Coventry 0 QPR 0 - 05/03/2008
Coventry 0 QPR 0 - 05/03/2008
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Isaac Osbourne, Stephen Hughes, Jay Tabb (Julian Gray 75), Michael Mifsud, Michael Doyle, Kevin Thornton, Leon Best
Subs not used: Robbie Simpson, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Marcus Hall, Wayne Andrews
Booked: Leon Best 62
Queens Park Rangers: Lee Camp, Michael Mancienne, Matthew Connolly, Fitz Hall, Damien Delaney, Akos Buzsaky, Hogan Ephraim, Mikele Leigertwood, Martin Rowlands (Gareth Ainsworth 90), Patrick Agyemang (Dexter Blackstock 85), Rowan Vine
Subs not used: Damion Stewart, Chris Barker, Matt Pickens
Booked: Akos Buzsaky 70, Matthew Connolly 54
Attendance: 15225
Referee: M Dean
Teamtalk
Coventry missed the chance to move further clear of the Championship relegation zone as QPR dug in for a goalless draw at the Ricoh Arena.
City striker Leon Best had the best chance of the game when he raced clean through in the 33rd minute but Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp blocked the shot.
Chris Coleman's side dominated for long spells but as the game progressed they ran out of ideas against a dogged yet disappointing Hoops team.
Victory for the home side would have moved them six points clear of the drop zone into 17th but instead they remain 21st - just four points clear of trouble.
There was a return for Sky Blues skipper Stephen Hughes along with Michael Doyle and Elliott Ward, while QPR boss Luigi De Canio named an unchanged line-up.
City began purposefully and looked the more likely to open the scoring.
They had the ball in the back of the net within the first three minutes but the effort was disallowed for offside, while Ward spurned an excellent opportunity when Best drilled the ball across the face of goal.
It was a far cry from their recent laboured away performances as the home side moved the ball around with speed and style, in fact the Sky Blues were at times culpable of being overly elaborate.
Michael Mifsud was sent clear down the right channel but he selfishly elected to shoot and only found the side-netting.
Then Camp was forced to furiously backpedal when Jay Tabb's cross took a deflection and threatened to loop into the far corner, but much to his relief it landed on the roof of the net.
Rangers may have improved dramatically under De Canio but they remain inconsistent and this was a long way short of the performance which saw them tear Stoke apart in the opening half hour of Sunday's 3-0 win.
Best and Mifsud were linking up well and the pair combined to excellent effect when Mifsud was sent clear down the right but his first touch was a poor one and Camp collected easily.
Moments later they had an even better chance when Best raced through but the City striker lacked conviction and Camp saved well.
One last-ditch block from Matthew Connolly denied Best soon afterwards and then Camp was quickly down to push away Tabb's goalbound shot as City failed to get the goal their efforts deserved.
The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and a dipping drive from Akos Buzsaky after 52 minutes was the closest they came to scoring.
Coventry quickly reclaimed the initiative but a combination of resolute Rangers defending and disappointing deliveries meant they failed to create any real clear-cut chances.
Tabb was replaced by Julian Gray with 15 minutes remaining as Coleman stepped up his search for a winner.
The change almost had the desired impact when Gray combined impressively with Kevin Thornton down the left channel but the former Birmingham winger's cross failed to live up to his earlier interplay.
Dexter Blackstock came on for the anonymous Patrick Agyemang and Rangers could have even stole with two minutes left when Mikele Leigertwood fired narrowly over.
Best had a chance to atone for his earlier miss with an overhead kick with seconds remaining but it was not to be and the home side were greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers at the final whistle.
CCFC
City are held to a goalless draw by Queens Park Rangers, despite dominating possession and creating the better chances throughout a frustrating 90 minutes.
Chris Coleman made three changes to the side which lost 2-1 against Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Elliott Ward replaced Marcus Hall at centre-back, while Stephen Hughes came in for Michael Hughes in the centre of the park. Hughes is also named as skipper ahead of Michael Doyle, who started in place of Julian Gray.
Coventry thought they'd made the best possible start in the fourth minute when Scott Dann found the back of the net from a Doyle ball, only for the goal to be disallowed.
The Sky Blues attacked again and in the ninth minute, Coleman's men created a great opportunity to open the scoring.
Thornton found Best on the right hand side of the pitch and the striker played an inch-perfect ball back across the box for Ward, who lifted his shot over the crossbar.
City were certainly dominant in the opening stages and Best shot onto the roof of the net in the 20th minute after De Canio's side had failed to clear their lines.
City's young back line - with an average age of around 22 - were coping well with the threat of the Rangers attackers while at the other end, there were shouts of hand ball when Damien Delaney appeared to handle in the box under more Coventry pressure.
Moments later, Camp saved well at the feet of Mifsud, before the former England Under 21 keeper was again called into action, this time when he saved at the feet of Best when he was clean through one on one.
There was no doubt that Coventry were dominating proceedings in a first half where Andy Marshall didn't have a save to make.
Best shot again but it was a tame shot for Camp to hold, before with five minutes before the break, Doyle unleashed a firm effort from the edge of the box which again couldn't get past the shot-stopper.
