Coventry 1 Scunthorpe 1 - 27/11/2007

Coventry 1 Scunthorpe 1 - 27/11/2007
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Stephen Hughes (Michael Hughes 79), Jay Tabb (Ellery Cairo 71), Michael Doyle, Julian Gray, Dele Adebola, Leon McKenzie (Wayne Andrews 75),
Subs not used: Isaac Osbourne, Gary Borrowdale
Booked: Michael Hughes 86
Goals: Michael Doyle (p) 51

Scunthorpe United: Joe Murphy, Kelly Youga, Shaleum Logan (Cleveland Taylor 45), Andy Butler, Andrew Crosby, Marcus Williams, Jack Cork, Kevan Hurst (Josh Lillis 49), Jim Goodwin (Martin Paterson 90), Paul Hayes, Jonathan Forte,
Subs not used: Ian Baraclough, Tomi Ameobi
Booked: Josh Lillis 90, Kelly Youga 82
Sent off: Kelly Youga 84, Joe Murphy 49
Goals: Jack Cork 68

Attendance: 14036
Referee: M Jones

Teamtalk
The first-ever league meeting between Coventry and Scunthorpe ended in a 1-1 draw following a controversial clash at the Ricoh Arena.

City captain Michael Doyle kept his cool to open the scoring from the penalty spot at the start of the second half before Jack Cork, son of former Sky Blues assistant boss Alan, earned nine-man Scunthorpe a share of the points with a well-taken goal in the 68th minute on Tuesday night.

Referee Michael Jones was the game's main talking point. The Cheshire official awarded Coventry a first-half penalty, before changing his mind. He then sent off Scunthorpe pair Joe Murphy and Kelly Youga after the break.

Coventry enjoyed the better of the early exchanges without really troubling visiting goalkeeper Murphy.

Doyle curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box, before Leon McKenzie wasted a glorious chance to break the deadlock when he headed Julian Gray's pin-point cross over the bar from 10 yards out.

Jones' first controversial moment came on the half-hour when he pointed to the penalty spot following a clumsy challenge by Youga on Tabb.

However, after consulting with the assistant referee, Jones changed his mind and instead awarded a free-kick on the left-hand edge of the box.

David McNamee took it and flashed a low shot just past the far post.

Coventry broke the deadlock, after Jay Tabb was put clear by McKenzie.

As the Irishman tried to round Murphy, he was brought down by his compatriot.

The referee quickly produced a red card, thinking Murphy had prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Kevan Hurst was sacrificed as Nigel Adkins brought on substitute goalkeeper Josh Lillis, whose first task was to pick the ball out of his net after Doyle clinically dispatched the penalty.

Jim Goodwin was desperately unlucky not to bring Scunthorpe level when he curled a 25-yard free-kick against the bar.

His effort bounced down a yard in front of the line, and the danger was cleared by Dimi Konstantopolous.

Scunthorpe were level midway through the second half when Cort showed good close control inside the box, before he fired a low shot home from 12-yards.

Youga was sent off for his second clumsy misdemeanour of the game in the 84th minute.

The on-loan Charlton defender tangled with substitute Ellery Cairo on the edge of the box and was shown a second yellow card.

Dele Adebola could have won it for Coventry in injury time but headed wide at the far post.

CCFC
The Sky Blues endured a frustrating evening as nine-man Scunthorpe held on for a point at the Ricoh Arena.

Skipper Michael Doyle put the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after Iron goalkeeper Joe Murphy was sent-off for bringing down Jay Tabb in the area.

But Scunthorpe levelled when Jack Cork converted a Marcus Williams cross and despite a late red card to defender Kelly Youga, City failed to find the elusive winner.

City boss Iain Dowie made three changes to the side beaten at Norwich four days earlier.

Leon McKenzie replaced the injured Kevin Kyle in attack while Isaac Osbourne made way for Julian Gray as Dowie reverted to a conventional 4-4-2 formation.

Arjan De Zeeuw was rested for the clash, so Elliott Ward also returned at the heart of the defence.

McKenzie fired straight at Murphy before the 'keeper did well to hold an acrobatic over-head-kick from Marcus Hall as the Sky Blues began brightly.

A great sliding challenge from Ben Turner then denied Paul Hayes after skilful play from Jonathan Forte created an opening for the visitors before Doyle shaved the post with a shot from the edge of the area.

City thought they been awarded a penalty in the 29th minute when referee Mick Jones pointed to the spot after Youga sent Jay Tabb tumbling.

However, after consulting his linesman, Jones ruled the offence had been committed outside the box and David McNamee fired the resultant free-kick narrowly wide of the far post.

But Jones was in no doubt when he again pointed to the spot in City's favour three minutes after the break.

McKenzie sent Tabb through on goal and Murphy sent the midfielder sprawling as he looked to go round the stranded 'keeper.

Jones immediately reached for his top pocket and showed Murphy an inevitable red card.

Doyle stepped-up to take the penalty and sent Scunthorpe substitute Josh Lillis the wrong way for his third goal of the campaign.

