Southampton 0 Coventry 0 - 22/03/2007
Southampton 0 Coventry 0 - 22/03/2007
Southampton: Richard Wright, Gregory Vignal, Wayne Thomas, Darren Powell, John Viafara, Mario Licka, Youssef Safri, Jermaine Wright, Jason Euell, Vincent Pericard (Bradley Wright-Phillips 70), Stern John,
Subs not used: Andrew Surman, Alexander Ostlund, Kelvin Davis, Adam Hammill
Coventry City: Kasper Schmeichel, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Kevin Thornton (Julian Gray 64), Michael Doyle, Leon Best, Michael Mifsud (Robbie Simpson 81),
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Richard Duffy, Gary Borrowdale
Booked: Stephen Hughes 58, Leon Best 60, Elliott Ward 90
Attendance: 22014
Referee: Mr C Penton
Teamtalk
Two teams staring uncomfortably over their shoulders at the drop zone played out a nervous encounter in freezing conditions at St Mary's.
With City having lost their last eight games on the road and Saints on the back of a 5-0 drubbing at Hull, it was no surprise both sides were lacking in confidence.
Stern John, against his old club, and Vincent Pericard wasted rare chances for Southampton - while Michael Mifsud and ex-Saint Leon Best barely got a sniff at the other end.
After a wretched first half, the game improved - with goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Richard Wright making decent saves.
Wright, who joined Saints on loan from West Ham this week, made a jittery start with an unconvincing punch from Isaac Osbourne's cross - which was held up in the swirling wind.
Jason Euell spurned the hosts' first chance when Gregory Vignal's cross ricocheted into his path, the midfielder shooting wide from the edge of the City area.
John then attempted to get on the end of Jhon Viafara's chip into the box, but merely got clattered by Schmeichel for his troubles.
Pericard, making his home debut for Saints following his loan switch from Stoke, squandered Saints' best chance of the first half in the 26th minute when put through by Mario Licka only to blaze his shot over the bar.
Schmeichel was finally forced into a save in first-half stoppage time when John guided the ball goalwards from Viafara's cross.
The on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper was called into action shortly after the break, making a sharp stop low to his left from Licka's shot on the turn.
City finally mustered an effort on goal in the 54th minute, Mifsud jinking along the edge of the area and rifling a low shot which Wright dealt with at his near post.
Schmeichel was back in action five minutes later, keeping out John's far-post header with a star-jump save reminiscent of his father Peter.
Coventry left-back Dan Fox, this week called up to Stuart Pearce's England Under-21s squad, put a free-kick wide - before Wright showed the class which won him two international caps earlier in his career.
Dozy defending from Vignal and Darren Powell let in Osbourne, but the full-back's shot was acrobatically turned away by Wright.
Bradley Wright-Phillips came on as a substitute and found the net - but he was clearly offside.
The striker then hit Euell's cross straight at Schmeichel from point-blank range.
At the other end, Best missed his kick in front of goal - and Wright did well to keep out Julian Gray's follow-up.
CCFC
City held Southampton to a goalless draw in a nervy affair which could have gone either way but for excellent performances by both goalkeepers.
The Sky Blues lined-up unchanged for the match against Southampton at a bitterly cold St Mary's Stadium and with the two teams scrapping for survival the opening exchanges were somewhat scrappy with some fierce challenges going in from both sets of players.
Saints' Jason Euell got the first shot of the game in the 10th minute but thankfully his 20 yard drive was pulled well wide.
It wasn't long until the fierce wind brought squally snow showers, which made the conditions even harder to play in.
In the 18th minute the referee waved away Southampton claims for a penalty when Stern John was brought to the floor under a challenge from Kasper Schmeichel and a minute later the City shot stopper did well to race off his line and clear danger as Vincent Pericard was played through on goal.
The former Stoke man then wasted a better opportunity in the 27th minute, blazing high and wide when he should have at least tested Schmeichel.
Southampton were doing the most pressing without really testing the City goal and the Sky Blues had to wait until the 38th minute for their first shot on target when Michael Doyle attempted and audacious 35-yard volley which rolled harmlessly into Richard Wright's arms.
Right at the death before half time, John went close for the Saints but Schmeichel saved well.
The on loan custodian made an even better stop just after the restart, blocking Mario Licka's well struck shot at full stretch.
But having switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation, the Sky Blues were showing more as an attacking side and Mifsud was seeing more of the ball - the Maltese international forcing a save from Wright with City's best attempt so far in the 56th minute.
Chris Coleman made his first switch in the 65th minute, introducing Julian Gray for Kev Thornton and it was the winger who went closest to scoring when he produced a fine one handed save from Wright after bursting into the area and curling a shot on the outside of his right foot.