Tabb was the next player to test Camp - but the former Derby County keeper was in excellent form and kept out his firm shot.
Having dominated but failed to break the deadlock in the opening 45, City came out looking to press play at the start of the second period but saw QPR playmaker Akos Buzsaky send a dipping volley just over the bar on 52 minutes.
The Sky Blues had a good spell of pressure around the hour mark and when Mifsud broke free down the right, he centred for Best who could not reach the cross with his head and was booked for deliberate handball.
Thornton was being his usual creative self in midfield and played substitute Julian Gray away with a beautifully weighted pass as the game entered the final 10 minutes, but the winger's cross failed to pick out a City man.
The former Birmingham man did better with his next delivery but on this occasion there was no City forward attacking his fierce ball across the face of goal.
There were many positives to the Coventry performance, such as a near-immaculate defensive display but the Sky Blues certainly had enough of the ball and good enough chances - in the first half especially - to leave a nagging feeling that this was two points dropped rather than a point gained.
4thegame
Coventry City missed out on the chance to pick up a crucial win in their battle to beat the drop as they wasted a series of opportunities and had to settle for a goalless draw.
QPR were far from their best but, despite a number of clear-cut openings, the Sky Blues failed to take advantage and remain perilously close to the Championship drop-zone.
The first half was all Coventry and the only thing missing from the home team was a goal.
Manager Chris Coleman recalled Michael Doyle and Stephen Hughes with both midfielders contributing to City's dominance.
Elliott Ward should have opened the scoring after eight minutes but lashed his shot over the bar from six yards following a good move involving Kevin Thornton and Leon Best.
Striker Michael Mifsud also failed to make the most of two one-on-ones with Lee Camp while the Rangers keeper made a series of important saves to maintain parity.
He kept out a long-range effort from Doyle but his best save of the first half came just three minutes before the break.
Jay Tabb produced a deft first touch to bring down Isaac Osbourne's fine long pass but his low shot was superbly blocked by the QPR keeper.
The visitors had produced nothing in attack and, considering their 3-0 drubbing of Stoke City on Sunday, showed a real lack of ambition.
Their first effort of any note came in the 51st minute but it was a speculative strike from Akos Buzsaky that cleared the Coventry crossbar.
Damien Delaney also tried his luck from distance but his shot flashed wide of Coventry keeper Andy Marshall's post.
Despite that, the Sky Blues remained on top although their efforts on goal were fewer after the break with Danny Fox and Doyle forcing saves from Camp with long-range shots.
QPR's performance was summed up by the fact that their first shot on target was a scuffed strike from Buzsaky after 72 minutes which was comfortably held by Marshall.
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Isaac Osbourne, Stephen Hughes, Jay Tabb (Julian Gray 75), Michael Mifsud, Michael Doyle, Kevin Thornton, Leon Best
Subs not used: Robbie Simpson, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Marcus Hall, Wayne Andrews
Booked: Leon Best 62
Queens Park Rangers: Lee Camp, Michael Mancienne, Matthew Connolly, Fitz Hall, Damien Delaney, Akos Buzsaky, Hogan Ephraim, Mikele Leigertwood, Martin Rowlands (Gareth Ainsworth 90), Patrick Agyemang (Dexter Blackstock 85), Rowan Vine
Subs not used: Damion Stewart, Chris Barker, Matt Pickens
Booked: Akos Buzsaky 70, Matthew Connolly 54
Attendance: 15225
Referee: M Dean
Teamtalk
Coventry missed the chance to move further clear of the Championship relegation zone as QPR dug in for a goalless draw at the Ricoh Arena.
City striker Leon Best had the best chance of the game when he raced clean through in the 33rd minute but Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp blocked the shot.
Chris Coleman's side dominated for long spells but as the game progressed they ran out of ideas against a dogged yet disappointing Hoops team.
Victory for the home side would have moved them six points clear of the drop zone into 17th but instead they remain 21st - just four points clear of trouble.
There was a return for Sky Blues skipper Stephen Hughes along with Michael Doyle and Elliott Ward, while QPR boss Luigi De Canio named an unchanged line-up.
City began purposefully and looked the more likely to open the scoring.
They had the ball in the back of the net within the first three minutes but the effort was disallowed for offside, while Ward spurned an excellent opportunity when Best drilled the ball across the face of goal.
It was a far cry from their recent laboured away performances as the home side moved the ball around with speed and style, in fact the Sky Blues were at times culpable of being overly elaborate.
Michael Mifsud was sent clear down the right channel but he selfishly elected to shoot and only found the side-netting.
Then Camp was forced to furiously backpedal when Jay Tabb's cross took a deflection and threatened to loop into the far corner, but much to his relief it landed on the roof of the net.
Rangers may have improved dramatically under De Canio but they remain inconsistent and this was a long way short of the performance which saw them tear Stoke apart in the opening half hour of Sunday's 3-0 win.
Best and Mifsud were linking up well and the pair combined to excellent effect when Mifsud was sent clear down the right but his first touch was a poor one and Camp collected easily.
Moments later they had an even better chance when Best raced through but the City striker lacked conviction and Camp saved well.
