Coventry 1 Southampton 1 - 15/12/2007
Coventry 1 Southampton 1 - 15/12/2007
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Gary Borrowdale, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner, Jay Tabb (Isaac Osbourne 79), Michael Doyle, Michael Hughes, Leon Best (Dele Adebola 72), Michael Mifsud, Leon McKenzie (Julian Gray 69)
Subs not used: Stephen Hughes, Andy Marshall
Booked: David McNamee 58, Michael Hughes 20
Goals: Jay Tabb (19)
Southamptonl: Kelvin Davis, Andrew Davies, Alan Bennett, Rudolf Skacel, Andrew Surman, Adam Hammill (John Viafara 68), Youssef Safri, Jermaine Wright, Bradley Wright-Phillips (Marek Saganowski 83), Jason Euell, Stern John
Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Darren Powell, Grzegorz Rasiak
Goals: Bradley Wright-Phillips (59)
Attendance: 19143
Referee: N Swarbrick
Teamtalk
Bradley Wright-Phillips' header rescued a point for Southampton and ensured that Coventry's new era started with a 1-1 draw at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry look set to avoid administration following Friday's takeover by SISU Capital - the consortium spearheaded by former footballer Ray Ranson which had shown an interest in investing in Southampton earlier this season.
A quirk of fate meant Ranson finally met some of Southampton's shareholders and directors in the boardroom before Saturday's game.
Jay Tabb got Ranson's reign up and running after 19 minutes when a shot from the edge of the area by Michael Mifsud hit Jason Euell and ricocheted into the path of Leon McKenzie.
His shot was saved by the out-stretched leg of Kelvin Davis but the ball looped up for Tabb to head into an unguarded net from close range.
Southampton equalised just before the hour mark following a foul by David McNamee on Andrew Davies.
Former Sky Blues midfielder Youssef Safri was the architect. His free-kick found Euell on the right-hand side of the area and his pinpoint cross was headed in at the far post by Wright-Phillips.
Stern John thought he had given Southampton the lead against his old club after just three minutes when he headed home after Wright-Phillips' shot was parried by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, but the flag went up for offside.
Tabb prodded the ball wide following a pull-back from former Saints striker Leon Best and Davis produced a superb save to keep out McKenzie's deflected shot.
But there was little Davis could do to prevent Tabb from scoring soon after.
Southampton came close to an equaliser just before the break. Wright-Phillips played a neat one-two with John on the edge of the area but his goalbound shot was bravely blocked by Ben Turner.
Best should have doubled Coventry's advantage in the final minute of the half but he headed McKenzie's cross over the crossbar.
Best threatened again at the start of the second half but his shot was comfortably smothered by Davis.
Best tried to work another opening soon after but he was thwarted by some good defending by Jermaine Wright.
Despite Coventry's bright start to the second half it was Southampton who equalised through Wright-Phillips in the 59th-minute.
The diminutive striker could have won it for Southampton 12 minutes from time when he was put clear through on goal by Surman.
But as Konstantopolous raced from his line to narrow the angle, Wright-Phillips steered the ball agonisingly wide.
Coventry captain Michael Doyle almost embarrassed Davis with a mis-hit free-kick from 40-yards which hit the crossbar before being pushed to safety by the Saints goalkeeper.
CCFC
The Sky Blues began life under new ownership with a closely contested draw against Southampton at the Ricoh Arena.
Jay Tabb put the home side ahead in the 19th minute when he headed home from close-range.
City failed to make the most of an excellent first-half performance and paid the price in the second-half when Bradley Wright-Phillips headed the Saints level.
Before kick-off outgoing City chairman Joe Elliott was given a rapturous applause from the Sky Blues faithful for his efforts in sealing a takeover deal with the SISU Capital consortium led by Ray Ranson.
But the home side, who welcomed back top goalscorer Michael Mifsud for the clash in just one change to the side which lined-up in last weekend's abandoned match at Sheffield Wednesday, could have found themselves on the back foot inside the opening five minutes.
Southampton had the ball in the net when former City striker Stern John pounced on a rebound after Dimi Konstantopoulos saved Wright-Phillips' close-range effort, but referee Neil Swarbrick deemed the Trinidad & Tobago star was in an offside position.
It was just the kind of wake-up call the Sky Blues needed and they soon took control of the game with captain Michael Doyle poking the ball wide after good work from Leon Best in the area and Saints 'keeper Kelvin Davis reacting well to stop a deflected effort from Michael Hughes.
Leon Best jumps for the ball
Leon McKenzie, still searching for his 100th career goal, then saw a glancing header produce another good save from Davis before playing a major role in the opening goal just past the quarter hour mark.
The ball found its way to the lively striker at the back-post via a blocked effort from Mifsud and he shot straight at the legs of Davis, but Tabb was well placed to head the rebound into the unguarded net on the line.
Mifsud fired into the side-netting from an acute angle and McKenzie forced another good save out of Davis as City looked to catch the visitors with their heads down.
But they were indebted to defender Ben Turner just before the break as he produced a tremendous block to deny the tricky Wright-Phillips.