Entering the final ten minutes the game was finely poised and could have gone either way and in the 82nd minute, City were grateful to Schmiechel once again when he produced a top notch point blank save from John.
Next up it was Wright's turn to save his side, producing an excellent tip over to deny Gray once more in what was the final opportunity of tense 90 minutes which did little for either side's hopes of clawing their way out of trouble.
4thegame
Championship heavyweights Southampton and Coventry City remain precariously perched above the relegation zone as both sides fought out a tense goalless draw.
At a wet and blustery St Mary's it was difficult to establish what was worse, the South Coast weather or the football on display.
Goalkeepers Richard Wright and Kasper Schmeichel were scarcely tested as both teams gave a clear indication as to why they find themselves toiling in the nether regions of the Championship table.
It was the home side that started the more positive as they were searching for a much-needed confidence-booster following their five-goal drubbing at Hull City last weekend.
Gregory Vignal 's cross on five minutes looked destined for on-loan Stoke striker Vincent Pericard but Coventry defender Elliott Ward reacted quickly enough to hack the ball clear.
Another Vignal cross then caused problems as it was fizzed in by the French full-back before a deflection found its way to Jason Euell, waiting patiently on the edge of the penalty area, who fired wide.
Euell sent Pericard clear ten minutes later but the former Portsmouth frontman looked chronically short of pace and Schmeichel won the race to clear his lines.
As the Southampton crowd sensed a goal, the atmosphere improved and so did their football for a brief period as some well-worked passing moves presented late chances for Pericard again and striker partner Stern John but neither player managed to trouble Schmeichel.
After a first 45 minutes largely spent keeping warm, Wright was finally called into action early in the second half when he dived low to his right to keep out Michael Mifsud's low drive from 20 yards.
John would have felt he should have done better just before the hour mark as he rose at the far post to connect with Jhon Viafara's deep cross but his header was directed straight into the turf which took the sting out of it.
In the space of six frantic minutes both sides then missed their best chances of the game as first Coventry full-back Isaac Osbourne capitalised on some indecisive defending from Youssef Safri to set up a shooting opportunity but Wright was equal to his toe-poked effort.
Saints substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips, introduced to a mixed reaction from the home faithful, then got on the end of Euell's clipped cross from the by-line but the striker's half-volley from five yards was straight at Schmeichel.
Julian Gray kept Wright busy until the final whistle with a point-blank strike which was tipped over but in fairness the result accurately reflected two teams desperately in need of points but woefully short on quality.
Southampton: Richard Wright, Gregory Vignal, Wayne Thomas, Darren Powell, John Viafara, Mario Licka, Youssef Safri, Jermaine Wright, Jason Euell, Vincent Pericard (Bradley Wright-Phillips 70), Stern John,
Subs not used: Andrew Surman, Alexander Ostlund, Kelvin Davis, Adam Hammill
Coventry City: Kasper Schmeichel, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Kevin Thornton (Julian Gray 64), Michael Doyle, Leon Best, Michael Mifsud (Robbie Simpson 81),
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Richard Duffy, Gary Borrowdale
Booked: Stephen Hughes 58, Leon Best 60, Elliott Ward 90
Attendance: 22014
Referee: Mr C Penton
Teamtalk
Two teams staring uncomfortably over their shoulders at the drop zone played out a nervous encounter in freezing conditions at St Mary's.
With City having lost their last eight games on the road and Saints on the back of a 5-0 drubbing at Hull, it was no surprise both sides were lacking in confidence.
Stern John, against his old club, and Vincent Pericard wasted rare chances for Southampton - while Michael Mifsud and ex-Saint Leon Best barely got a sniff at the other end.
After a wretched first half, the game improved - with goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Richard Wright making decent saves.
Wright, who joined Saints on loan from West Ham this week, made a jittery start with an unconvincing punch from Isaac Osbourne's cross - which was held up in the swirling wind.
Jason Euell spurned the hosts' first chance when Gregory Vignal's cross ricocheted into his path, the midfielder shooting wide from the edge of the City area.
John then attempted to get on the end of Jhon Viafara's chip into the box, but merely got clattered by Schmeichel for his troubles.
Pericard, making his home debut for Saints following his loan switch from Stoke, squandered Saints' best chance of the first half in the 26th minute when put through by Mario Licka only to blaze his shot over the bar.
Schmeichel was finally forced into a save in first-half stoppage time when John guided the ball goalwards from Viafara's cross.
The on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper was called into action shortly after the break, making a sharp stop low to his left from Licka's shot on the turn.
City finally mustered an effort on goal in the 54th minute, Mifsud jinking along the edge of the area and rifling a low shot which Wright dealt with at his near post.
Schmeichel was back in action five minutes later, keeping out John's far-post header with a star-jump save reminiscent of his father Peter.