One last-ditch block from Matthew Connolly denied Best soon afterwards and then Camp was quickly down to push away Tabb's goalbound shot as City failed to get the goal their efforts deserved.
The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and a dipping drive from Akos Buzsaky after 52 minutes was the closest they came to scoring.
Coventry quickly reclaimed the initiative but a combination of resolute Rangers defending and disappointing deliveries meant they failed to create any real clear-cut chances.
Tabb was replaced by Julian Gray with 15 minutes remaining as Coleman stepped up his search for a winner.
The change almost had the desired impact when Gray combined impressively with Kevin Thornton down the left channel but the former Birmingham winger's cross failed to live up to his earlier interplay.
Dexter Blackstock came on for the anonymous Patrick Agyemang and Rangers could have even stole with two minutes left when Mikele Leigertwood fired narrowly over.
Best had a chance to atone for his earlier miss with an overhead kick with seconds remaining but it was not to be and the home side were greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers at the final whistle.
CCFC
City are held to a goalless draw by Queens Park Rangers, despite dominating possession and creating the better chances throughout a frustrating 90 minutes.
Chris Coleman made three changes to the side which lost 2-1 against Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Elliott Ward replaced Marcus Hall at centre-back, while Stephen Hughes came in for Michael Hughes in the centre of the park. Hughes is also named as skipper ahead of Michael Doyle, who started in place of Julian Gray.
Coventry thought they'd made the best possible start in the fourth minute when Scott Dann found the back of the net from a Doyle ball, only for the goal to be disallowed.
The Sky Blues attacked again and in the ninth minute, Coleman's men created a great opportunity to open the scoring.
Thornton found Best on the right hand side of the pitch and the striker played an inch-perfect ball back across the box for Ward, who lifted his shot over the crossbar.
City were certainly dominant in the opening stages and Best shot onto the roof of the net in the 20th minute after De Canio's side had failed to clear their lines.
City's young back line - with an average age of around 22 - were coping well with the threat of the Rangers attackers while at the other end, there were shouts of hand ball when Damien Delaney appeared to handle in the box under more Coventry pressure.
Moments later, Camp saved well at the feet of Mifsud, before the former England Under 21 keeper was again called into action, this time when he saved at the feet of Best when he was clean through one on one.
There was no doubt that Coventry were dominating proceedings in a first half where Andy Marshall didn't have a save to make.
Best shot again but it was a tame shot for Camp to hold, before with five minutes before the break, Doyle unleashed a firm effort from the edge of the box which again couldn't get past the shot-stopper.
Tabb was the next player to test Camp - but the former Derby County keeper was in excellent form and kept out his firm shot.
Having dominated but failed to break the deadlock in the opening 45, City came out looking to press play at the start of the second period but saw QPR playmaker Akos Buzsaky send a dipping volley just over the bar on 52 minutes.
The Sky Blues had a good spell of pressure around the hour mark and when Mifsud broke free down the right, he centred for Best who could not reach the cross with his head and was booked for deliberate handball.
Thornton was being his usual creative self in midfield and played substitute Julian Gray away with a beautifully weighted pass as the game entered the final 10 minutes, but the winger's cross failed to pick out a City man.
The former Birmingham man did better with his next delivery but on this occasion there was no City forward attacking his fierce ball across the face of goal.
There were many positives to the Coventry performance, such as a near-immaculate defensive display but the Sky Blues certainly had enough of the ball and good enough chances - in the first half especially - to leave a nagging feeling that this was two points dropped rather than a point gained.
4thegame
Coventry City missed out on the chance to pick up a crucial win in their battle to beat the drop as they wasted a series of opportunities and had to settle for a goalless draw.
QPR were far from their best but, despite a number of clear-cut openings, the Sky Blues failed to take advantage and remain perilously close to the Championship drop-zone.
The first half was all Coventry and the only thing missing from the home team was a goal.
Manager Chris Coleman recalled Michael Doyle and Stephen Hughes with both midfielders contributing to City's dominance.
Elliott Ward should have opened the scoring after eight minutes but lashed his shot over the bar from six yards following a good move involving Kevin Thornton and Leon Best.
Striker Michael Mifsud also failed to make the most of two one-on-ones with Lee Camp while the Rangers keeper made a series of important saves to maintain parity.
He kept out a long-range effort from Doyle but his best save of the first half came just three minutes before the break.
Jay Tabb produced a deft first touch to bring down Isaac Osbourne's fine long pass but his low shot was superbly blocked by the QPR keeper.
The visitors had produced nothing in attack and, considering their 3-0 drubbing of Stoke City on Sunday, showed a real lack of ambition.
Their first effort of any note came in the 51st minute but it was a speculative strike from Akos Buzsaky that cleared the Coventry crossbar.
Damien Delaney also tried his luck from distance but his shot flashed wide of Coventry keeper Andy Marshall's post.
Despite that, the Sky Blues remained on top although their efforts on goal were fewer after the break with Danny Fox and Doyle forcing saves from Camp with long-range shots.
QPR's performance was summed up by the fact that their first shot on target was a scuffed strike from Buzsaky after 72 minutes which was comfortably held by Marshall.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:39 pm
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