Best headed narrowly over right at the end of the first-half before seeing a curling 20-yard shot well held by Davis at the start of the second period.
But the Sky Blues were struggling to replicate their first-half pressure and Southampton levelled matters on the hour when Jason Euell's right wing cross was steered beyond Konstantopoulos by the head of Wright-Phillips.
Mifsud had an appeal for a penalty turned down by the referee after falling under the challenge of Alan Bennett but the visitors looked more likely to score again.
Wright-Phillips squandered an excellent chance to double his tally when he dragged a shot wide after finding himself through on goal.
Iain Dowie introduced substitutes Dele Adebola and Julian Gray for Best and an injured McKenzie, but an over-hit Doyle free-kick which bounced off the top of the crossbar was the closest City came to scoring.
4thegame
Coventry City manager Iain Dowie is due to sit down with new owner Ray Ranson on Sunday and will certainly be keen to add to his squad if he is to guide the Sky Blues into the play-offs.
City were hoping to mark their new era with a win, but in the end could well have lost.
Dowie was able to field the line-up which had won so impressively at West Bromwich Albion. Michael Mifsud had missed the game at Hillsborough which was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch, but he had recovered from his hamstring injury in time to start.
The returning Stern John thought his afternoon had got off to a perfect start when he netted after just five minutes but he had been stranding in an offside position when the ball came to him.
The Trinidad and Tobago international then curled a shot well wide when he should have done better.
Coventry were beginning to get joy down the left flank where Leon McKenzie was looking very sharp.
The former Norwich man forced Kelvin Davis into a save with a header from a Michael Doyle cross in the 15th minute.
The home side's increasing share of the play bore fruit in the 19th minute when Jay Tabb nodded them into the lead.
Again it was McKenzie who was the driving force. He was the first to react when the ball hit Jason Euell and, when his effort was kept out by Davis, Tabb was there to convert.
Both sides had other chances in the half but Coventry went in to the break with a deserved lead.
Southampton needed to show more and they did step up the pace after the break. They started to push Coventry back and spread the ball wide. A goal began to look likely and it came just before the hour mark.
Euell was fed by Youssef Safri and delivered an excellent cross which Bradley Wright-Phillips headed neatly home.
Suddenly it was the visitors that were forcing the pace and Wright-Phillips should have won the game in the 77th minute when Andrew Surman sent him clear with an excellent pass. But he seemed to hurry his shot and it rolled just wide of the target.
Coventry reshuffled their attack and, although it did work to an extent, they never looked likely to record a win.
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, David McNamee, Gary Borrowdale, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner, Jay Tabb (Isaac Osbourne 79), Michael Doyle, Michael Hughes, Leon Best (Dele Adebola 72), Michael Mifsud, Leon McKenzie (Julian Gray 69)
Subs not used: Stephen Hughes, Andy Marshall
Booked: David McNamee 58, Michael Hughes 20
Goals: Jay Tabb (19)
Southamptonl: Kelvin Davis, Andrew Davies, Alan Bennett, Rudolf Skacel, Andrew Surman, Adam Hammill (John Viafara 68), Youssef Safri, Jermaine Wright, Bradley Wright-Phillips (Marek Saganowski 83), Jason Euell, Stern John
Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Darren Powell, Grzegorz Rasiak
Goals: Bradley Wright-Phillips (59)
Attendance: 19143
Referee: N Swarbrick
Teamtalk
Bradley Wright-Phillips' header rescued a point for Southampton and ensured that Coventry's new era started with a 1-1 draw at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry look set to avoid administration following Friday's takeover by SISU Capital - the consortium spearheaded by former footballer Ray Ranson which had shown an interest in investing in Southampton earlier this season.
A quirk of fate meant Ranson finally met some of Southampton's shareholders and directors in the boardroom before Saturday's game.
Jay Tabb got Ranson's reign up and running after 19 minutes when a shot from the edge of the area by Michael Mifsud hit Jason Euell and ricocheted into the path of Leon McKenzie.
His shot was saved by the out-stretched leg of Kelvin Davis but the ball looped up for Tabb to head into an unguarded net from close range.
Southampton equalised just before the hour mark following a foul by David McNamee on Andrew Davies.
Former Sky Blues midfielder Youssef Safri was the architect. His free-kick found Euell on the right-hand side of the area and his pinpoint cross was headed in at the far post by Wright-Phillips.
Stern John thought he had given Southampton the lead against his old club after just three minutes when he headed home after Wright-Phillips' shot was parried by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, but the flag went up for offside.
Tabb prodded the ball wide following a pull-back from former Saints striker Leon Best and Davis produced a superb save to keep out McKenzie's deflected shot.
But there was little Davis could do to prevent Tabb from scoring soon after.
Southampton came close to an equaliser just before the break. Wright-Phillips played a neat one-two with John on the edge of the area but his goalbound shot was bravely blocked by Ben Turner.
Best should have doubled Coventry's advantage in the final minute of the half but he headed McKenzie's cross over the crossbar.
