Coventry v Millwall - FA Cup 4th Rnd - 26/01/2008
Coventry v Millwall - FA Cup 4th Rnd - 26/01/2008
Coventry: Dimi Konstantopoulos, Isaac Osbourne, Elliot Ward, Gary Borrowdale, Liam Davis, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray, Dele Adebola (Robbie Simpson 72), Michael Mifsud (Leon Best 89).
Subs Not Used: Ellery Cairo, Kevin Thornton, Liam Francis.
Booked: Julian Gray.
Goals: Stephen Hughes 16, Michael Mifsud 52.
Millwall: Rhys Evans, Danny Senda, Paul Robinson, Andy Frampton, Scott Barron, Jay Simpson, Alan Dunne, Ali Fuseini (Neil Harris 78), Adrian Forbes (David Brammer 66), Gary Alexander, Lewis Grabban.
Subs Not Used: Preston Edwards, Zoumana Bakayogo, Richard Shaw.
Booked: Danny Senda, Paul Robinson.
Goals: Jay Simpson 42.
Attendance: 17,268
Referee: N Miller
Teamtalk
Coventry put their dire league form behind them to overcome a gritty Millwall side 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round at the Ricoh Arena.
Goals in each half from Stephen Hughes and Michael Mifsud gave the Sky Blues their first home win of 2008, but Iain Dowie's side had to work hard for their victory after Jay Simpson had equalised for the League One side just before half-time.
Coventry went into the game having lost five of their last six Championship matches but took the lead through Hughes' free-kick in the 16th minute.
Michael Doyle, who engineered the chance after his shot was handled on the edge of the area, rolled the ball sideways to Hughes whose low, left-foot shot went through the defensive wall and into the bottom corner despite Rhys Evans' best attempts to reach it.
It was the midfielder's first goal in over four months since scoring with another free-kick - a superbly-struck 30-yard effort on September 22 - in a 4-1 Championship defeat at Ipswich.
Millwall, who were in the fourth round for the first time since reaching the final of the competition in 2004, also went into the game without a league win so far this year but managed to draw level three minutes before the break.
On-loan Arsenal starlet Simpson expertly controlled Scott Barron's driven left-wing cross before cleverly creating space in a crowded penalty area to fire a rising shot past Dimi Konstantopoulos from 12 yards out.
But there would be no fairytale run to the final this year for Millwall as Coventry took the lead for the second, and decisive time, early in the second half.
It was under controversial circumstances. Julian Gray's left-wing cross looped into the air after a deflection and Evans and Elliott Ward jostled for position inside the six-yard box as the ball descended.
Evans seemingly had the ball in his grasp when he fell under Ward's challenge, but with Millwall expecting a free-kick referee Nigel Miller allowed play to continue.
Dele Adebola's shot hit a post and broke kindly for Mifsud who had the simple task of side-footing the ball into an unguarded net from eight yards out for his 16th goal of the season.
Millwall had won 2-1 in each of the previous three rounds, but Kenny Jackett's side were on the opposite end of that scoreline at the Ricoh Arena.
The League One side were unlucky not to be ahead after 10 minutes.
Barron's inswinging corner was met at the far post by Lewis Grabban but his header was headed off the goalline by Jay Tabb.
However, the danger was not over for Coventry as Tabb's clearance fell to Paul Robinson whose header goalwards was also headed off the goalline, this time by Isaac Osbourne.
Mifsud uncharacteristically wasted a glorious chance to double Coventry's lead in the 21st minute.
The Sky Blues' top scorer was put clear by Adebola's reverse pass but, under pressure from a defender tracking back, Mifsud scuffed his effort straight at Evans.
Soon after Simpson spurned a similar chance to equalise when he shot straight at Konstantopoulos, before Grabban saw his follow-up deflected wide.
Grabban forced Konstantopoulos into action again inside the opening minute of the second half.
The £150,000 arrival from Motherwell earlier this week struck an angled shot from the left-hand side of the area but Konstantopoulos saved with his legs.
Millwall should have forced a replay in the closing stages when Gary Alexander missed a glorious chance to equalise.
With time and space just 10 yards out, Alexander somehow dragged his shot wide.
CCFC
Coventry City edged into FA Cup Fifth Round with a hard-fought victory over Millwall at the Ricoh Arena.
Stephen Hughes put the Sky Blues ahead in the 16th minute from a well executed free-kick but Millwall, who despite their League One status matched the home side in the first-half, drew level shortly before half-time through Jay Simpson.
Top scorer Michael Mifsud settled the tie early on in the second period, rifling home from eight yards for his seventh cup goal this season.
City were fortunate not to concede early on as Kenny Jackett's side saw two headers cleared off the line within the same attack.
A corner flashed across the face of goal and Jay Simpson's back-post header was blocked by Jay Tabb before Gary Alexander's header from the follow-up was headed away from danger by Liam Davis.
But the home side took the lead just after the quarter hour mark when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after a shot from Michael Doyle was blocked by the arm of Lions' defender Paul Robinson.