The home side's lead was almost short-lived, though, as Jim Goodwin's superb free-kick cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar with Konstantopoulos beaten.

Gray then skewed wide of the target after good link-up play between Doyle and Tabb found the winger in the area before Dele Adebola shot tamely at Lillis.

But the visitors did find an equaliser in the 68th minute when Williams crossed from the left and on-loan Chelsea man Cork, son of former City assistant boss Alan, stabbed home from close-range.

Boss Dowie introduced substitutes Ellery Cairo, Wayne Andrews and Michael Hughes in hope of freshening up the Sky Blues attack.

And the move almost paid dividends with 12 minutes left when Andrews failed to make a firm connection Cairo's teasing cross from the left before Scunthorpe were reduced to nine-men when Youga was dismissed for two bookings in quick succession.

That made for a tense finish, but despite heavy late pressure City failed to take capitalise on their numerical advantage as Andrews, Hall and Adebola all squandered late chances to score.

4thegame
Play-off chasing Coventry were forced to settle for a point as nine-man Scunthorpe United earned a battling draw.

Michael Doyle's third goal of the season powered the Sky Blues in front after keeper Joe Murphy was dismissed for bringing down Jay Tabb.

But the determined visitors fought back to equalise through Jack Cork - the son of former Coventry reserve team manager Alan Cork.

Coventry dominated possession in the first half without failing to make their chances count against a team who had lost their last three matches.

In an excellent move, Scunthorpe right-back Kelly Youga was unable to prevent Stephen Hughes' fine pass reaching Julian Gray.

The midfielder took the ball to the byline before sending over a cross which Leon McKenzie headed over the bar.

The talking point of the first half arrived in the 31st minute when referee Mike Jones awarded the Sky Blues a penalty - only to change his mind.

The Cheshire official pointed to the spot after Tabb appeared to be fouled inside the box by Youga, but after talking to his linesman, Jones awarded Coventry a free-kick on the edge of the box and McNamee sent the chance flying past the far post.

But Jones didn't change his mind a second time in the 51st minute.

Tabb outpaced centre-half Andy Butler after latching onto McKenzie's pass and, as he rounded the keeper, the midfielder was hauled down by Murphy.

The keeper was shown a red card and there were no heroics from substitute keeper Josh Lillis, who was emphatically beaten from the spot by Doyle.

In front of the lowest ever league crowd at the Ricoh Arena, the Iron nearly equalised in the 58th minute when Jim Goodwin's 20-yard free-kick rattled the bar.

Nigel Adkins' men drew level ten minutes later when Marcus Williams' cross from the left was thumped home by Cork from inside the box.

Scunthorpe were reduced to nine men in the 83rd minute when Youga was sent off for picking up his second yellow card in two minutes after being penalised for persistent fouling and then for dragging back substitute Ellery Cairo.

Norwich 2 Coventry 0 - 24/11/2007

Norwich 2 Coventry 0 - 24/11/2007

Norwich City: David Marshall, Martin Taylor, Jon Otsemobor, Jason Shackell, Mo Camara, Mark Fotheringham, Matty Pattison, Luke Chadwick (Lee Croft 73), Darel Russell, Dion Dublin (Chris Brown 89), Jamie Cureton,
Subs not used: Steven Arnold, Gary Doherty, Ched Evans
Booked: Matty Pattison 55
Goals: Luke Chadwick 34, Jamie Cureton 77

Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Arjan De Zeeuw, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Isaac Osbourne (Julian Gray 75), Jay Tabb, Michael Doyle, Stephen Hughes (Wayne Andrews 65), Dele Adebola, Kevin Kyle (Ellery Cairo 53),
Subs not used: Elliott Ward, Andy Marshall

Attendance: 24590
Referee: A D'Urso

Teamtalk
Luke Chadwick and Jamie Cureton netted in each half to earn manager Glenn Roeder his first win as Norwich beat Coventry 2-0.

Matty Pattison, making his debut after signing on loan from Roeder's former club Newcastle, was the architect of both goals as Norwich ended their 11-match winless run.

Chadwick netted his first goal of the season 11 minutes prior to the interval when tucking in a left-wing cross from Pattison.

And 13 minutes from time Pattison crossed for Cureton who converted with a right-footed shot from six yards.

Mark Fortheringham and Chadwick returned for the Canaries following injuries, while Dion Dublin was named up front following a back problem to face one of his former clubs.

On-loan Birmingham defender Martin Taylor was fit enough to start following a groin strain, with Pattison and Mo Camara, signed from Derby, going straight into the starting XI.

Coventry were without top scorer Michael Mifsud, who was suspended, and fellow striker Leon Best, who had a thigh injury so Kevin Kyle and Dele Adebola started up front.

Norwich, five points adrift at the bottom at the start of the day, were playing a Coventry side who were lingering outside the play-off places and struggled to deal with the physical threat of visiting strikers Kyle and Adebola early on.

Adebola headed wide following Michael Doyle's free-kick before Darel Russell shot straight at Dimi Konstantopoulos from 25 yards at the other end.

Kyle headed over from Doyle's corner as Coventry continued to threaten from set-pieces.

