, in the 19th minute Danny Granville beat Mifsud and crossed in for Clive Platt whose glancing header forced Andy Marshall into a save.
Granville then went closer when his floated cross threatened to float over the keeper and into the net.
Both managers made early changes but, while the urgency increased, the quality didn't.
Coventry did continue to press and were rewarded when Mifsud provided a much-needed flash of inspiration.
That opened the game up and a frantic final few minutes was capped by Sheringham's red mist moment.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:23 pm
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