Michal Mifsud looks for a way past Andy Frampton
Doyle laid the ball on for midfield partner Hughes to dispatch a powerful low drive beyond goalkeeper Rhys Evans into the far corner for his first ever goal at the Ricoh Arena.
The plucky visitors continued to pose questions of a makeshift Sky Blues defence and almost levelled when Simpson's drive was blocked by Dimi Konstantopoulos before Davis charged down the Lewis Grabban's effort from the rebound.
But impressive winger Simpson, on loan from Arsenal, made no mistake four minutes before the break as he stabbed a loose ball into the top corner from 10 yards.
Konstantopoulos denied Grabban at the start of the second-half before the Sky Blues regained the lead.
After Elliott Ward outjumped Evans, Dele Adebola slid in and hit the post but Mifsud was on hand to side-foot home at the second attempt.
Millwall's response saw an unmarked Ali Fuseini head wide before Mifsud fired over from 20-yards at the other end as the Sky Blues looked to put the game beyond doubt.
The game petered out after that, though, with the next clear cut chance not arriving until eleven minutes from time when a sweet strike from Tabb was turned behind by Evans.
Mifsud saw another effort blocked and then Gray volleyed wide after good work from substitute Robbie Simpson.
But striker Alexander missed a glorious chance to equalise late on when he blasted wide after latching onto a weak headed clearance from Ward.
Telegraph
Goals from Stephen Hughes and Michael Mifsud put Coventry into the FA Cup last 16 at the expense of Millwall.
From a free-kick Michael Doyle rolled the ball to Hughes who scored with a left-foot shot which went through the defensive wall and into the corner.
Jay Simpson equalised when he created space in the area to fire a rising shot past the keeper from 12 yards.
Dele Adebola's shot hit a post and broke for Mifsud who side-footed into an unguarded net from eight yards out.
Mifsud wasted a glorious chance to double Coventry's lead in the 21st minute.
The Sky Blues' top scorer was put clear by Adebola's reverse pass but, under pressure from a defender tracking back, Mifsud scuffed his effort straight at Evans.
Soon after Simpson spurned a similar chance to equalise when he shot straight at Dimi Konstantopoulos, before Lewis Grabban saw his follow-up deflected wide.
Millwall should have forced a replay in the closing stages when Gary Alexander missed a glorious chance to equalise.
With time and space just 10 yards out, Alexander somehow dragged his shot wide.
But Coventry held on for victory and end a period of poor results which has seen them lose five of their last six Championship matches.
Coventry: Dimi Konstantopoulos, Isaac Osbourne, Elliot Ward, Gary Borrowdale, Liam Davis, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray, Dele Adebola (Robbie Simpson 72), Michael Mifsud (Leon Best 89).
Subs Not Used: Ellery Cairo, Kevin Thornton, Liam Francis.
Booked: Julian Gray.
Goals: Stephen Hughes 16, Michael Mifsud 52.
Millwall: Rhys Evans, Danny Senda, Paul Robinson, Andy Frampton, Scott Barron, Jay Simpson, Alan Dunne, Ali Fuseini (Neil Harris 78), Adrian Forbes (David Brammer 66), Gary Alexander, Lewis Grabban.
Subs Not Used: Preston Edwards, Zoumana Bakayogo, Richard Shaw.
Booked: Danny Senda, Paul Robinson.
Goals: Jay Simpson 42.
Attendance: 17,268
Referee: N Miller
Teamtalk
Coventry put their dire league form behind them to overcome a gritty Millwall side 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round at the Ricoh Arena.
Goals in each half from Stephen Hughes and Michael Mifsud gave the Sky Blues their first home win of 2008, but Iain Dowie's side had to work hard for their victory after Jay Simpson had equalised for the League One side just before half-time.
Coventry went into the game having lost five of their last six Championship matches but took the lead through Hughes' free-kick in the 16th minute.
Michael Doyle, who engineered the chance after his shot was handled on the edge of the area, rolled the ball sideways to Hughes whose low, left-foot shot went through the defensive wall and into the bottom corner despite Rhys Evans' best attempts to reach it.
It was the midfielder's first goal in over four months since scoring with another free-kick - a superbly-struck 30-yard effort on September 22 - in a 4-1 Championship defeat at Ipswich.
Millwall, who were in the fourth round for the first time since reaching the final of the competition in 2004, also went into the game without a league win so far this year but managed to draw level three minutes before the break.
On-loan Arsenal starlet Simpson expertly controlled Scott Barron's driven left-wing cross before cleverly creating space in a crowded penalty area to fire a rising shot past Dimi Konstantopoulos from 12 yards out.
But there would be no fairytale run to the final this year for Millwall as Coventry took the lead for the second, and decisive time, early in the second half.
It was under controversial circumstances. Julian Gray's left-wing cross looped into the air after a deflection and Evans and Elliott Ward jostled for position inside the six-yard box as the ball descended.