The striker then met Marcus Hall's cross but could not find the target.

Russell headed wide from Jon Otsemobor's cross for Norwich and Hall sliced wide at the other end.

But then Pattison found Chadwick to put Norwich ahead after 34 minutes.

Kyle headed wide for Adebola's cross moments after the restart as Coventry attempted to assert their aerial dominance.

The Scotland international was forced off through injury in the eighth minute of the second period to be replaced by Ellery Cairo.

David Marshall then saved comfortably from Adebola's header before Chadwick and Cureton each had shots blocked for Norwich.

Cairo crossed for fellow substitute Wayne Andrews but the striker could not find the target as Norwich continued to frustrate their visitors.

Cureton shot wide from the edge of the box as the Canaries tried to add to their tally.

Pattison then created the second for Cureton, the Championship's top scorer last season, to notch his sixth of the campaign.

Substitute Julian Gray shot wide for Coventry before Pattison forced Konstantopoulos to tip over.

The former Hartlepool stopper then denied Cureton and Marshall was at full stretch to keep Gray out in stoppage time as Norwich held on.

CCFC
City suffered their second league defeat in succession as bottom of the table Norwich grabbed all three points at Carrow Road.

Goals either side of half-time from Luke Chadwick and Jamie Cureton did the damage to earn new manager Glenn Roeder a first win in charge of the Canaries.

The Sky Blues, without strikers Michael Mifsud and Leon Best through suspension and injury respectively, turned in a workmanlike display but despite late efforts from substitutes Wayne Andrews and Julian Gray, never really tested home goalkeeper David Marshall.

David McNamee and Kevin Kyle returned to Iain Dowie's side and Dele Adebola glanced a header wide from a teasing Michael Doyle free-kick early on.

But the home side enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and City goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos got down well to hold Darel Russell's daisy cutter in the sixth minute before reacting quickly to cut out Russell's dangerous cross as striker Jamie Cureton lurked nearby.

Norwich thought they'd scored on the half-hour when Konstantopoulos failed to hold Matty Pattison's free-kick and Russell's volley across goal hit Deon Dublin on the back and bounced into the net.

But the former Sky Blues ace, who had his back to goal as the ball struck him, was stood in an offside position.

However, the Canaries were not to be denied minutes later as Chadwick steered a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box following a quick breakaway which came after City made a mess of a free-kick at the other end of the pitch.

Adebola went closest to an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when his back-post header was comfortably saved by Marshall.

The City striker then crossed for Kevin Kyle to head wide shortly after the break before Kyle was replaced by Ellery Cairo after limping from the field with an injury.

Norwich then had a decent shout for a penalty denied by referee Andy D'Urso when Jon Otsemobor's cross appeared to hit the arm of Ben Turner.

The introduction of Wayne Andrews just after the hour mark injected a much needed pace into the Sky Blues' attack and the former Crystal Palace man went close in the 67th minute when his header from a Cairo cross flashed wide of the far post.

But Norwich continued to edge possession with Cureton firing wide before a powerful header from Dublin flew narrowly over.

And they got their reward in the 77th minute when another quick counter-attack resulted in Pattison crossing for Cureton to apply the finish at the back-post.

Andrews should have grabbed a consolation with six minutes left to play when he beat Marshall to a loose back-pass only for the 'keeper to recover in time to block the striker's shot.

Substitute Julian Gray went even closer in stoppage-time when his ambitious curler took Marshall by surprise and hit the outside of the post.

But it was not to be for Iain Dowie's men, who will go into a midweek clash against Scunthorpe at the Ricoh Arena looking for a much improved display.

4thegame
Norwich City earned their first win under Glenn Roeder as the new manager's loan signings played a full part in the proceedings.

Matty Pattison was the provider for goals scored by Luke Chadwick and Jamie Cureton.

The visitors kicked off attacking the River End goal and soon showed why they have had such a good away record.

They looked solid in defence and dangerous on the break with Dele Adebola causing problems with his physical presence.

Norwich did have the ball in the net after 26 minutes but an offside flag cut short the celebrations as the ball entered the net via Dion Dublin's back.

However, Norwich did take the lead in the 34th minute and it was Pattison's low cross from the left, touched on by Dublin to Chadwick, and his first-time left-foot shot beat the keeper low to his right from 12 yards.

David Marshall saved Adebola's header on the stroke of half-time to ensure that Norwich went in with a rare first-half lead.

Eight minutes after the break, Kevin Kyle limped off to be replaced by Ellery Cairo.

Ben Turner got away with a blatant hand ball when he blocked Jon Otsemobor's cross with Andy D'Urso failing to spot the offence and award a penalty.

That seemed to raise the tempo of the game and both Chadwick and Cureton had goal-bound efforts blocked inside the Coventry penalty area.

Wayne Andrews came on from Stephen Hughes and went close to scoring with a glancing header.

At the other end, Cureton fired wide before Chadwick made way for Lee Croft.

Dublin's header flashed wide, but a second goal came for Norwich in the 77th minute.