Coventry left-back Dan Fox, this week called up to Stuart Pearce's England Under-21s squad, put a free-kick wide - before Wright showed the class which won him two international caps earlier in his career.
Dozy defending from Vignal and Darren Powell let in Osbourne, but the full-back's shot was acrobatically turned away by Wright.
Bradley Wright-Phillips came on as a substitute and found the net - but he was clearly offside.
The striker then hit Euell's cross straight at Schmeichel from point-blank range.
At the other end, Best missed his kick in front of goal - and Wright did well to keep out Julian Gray's follow-up.
CCFC
City held Southampton to a goalless draw in a nervy affair which could have gone either way but for excellent performances by both goalkeepers.
The Sky Blues lined-up unchanged for the match against Southampton at a bitterly cold St Mary's Stadium and with the two teams scrapping for survival the opening exchanges were somewhat scrappy with some fierce challenges going in from both sets of players.
Saints' Jason Euell got the first shot of the game in the 10th minute but thankfully his 20 yard drive was pulled well wide.
It wasn't long until the fierce wind brought squally snow showers, which made the conditions even harder to play in.
In the 18th minute the referee waved away Southampton claims for a penalty when Stern John was brought to the floor under a challenge from Kasper Schmeichel and a minute later the City shot stopper did well to race off his line and clear danger as Vincent Pericard was played through on goal.
The former Stoke man then wasted a better opportunity in the 27th minute, blazing high and wide when he should have at least tested Schmeichel.
Southampton were doing the most pressing without really testing the City goal and the Sky Blues had to wait until the 38th minute for their first shot on target when Michael Doyle attempted and audacious 35-yard volley which rolled harmlessly into Richard Wright's arms.
Right at the death before half time, John went close for the Saints but Schmeichel saved well.
The on loan custodian made an even better stop just after the restart, blocking Mario Licka's well struck shot at full stretch.
But having switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation, the Sky Blues were showing more as an attacking side and Mifsud was seeing more of the ball - the Maltese international forcing a save from Wright with City's best attempt so far in the 56th minute.
Chris Coleman made his first switch in the 65th minute, introducing Julian Gray for Kev Thornton and it was the winger who went closest to scoring when he produced a fine one handed save from Wright after bursting into the area and curling a shot on the outside of his right foot.
Entering the final ten minutes the game was finely poised and could have gone either way and in the 82nd minute, City were grateful to Schmiechel once again when he produced a top notch point blank save from John.
Next up it was Wright's turn to save his side, producing an excellent tip over to deny Gray once more in what was the final opportunity of tense 90 minutes which did little for either side's hopes of clawing their way out of trouble.
4thegame
Championship heavyweights Southampton and Coventry City remain precariously perched above the relegation zone as both sides fought out a tense goalless draw.
At a wet and blustery St Mary's it was difficult to establish what was worse, the South Coast weather or the football on display.
Goalkeepers Richard Wright and Kasper Schmeichel were scarcely tested as both teams gave a clear indication as to why they find themselves toiling in the nether regions of the Championship table.
It was the home side that started the more positive as they were searching for a much-needed confidence-booster following their five-goal drubbing at Hull City last weekend.
Gregory Vignal 's cross on five minutes looked destined for on-loan Stoke striker Vincent Pericard but Coventry defender Elliott Ward reacted quickly enough to hack the ball clear.
Another Vignal cross then caused problems as it was fizzed in by the French full-back before a deflection found its way to Jason Euell, waiting patiently on the edge of the penalty area, who fired wide.
Euell sent Pericard clear ten minutes later but the former Portsmouth frontman looked chronically short of pace and Schmeichel won the race to clear his lines.
As the Southampton crowd sensed a goal, the atmosphere improved and so did their football for a brief period as some well-worked passing moves presented late chances for Pericard again and striker partner Stern John but neither player managed to trouble Schmeichel.
After a first 45 minutes largely spent keeping warm, Wright was finally called into action early in the second half when he dived low to his right to keep out Michael Mifsud's low drive from 20 yards.
John would have felt he should have done better just before the hour mark as he rose at the far post to connect with Jhon Viafara's deep cross but his header was directed straight into the turf which took the sting out of it.
In the space of six frantic minutes both sides then missed their best chances of the game as first Coventry full-back Isaac Osbourne capitalised on some indecisive defending from Youssef Safri to set up a shooting opportunity but Wright was equal to his toe-poked effort.
Saints substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips, introduced to a mixed reaction from the home faithful, then got on the end of Euell's clipped cross from the by-line but the striker's half-volley from five yards was straight at Schmeichel.
Julian Gray kept Wright busy until the final whistle with a point-blank strike which was tipped over but in fairness the result accurately reflected two teams desperately in need of points but woefully short on quality.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:56 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home