Evans seemingly had the ball in his grasp when he fell under Ward's challenge, but with Millwall expecting a free-kick referee Nigel Miller allowed play to continue.
Dele Adebola's shot hit a post and broke kindly for Mifsud who had the simple task of side-footing the ball into an unguarded net from eight yards out for his 16th goal of the season.
Millwall had won 2-1 in each of the previous three rounds, but Kenny Jackett's side were on the opposite end of that scoreline at the Ricoh Arena.
The League One side were unlucky not to be ahead after 10 minutes.
Barron's inswinging corner was met at the far post by Lewis Grabban but his header was headed off the goalline by Jay Tabb.
However, the danger was not over for Coventry as Tabb's clearance fell to Paul Robinson whose header goalwards was also headed off the goalline, this time by Isaac Osbourne.
Mifsud uncharacteristically wasted a glorious chance to double Coventry's lead in the 21st minute.
The Sky Blues' top scorer was put clear by Adebola's reverse pass but, under pressure from a defender tracking back, Mifsud scuffed his effort straight at Evans.
Soon after Simpson spurned a similar chance to equalise when he shot straight at Konstantopoulos, before Grabban saw his follow-up deflected wide.
Grabban forced Konstantopoulos into action again inside the opening minute of the second half.
The £150,000 arrival from Motherwell earlier this week struck an angled shot from the left-hand side of the area but Konstantopoulos saved with his legs.
Millwall should have forced a replay in the closing stages when Gary Alexander missed a glorious chance to equalise.
With time and space just 10 yards out, Alexander somehow dragged his shot wide.
CCFC
Coventry City edged into FA Cup Fifth Round with a hard-fought victory over Millwall at the Ricoh Arena.
Stephen Hughes put the Sky Blues ahead in the 16th minute from a well executed free-kick but Millwall, who despite their League One status matched the home side in the first-half, drew level shortly before half-time through Jay Simpson.
Top scorer Michael Mifsud settled the tie early on in the second period, rifling home from eight yards for his seventh cup goal this season.
City were fortunate not to concede early on as Kenny Jackett's side saw two headers cleared off the line within the same attack.
A corner flashed across the face of goal and Jay Simpson's back-post header was blocked by Jay Tabb before Gary Alexander's header from the follow-up was headed away from danger by Liam Davis.
But the home side took the lead just after the quarter hour mark when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after a shot from Michael Doyle was blocked by the arm of Lions' defender Paul Robinson.
Michal Mifsud looks for a way past Andy Frampton
Doyle laid the ball on for midfield partner Hughes to dispatch a powerful low drive beyond goalkeeper Rhys Evans into the far corner for his first ever goal at the Ricoh Arena.
The plucky visitors continued to pose questions of a makeshift Sky Blues defence and almost levelled when Simpson's drive was blocked by Dimi Konstantopoulos before Davis charged down the Lewis Grabban's effort from the rebound.
But impressive winger Simpson, on loan from Arsenal, made no mistake four minutes before the break as he stabbed a loose ball into the top corner from 10 yards.
Konstantopoulos denied Grabban at the start of the second-half before the Sky Blues regained the lead.
After Elliott Ward outjumped Evans, Dele Adebola slid in and hit the post but Mifsud was on hand to side-foot home at the second attempt.
Millwall's response saw an unmarked Ali Fuseini head wide before Mifsud fired over from 20-yards at the other end as the Sky Blues looked to put the game beyond doubt.
The game petered out after that, though, with the next clear cut chance not arriving until eleven minutes from time when a sweet strike from Tabb was turned behind by Evans.
Mifsud saw another effort blocked and then Gray volleyed wide after good work from substitute Robbie Simpson.
But striker Alexander missed a glorious chance to equalise late on when he blasted wide after latching onto a weak headed clearance from Ward.
Telegraph
Goals from Stephen Hughes and Michael Mifsud put Coventry into the FA Cup last 16 at the expense of Millwall.
From a free-kick Michael Doyle rolled the ball to Hughes who scored with a left-foot shot which went through the defensive wall and into the corner.
Jay Simpson equalised when he created space in the area to fire a rising shot past the keeper from 12 yards.
Dele Adebola's shot hit a post and broke for Mifsud who side-footed into an unguarded net from eight yards out.
Mifsud wasted a glorious chance to double Coventry's lead in the 21st minute.
The Sky Blues' top scorer was put clear by Adebola's reverse pass but, under pressure from a defender tracking back, Mifsud scuffed his effort straight at Evans.
Soon after Simpson spurned a similar chance to equalise when he shot straight at Dimi Konstantopoulos, before Lewis Grabban saw his follow-up deflected wide.
Millwall should have forced a replay in the closing stages when Gary Alexander missed a glorious chance to equalise.
With time and space just 10 yards out, Alexander somehow dragged his shot wide.
But Coventry held on for victory and end a period of poor results which has seen them lose five of their last six Championship matches.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:46 pm
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