Croft found Pattison on the left and his low cross was blasted home by Cureton from close range at the far post.

Marshall then did well to keep out Andrews' shot and Dimitrios Konstantopoulos saved from Cureton.

As the visitors forced a string of corners, Marshall saved Cairo's header and an angled drive from late substitute Julian Gray, ensuring that at long last the Canary fans were able to celebrate.

Coventry 0 West Brom 4 - 12/11/2007

Coventry 0 West Brom 4 - 12/11/2007

Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Marcus Hall, Ben Turner, Arjan De Zeeuw, Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle, Stephen Hughes, Leon Best (Kevin Kyle 45), Dele Adebola (Leon McKenzie 80), Michael Mifsud
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Ellery Cairo, Elliott Ward
Sent off: Michael Misfud 11

West Brom: Dean Kiely, Bostjan Cesar, Carl Hoefkens, Leon Barnett, Paul Robinson, Robert Koren, James Morrison (Chris Brunt 37), Jonathan Greening, Felipe Teixeira, Ishmael Miller (Roman Bednar 77), Zoltan Gera
Subs not used: Jared Hodgkiss, Pedro Miguel Pele, Luke Steele
Booked: Bostjan Cesar 27, Robert Koren 90, Carl Hoefkens 68
Goals: Paul Robinson 56, Felipe Teixeira 58,73, Robert Koren 90

Attendance: 18566
Referee: P Dowd

Teamtalk
A superb second-half display by West Brom saw them return to second in the Championship with a 4-0 win over 10-man Coventry at the Ricoh Arena.

Albion moved to within six points of leaders Watford thanks to Paul Robinson's first goal of the season, a brace from Filipe Teixeira and a late strike by Robert Koren.

All the goals came after the break as the Baggies pressed home their numerical advantage to devastating effect following Michael Mifsud's red card early in the game.

The Sky Blues' 11-goal top scorer was sent off after only 10 minutes following a clash with Albion right-back Carl Hoefkens.

Malta international Mifsud led with his right arm while challenging for a high ball and appeared to catch Hoefkens in the face, earning a straight red card from Phil Dowd.

In a first half of few chances, the visitors were the first to threaten through Ishmael Miller after two minutes.

The on-loan Manchester City forward collected the ball just inside the Coventry half on the right before embarking on a powerful run towards goal.

But, hampered by the physical presence of Ben Turner, he dragged his shot wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Mifsud was then shown a red card and that incident sparked a series of full-blooded challenges from both sides.

Stephen Hughes was given a verbal warning by Dowd after a high challenge on Jonathan Greening before Jay Tabb mistimed a tackle on Zoltan Gera.

Baggies defender Bostjan Cesar earned a yellow card in the 27th minute after he stopped Tabb's run by chopping down the diminutive midfielder.

A last-ditch interception by Hoefkens denied Leon Best a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the 39th minute in what would prove to be the hosts only real chance.

Teixeira came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when he forced Dimi Konstantopoulos into the only save of the first half.

The Frenchman's curling 20-yard shot looked destined for the top corner but Konstantopoulos flicked the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips.

However, West Brom broke the deadlock in the 57th-minute through Robinson and Gera was the architect. Robinson, who scored the winning goal in the corresponding fixture last season, was the bane of Coventry again as he latched on to the Hungarian's through pass before calmly lifting the ball over the advancing Konstantopoulos.

Albion had doubled their lead a minute later. A powerful run down the left by Miller saw the ball break to Teixeira, who capitalised on some hesitant defending to score from inside the six-yard box.

Robinson went close again before Albion captain Greening almost powered a left-foot shot into the top corner from 25-yards out.

The Baggies grabbed their third goal in the 73rd minute after a superb piece of trickery from Teixeira.

The Frenchman turned one way and then the other inside the Coventry area before he beat Konstantopoulos with a low shot.

That was the cue for the home fans to head for the exits.

Koren completed the rout when he found the net from close-range in the final minute.

CCFC
The Sky Blues suffered their first league defeat in four matches as West Brom grabbed all three points from a clash that wasn't without controversy at the Ricoh Arena.

Striker Michael Mifsud was sent-off before a brace from Filipe Teixeira either side of strikes from Paul Robinson and Robert Koren sank Iain Dowie's men.

The game was just eleven minutes old when Mifsud was given his marching orders by referee Phil Dowd after appearing to elbow Baggies defender Carl Hoefkens in the face as he chased after the ball.

Dowd seemed initially unsure but after consulting the fourth official deemed the challenge from the Maltese hit-man was worthy of a straight red card.

The home players and support were both reeling from the decision and Stephen Hughes saw a long-range shot deflect behind before Dele Adebola sent a glancing header from the resultant corner narrowly wide as City immediately set about cancelling out what they felt was an injustice.

Midfielder Hughes, the solitary change to the side which claimed a dramatic late 2-1 win at QPR six days before, again sported the specially designed mask to protect a broken cheekbone - but it lasted just less than half an hour as the fired-up star threw the mask off the pitch in frustration.