Best threatened again at the start of the second half but his shot was comfortably smothered by Davis.
Best tried to work another opening soon after but he was thwarted by some good defending by Jermaine Wright.
Despite Coventry's bright start to the second half it was Southampton who equalised through Wright-Phillips in the 59th-minute.
The diminutive striker could have won it for Southampton 12 minutes from time when he was put clear through on goal by Surman.
But as Konstantopolous raced from his line to narrow the angle, Wright-Phillips steered the ball agonisingly wide.
Coventry captain Michael Doyle almost embarrassed Davis with a mis-hit free-kick from 40-yards which hit the crossbar before being pushed to safety by the Saints goalkeeper.
CCFC
The Sky Blues began life under new ownership with a closely contested draw against Southampton at the Ricoh Arena.
Jay Tabb put the home side ahead in the 19th minute when he headed home from close-range.
City failed to make the most of an excellent first-half performance and paid the price in the second-half when Bradley Wright-Phillips headed the Saints level.
Before kick-off outgoing City chairman Joe Elliott was given a rapturous applause from the Sky Blues faithful for his efforts in sealing a takeover deal with the SISU Capital consortium led by Ray Ranson.
But the home side, who welcomed back top goalscorer Michael Mifsud for the clash in just one change to the side which lined-up in last weekend's abandoned match at Sheffield Wednesday, could have found themselves on the back foot inside the opening five minutes.
Southampton had the ball in the net when former City striker Stern John pounced on a rebound after Dimi Konstantopoulos saved Wright-Phillips' close-range effort, but referee Neil Swarbrick deemed the Trinidad & Tobago star was in an offside position.
It was just the kind of wake-up call the Sky Blues needed and they soon took control of the game with captain Michael Doyle poking the ball wide after good work from Leon Best in the area and Saints 'keeper Kelvin Davis reacting well to stop a deflected effort from Michael Hughes.
Leon Best jumps for the ball
Leon McKenzie, still searching for his 100th career goal, then saw a glancing header produce another good save from Davis before playing a major role in the opening goal just past the quarter hour mark.
The ball found its way to the lively striker at the back-post via a blocked effort from Mifsud and he shot straight at the legs of Davis, but Tabb was well placed to head the rebound into the unguarded net on the line.
Mifsud fired into the side-netting from an acute angle and McKenzie forced another good save out of Davis as City looked to catch the visitors with their heads down.
But they were indebted to defender Ben Turner just before the break as he produced a tremendous block to deny the tricky Wright-Phillips.
Best headed narrowly over right at the end of the first-half before seeing a curling 20-yard shot well held by Davis at the start of the second period.
But the Sky Blues were struggling to replicate their first-half pressure and Southampton levelled matters on the hour when Jason Euell's right wing cross was steered beyond Konstantopoulos by the head of Wright-Phillips.
Mifsud had an appeal for a penalty turned down by the referee after falling under the challenge of Alan Bennett but the visitors looked more likely to score again.
Wright-Phillips squandered an excellent chance to double his tally when he dragged a shot wide after finding himself through on goal.
Iain Dowie introduced substitutes Dele Adebola and Julian Gray for Best and an injured McKenzie, but an over-hit Doyle free-kick which bounced off the top of the crossbar was the closest City came to scoring.
4thegame
Coventry City manager Iain Dowie is due to sit down with new owner Ray Ranson on Sunday and will certainly be keen to add to his squad if he is to guide the Sky Blues into the play-offs.
City were hoping to mark their new era with a win, but in the end could well have lost.
Dowie was able to field the line-up which had won so impressively at West Bromwich Albion. Michael Mifsud had missed the game at Hillsborough which was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch, but he had recovered from his hamstring injury in time to start.
The returning Stern John thought his afternoon had got off to a perfect start when he netted after just five minutes but he had been stranding in an offside position when the ball came to him.
The Trinidad and Tobago international then curled a shot well wide when he should have done better.
Coventry were beginning to get joy down the left flank where Leon McKenzie was looking very sharp.
The former Norwich man forced Kelvin Davis into a save with a header from a Michael Doyle cross in the 15th minute.
The home side's increasing share of the play bore fruit in the 19th minute when Jay Tabb nodded them into the lead.
Again it was McKenzie who was the driving force. He was the first to react when the ball hit Jason Euell and, when his effort was kept out by Davis, Tabb was there to convert.
Both sides had other chances in the half but Coventry went in to the break with a deserved lead.
Southampton needed to show more and they did step up the pace after the break. They started to push Coventry back and spread the ball wide. A goal began to look likely and it came just before the hour mark.
Euell was fed by Youssef Safri and delivered an excellent cross which Bradley Wright-Phillips headed neatly home.
Suddenly it was the visitors that were forcing the pace and Wright-Phillips should have won the game in the 77th minute when Andrew Surman sent him clear with an excellent pass. But he seemed to hurry his shot and it rolled just wide of the target.
Coventry reshuffled their attack and, although it did work to an extent, they never looked likely to record a win.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:21 pm
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