The Baggies were also forced to reshuffle in the in the 37th minute when midfielder James Morrison was forced to leave the action on a stretcher after falling awkwardly while stretching for the ball.

A last-ditch tackle from Hoefkens then foiled Leon Best as the City striker bore down on goal, while at the other end Dimi Konstantopoulos was alert to claw a goal-bound effort from Filipe Teixeira over the bar.

Jay Tabb in possession or the Sky Blues against West Brom

The visitors threw men forward at the start of the second-half as they looked to make their extra man count but only a weak shot from Ishmael Miller tested Konstantopoulos.

City skipper Michael Doyle then fired a speculative volley from the edge of the area wide before a quick counter attack from the Baggies resulted in the elusive opener.

Full-back Paul Robinson, the scorer of the goal in West Brom's 1-0 win at the Ricoh Arena last season, found himself in behind the Sky Blues back-line and confidently slipped the ball over a stranded Konstantopoulos with his left-foot.

And the home defence was caught napping again little more than a minute later as Tony Mowbray's men doubled their advantage.

Ben Turner and Arjan de Zeeuw allowed a seemingly harmless cross from substitute Chris Brunt to trickle across the face of goal and Teixeira nipped in to steer the ball into the net from four-yards.

A fierce Jonathan Greening shot from 25-yards flew narrowly wide of Konstantopoulos' left upright before Miller drove the ball into the side-netting after cutting inside from the right flank.

The Baggies were dominating and put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd minute when Teixeira latched onto a pass from Hoefkens in the area and found space to drill a right-footed strike into the bottom corner.

Leon McKenzie replaced a tiring Adebola with ten minutes remaining and injected some life into the City attack but West Brom continued to pose more of a threat in front goal and they added a fourth in stoppage time when Robert Koren tapped into an open goal after good work from the influential Teixeira.

4thegame
West Bromwich Albion made the most of a man advantage to move back up to second in the Championship.

Tony Mowbray's side netted four second-half goals as Coventry City, who were reduced to ten men when Michael Mifsud was send off in the 11th minute, ran out of steam.

Mifsud could have little defence. He jumped at Carl Hoefkens, led with the elbow and clearly caught the Belgium defender on the side of the head.

What happened after was not quite so clear. Referee Steve Dowd took his time to pull the player to one side and then proceeded to walk 30 metres to confer with the fourth official.

Then, and only then, did he flourish the red card leaving Coventry with 80 minutes to keep Albion at bay.

But it was a task they accomplished very easily for the rest of a tetchy first half. Stephen Hughes, clearly with the bit between his teeth, was looking strong in midfield and he fired wide after 16 minutes.

The game was still suffering a hangover from the Mifud incident and Jonathan Greening was lucky to escape a booking for a rough challenge on Jay Tabb.

Albion at last sprung into life and home keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos had to make a fine save to deny Filipe Teixeira, who turned well on the edge of the area to beat Marcus Hall.

Iain Dowie made a change at half-time by bringing on Kevin Kyle for the ineffectual Leon Best.

The target man made a difference when he flicked on well for Michael Doyle who fired just over the bar.

But it all went wrong 11 minutes after the break when Paul Robinson, moving forward from full-back, reached the ball just in time to lift it over the keeper and into the net.

Suddenly things turned and just two minutes later Teixeira all but won the game when he reacted to some indecision at the heart of the Coventry defence.

From then on Albion were dominant and could easily have doubled their score. Robinson lifted a shot just over the bar and Ishmael Miller hit the sidenetting sending the visiting fans into temporary ecstasy.

It was left to Teixeira to add a third and put Albion second, when, with 19 minutes left, he twisted then turned to find space to direct in a low shot.

The Portuguese midfielder then turned provider right at the death to gift wrap a goal for Robert Koren.

QPR 1 Coventry 2 - 06/11/2007

QPR 1 Coventry 2 - 06/11/2007

Queens Park Rangers: Lee Camp, Michael Mancienne, Damion Stewart, Chris Barker, Martin Cranie (Sampsa Timoska 20), Akos Buzsaky, Mikele Leigertwood (Adam Bolder 39), Martin Rowlands, Scott Sinclair, Mark Nygaard (Daniel

Nardiello 44), Rowan Vine,
Subs not used: Gareth Ainsworth, Jake Cole
Goals: Akos Buzsaky 50

Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Marcus Hall, David McNamee (Stephen Hughes 90), Ben Turner, Arjan De Zeeuw, Isaac Osbourne, Jay Tabb, Michael Doyle, Leon Best (Kevin Kyle 75), Dele Adebola, Michael Mifsud,
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Elliott Ward, Ellery Cairo
Goals: Michael Mifsud 61, Kevin Kyle 90

Attendance: 11922
Referee: T Bates

Teamtalk
Michael Mifsud and Kevin Kyle proved money is not everything by earning Coventry a dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory at QPR.

New Rangers manager Luigi De Canio looked to be on his way to his second win in charge when his first signing, Akos Buzsaky, thumped the hosts into the lead shortly after half-time.

But cash-strapped City, who are banned from making any transfers, hit back on the hour when Mifsud, the man known as the 'Mosquito', swooped to register his 11th goal of the season.

And substitute Kyle struck in stoppage time with a bullet header to secure a third straight Championship win for Iain Dowie's troubled side.

Loftus Road is buzzing with the promise of better times at the moment, with Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone ploughing in funds and bringing a touch of Italian style into the dugout with last week's appointment of De Canio.

The contrast with Coventry could not be sharper, with the threat of administration looming over a club around £30million in the red and hit by a transfer embargo.

Their manager, Dowie, continues to be linked with better offers but he had at least halted a recent slide with successive wins lifting the Sky Blues to the brink of the play-off places.

Victory keeps them on the coat-tails of the promotion chasers, while Rangers lost their first game in six to bring their revival to a halt.

Dowie, a former Rangers player and briefly manager, sent out an attacking line-up and Mifsud almost caught them napping in the opening stages, only for Martin Cranie to block his run on goal.

Leon Best then sprung the offside trap and Michael Mancienne was forced to clear his low cross with Mifsud lurking.

Rangers were dealt a blow in the 20th minute when on-loan Portsmouth defender Cranie injured himself in a tackle and had to be replaced by Sampsa Timoska.

Dele Adebola, looking to take advantage of the hosts' reshuffle, teed up Mifsud who fired just wide from the edge of the area.

Lee Camp saved well from Adebola, who also planted a header straight at the Rangers keeper.

Rangers pair Mikele Leigertwood and Marc Nygaard also succumbed to injuries, with Adam Bolder and Danny Nardiello joining the action as De Canio used all three substitutes in the first half.

For Rangers, only on-loan Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair, making his debut, threatened before the break, first with a mazy run and cross and then an angled drive which did not trouble Dimi Konstantopoulos.

The hosts put their laboured first-half display behind them just five minutes after half-time when Buzsaky collected the ball on the edge of the area, set himself and smashed a swerving shot across Konstantopoulos and into the left-hand corner.

But they were pegged back on the hour when Mifsud rounded Camp with Rangers looking for an offside flag.

Timoska slid in to try to block the diminutive striker's angled shot but could only help the ball into an unguarded net.

Camp had to be on his toes to deny Mifsud once more as the Maltese livewire raced clear, while at the other end Damion Stewart headed narrowly wide late on.

But in the first minute of stoppage time Marcus Hall crossed to the far post where Kyle rose to head the winner.

CCFC
Michael Mifsud netted his 11th goal of the campaign this evening - but it was Kevin Kyle who stole the headlines at the death as Coventry City beat QPR 2-1.

Coventry had gone behind early in the second half through an effort from Akos Buzsaky, but Mifsud was again on the mark as Coventry deservedly earned something from their trip to Loftus Road.

However, it was substitute Kyle who stole the headlines in stoppage time - the striker heading past Lee Camp to nick all three points at the death.

Iain Dowie was forced to make one change from the side which beat Stoke City 3-1 at the weekend.

Robbie Simpson was unavailable after picking up a hamstring problem against the Potters, so Dele Adebola - so effective as a substitute at the Britannia Stadium - came into the starting eleven.

For QPR, Rowan Vine was in the team after extending his loan spell at Loftus Road, while there was also a place for new loan signing Scott Sinclair.

In an opening period where both sides jostled for position, the Sky Blues created the opening opportunity on 13 minutes, when Leon Best crossed from the left and Michael Mancienne was forced to put behind his own goal.

For the home side, Sampsa Timoska came on for the injured Martin Cranie with 19 gone, before the visitors threatened again when Michael Mifsud shot wide of the left upright three minutes later.

At the other end, QPR were creating their own chance and new boy Sinclair showed his Premiership pedigree as his feet bamboozled the Coventry defence before his cross cum shot sailed wide of the far post.

On 29 minutes, former Derby County goalkeeper Camp was forced into action with a save at the near post from Adebola, before Arjan de Zeeuw flicked over from a Sky Blues corner three minutes later.

De Canio wasn't having the best of luck with injuries, with Adam Bolder replacing Mikele Leigertwood with 37 on the clock.

Sinclair forced Konstantopoulos into a save at his near post three minutes before the break, while QPR were forced into their third change of the half moments later, with Daniel Nardiello replacing Marc Nygaard.

Though they had looked comfortable in the first half, the Sky Blues found themselves behind five minutes after the restart. Buzsaky, signed just last week for Rangers, picked up the ball on the edge of the box and the Hungarian made no mistake as he finished

over the head of Konstantopoulos.

Adebola lifted his shot over the crossbar as he tried to pull one back on 57 minutes, but Coventry did make the breakthrough on the hour. Again it was the man Mifsud who got the goal - and although Timoska tried to keep it out, the Maltese's low shot was

enough to put the Sky Blues back on level terms.

Kevin Kyle replaced Leon Best on 74 minutes and Mifsud almost got another three minutes from time, only to see his shot smothered by Camp.

However, the Sky Blues would have the final word - with Kyle's header sealing the win for the Sky Blues.

4thegame
Iain Dowie returned to his former stamping ground and left with all three points after Kevin Kyle's late header secured Coventry a 2-1 victory over QPR at Loftus Road.

Dowie spent three years as a player at Loftus Road - as well as a short spell as caretaker manager - and victory will have tasted particularly sweet after his side came from behind late on with Michael Mifsud equalising Akos Buzsaky's stunning opener.

The visitors were the brighter earlier on as they left a Rangers side, who had only conceded one goal in their past five games, chasing shadows.

Their luck soon ran out though as their starting line-up was decimated by injury as first Martin Cranie, then Mikele Leigertwood and finally Marc Nygaard were all forced off through injury before half-time.

However, QPR were stung into action and less than five minutes after the interval Luigi De Canio's men took the lead through a superb strike from Buzsaky.

The Hungarian is on loan from Plymouth with a view to a permanent move and after this goal they should snap him up immediately.

Controlling a loose ball 25 yards out, Buzsaky shrugged off two challenges, strode forward a couple of paces and launched a rocket into the top corner.

But the lead only lasted ten minutes as Mifsud finally broke through as he had been threatening to all evening.

The forward collected Dele Adebola's pass, rounded Lee Camp and slotted home, despite the best efforts of Sampsa Timoska on the line.

Coventry then piled on the pressure and made the breakthrough their pressure deserved as substitute Kyle rose highest in injury-time to head home Marcus Hall's hanging cross and lift his side into the play-off picture.

Stoke 1 Coventry 3 - 03/11/2007

Stoke 1 Coventry 3 - 03/11/2007

Stoke City: Steve Simonsen, Andy Wilkinson, Stephen Wright (Jonathan Parkin 66), Danny Pugh (Carl Dickinson 90), Leon Cort, Ryan Shawcross, John Eustace, Liam Lawrence, Rory Delap, Richard Cresswell, Ricardo Fuller,
Subs not used: Russell Hoult, Vincent Pericard, Gaby Zakuani
Booked: John Eustace 25, Andy Wilkinson 83, Liam Lawrence 48, Stephen Wright 12, Ricardo Fuller 75
Goals: Liam Lawrence 72 (pen)

Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Marcus Hall, Arjan De Zeeuw, Ben Turner, Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle, Robbie Simpson (Dele Adebola 37), Leon Best (Kevin Kyle 81), Michael Mifsud,
Subs not used: Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Ellery Cairo
Booked: Leon Best 12, Ben Turner 31
Goals: Michael Mifsud 58, 79; Dele Adebola 63

Attendance: 13488
Referee: A Marriner

Teamtalk
Stoke suffered a second successive home defeat as Coventry leapfrogged them into seventh in the table with a lucky 3-1 win at The Britannia.

After a lifeless first half, the visitors took an undeserved two-goal lead through Michael Mifsud and Dele Adebola, and though Liam Lawrence pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, Mifsud's second ended hopes of a comeback.

Stoke went close inside the opening minute when Lawrence played a neat ball in behind the defence to find Ricardo Fuller, but his shot went over the crossbar.

On the half-hour mark, Robbie Simpson beat his marker for pace and fired a shot across the face of goal that drifted wide, but those exertions proved too great for Simpson, and he hobbled off shortly after to be replaced by Adebola.

With the game drifting towards a goalless first-half, debutant Danny Pugh looked to make an immediate impact, swinging a sweet left foot through a shot from 25 yards that edged wide.

On the stroke of half-time, Cresswell almost put his side in front when Lawrence swung the ball in and the striker's header hit the post, although he had already been flagged offside.

Stoke started the second period positively and had a penalty shout in the 47th minute when Fuller was clattered to the floor by Michael Doyle, but the referee gave nothing, to the chagrin of the Boothen End faithful.

In the 54th minute, Lawrence found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, and after firing wide with the whole goal to aim at, he will have been glad to have seen the offside flag raised again.

John Eustace curled a shot wide two minutes later as the Potters found an extra gear both on the pitch and in the stands, but they were suddenly and cruelly dealt a sucker blow when Coventry took the lead.

A mistake by Andy Wilkinson let in Adebola, who muscled off new signing Leon Cort to find himself and Mifsud two-on-one, before feeding his strike partner to finish coolly.

Stoke thought they had got themselves level immediately, Ryan Shawcross heading Pugh's cross goalwards at the far post, but the linesman ruled that the ball had not crossed the line before Konstantopoulos clawed it away.

And Stoke were still reeling from that decision as they went further behind.

A corner was not cleared properly and the ball found its way to Isaac Osbourne in acres of space. He swung in a cross and Adebola rose unmarked to head home.

Tony Pulis threw on striker Jon Parkin for full-back Wright and almost was made to rue that gamble as Coventry countered down the unguarded left, and Steve Simonsen was forced into a smart save to deny Doyle.

In the 70th minute, Stoke finally got a decision their way as the linesman waved for a penalty after another of Lawrence's bursting runs ended with the Irishman being brought down in the area by Ben Turner.

Lawrence raced to collect the ball and take the spot-kick himself, and he duly despatched it off the post.

Parkin almost got them level but could only direct Lawrence's cross into the side netting and Coventry made them pay with the best goal of the game.

Another defensive error gifted Doyle possession, who found Mifsud and the Maltese striker embarked on a super run which ended with an even better shot that whistled into the top corner.

Stoke resigned themselves to their fate in the final 10 minutes and the Coventry's fans chants of "we want four" came close to being realised in the dying minutes, but substitute Kevin Kyle's drilled shot was brilliantly turned away by Simonsen.

CCFC
The Sky Blues moved back to the verges of the play-off positions courtesy of a fine victory at the Britannia Stadium.

Michael Mifsud hit a brace either side of a Dele Adebola header to hand Iain Dowie's men their second victory in a row in the Coca Cola Championship.

Liam Lawrence replied for the home side from the penalty spot, but City were well worth the three points after a clinical second-half display which followed a first-half of few chances.

The visitors were forced into two changes from the side which went out of the Carling Cup against West Ham in midweek with Robbie Simpson and Dimi Konstantopoulos replacing injured Julian Gray and Andy Marshall respectively.

Ricardo Fuller blasted over and City captain Michael Doyle was forced to hack the ball off the line from a Richard Cresswell header as the hosts started brightly.

The Sky Blues' first effort of the game came in the ninth minute when Jay Tabb fired wide from the edge of the box while another long-range effort from the industrious midfielder ricocheted off three defenders before finding its way through to Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Leon Best looks for a way through the Stoke defence

But chances in either danger area were few and far between and City were forced into a change when Simpson pulled up lame after dragging a shot wide of post and Dele Adebola stepped into the breach.

Stoke midfielder Danny Pugh, signed just 24-hours before the game from Preston, then sent a powerful low shot flying narrowly wide before the Potters went closest to opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time when Cresswell's front-post header from Lawrence's right-wing cross crashed back off the crossbar.

But it was the Sky Blues who smashed open the deadlock in the 58th minute when Adebola out-muscled Leon Cort and the ball fell to Mifsud who smashed home an opportunist strike into the bottom corner from 14-yards.

A superb save from Konstantopoulos foiled Stoke from grabbing an immediate equalizer - the City 'keeper diving to his left to claw a Ryan Shawcross header off the line.

And it proved all the more important just four minutes later as City doubled their lead from another quick breakaway.

Isaac Osbourne picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and crossed into the danger zone for Adebola, who climbed above Simonsen to head into the net.

A superb stop from Simonsen then stopped Doyle putting the result beyond doubt when he parried away the City skipper's fierce drive after a fluent build up involving Leon Best.

But Stoke were handed a lifeline in the 71st minute when Ben Turner was adjudged to have felled Fuller in the area and Lawrence slotted the resultant penalty into the bottom corner despite a desperate hand from Konstantopoulos.

A Pugh cross flashed across the face of goal and Konstantopoulos saved from Fuller as the Potters piled on the pressure.

But a flash of brilliance from City's Maltese magician put the game to bed in the 79th minute.

Doyle's clever through-ball slipped-in Mifsud, who despite carrying the ball away from goal, hit a rocket of a shot into the roof of the net to leave Simonsen stunned.

He could have even completed a hat-trick soon after when he exchanged passes with Tabb before rifling the ball against the outside of the post.

The visitors were running riot and Doyle almost capped a superb individual performance when his long-ranger was saved by Simonsen in stoppage-time.

4thegame
Spring-heeled Michael Mifsud was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork as Coventry City bounced back in style from their midweek Carling Cup defeat by West Ham.

Stoke set off as if they really meant business as Ricardo Fuller fired narrowly over from a Liam Lawrence pass in the first minute.

But Coventry, who packed five across midfield, soon closed ranks and began to gain the upper hand in terms of possession.

Stoke began to work up a head of steam as half-time approached with debutant Danny Pugh volleying wide and Lawrence having an effort blocked.

And Coventry were fortunate two minutes after the break when Ben Turner's clumsy challenge on Fuller could have resulted in a penalty.

The contest was now opening up with Stoke looking menacing, but it was Coventry who took the lead against the run of play in the 58th minute.

A poor clearance by Andy Wilkinson and the strength of Dele Adebola, who held off Leon Cort, enabled Mifsud to place a right-foot shot past Steve Simonsen.

There was controversy a minute later when Stoke believed they had equalised.

Ryan Shawcross' header from a Lawrence corner appeared to cross the line before Dimitrios Konstantopoulos saved, but the linesman thought otherwise.

Coventry took a grip of the game in the 63rd minute when Adebola beat Stoke's ragged offside trap to head in Isaac Osbourne's cross.

And it took a brilliant save by Simonsen to deny the clean through Michael Doyle shortly afterwards.

Stoke were back in it 19 minutes from time when Lawrence put away a penalty after he was tripped by Turner.

But Coventry sealed an impressive victory ten minutes from time as Doyle released Mifsud, who sped clear to hammer the best goal of the game.

Mifsud smashed a shot against a post and it also took an excellent save from Simonsen to deny Jay Tabb as the visitors threatened to run riot in the closing stages.