Southampton 1 Coventry 1 - 28/10/2008

Southampton 1 Coventry 1 - 28/10/2008

Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Paul Wotton, Adam Lallana (Tomas Pekhart 82), Jack Cork, Lloyd James, Morgan Schneiderlin, Rudolf Skacel, Andrew Surman (Bradley Wright-Phillips 90), Jake Thomson (Ryan Smith 77), Jason Euell, David McGoldrick
Subs not used: Oscar Gobern, Bartosz Bialkowski
Booked: Lloyd James 84, Morgan Schneiderlin 79, Paul Wotton 80
Goals: David McGoldrick 68

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Elliott Ward, Daniel Fox, Scott Dann, Guillaume Beuzelin, Isaac Osbourne, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle (Robbie Simpson 72), Michael Mifsud, Freddy Eastwood (Leon Best 69), Clinton Morrison
Subs not used: Ben Turner, Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall
Booked: -
Goals: Clinton Morrison 75

Attendance: 14226
Referee: F Graham

Teamtalk
Clinton Morrison struck 15 minutes from time to earn Coventry a 1-1 draw at St Mary's and keep Southampton in the Championship bottom three.

Saints, who have only won three league games so far this season, took a second-half lead thanks to David McGoldrick's 68th-minute strike having dominated for large periods of the game.

However, Morrison, making his first start for a month, hit back with his second of the season after 75 minutes to hand Chris Coleman's side their second 1-1 draw in as many games.

The home side started brightly and fashioned three chances in the opening 10 minutes, Adam Lallana going the closest after five minutes when he forced keeper Kieran Westwood into a save with a strike from inside the area.

Jason Euell also went close for Saints after 18 minutes but Westwood was again on hand to deal comfortably with his header from 12 yards.

The Sky Blues stopper was kept busy throughout the half and only four minutes later kept out on-loan defender Jack Cork's close-range header following neat work from Jake Thomson.

The home side continued to dominate proceedings and Morgan Schneiderlin should have done better when his weak shot from long range failed to trouble Westwood.

It took until after the half hour for the visitors to threaten Saints keeper Kelvin Davis' goal, with Scott Dann coming close with a strong header from 12 yards that drifted past the post.

Coleman's side continued to grow in confidence following the chance and recalled striker Morrison, who grabbed an injury-time equaliser against Derby on Saturday, was unlucky to see his lobbed effort from 18 yards cleared by Paul Wotton.

Lallana fired another effort wide before Freddy Eastwood spurned a great chance just before half-time when he saw his effort blocked by Davis.

Eastwood's effort flattered to deceive and the home side maintained their momentum in the second half, with Rudi Skacel's fierce drive after 54 minutes being kept out only by Guillaume Beuzelin's superb block.

However, the home side took the lead when McGoldrick latched onto Thomson's quick throw-in to fire right-footed from 12 yards past Westwood and end the home side's barren spell of 365 minutes without a goal.

The goal galvanised the visitors into life and, following the introduction of Leon Best in place of Eastwood, they should have pulled level only for Michael Mifsud to skew wide right-footed from inside the area.

Southampton failed to heed the warning and Morrison - despite looking suspiciously off-side - hauled the visitors back in the game after 75 minutes when he pulled down Beuzelin's long ball and slotted past Davis.

The goal set up a frantic final few minutes, with Robbie Simpson forcing Davis into a save with a stinging effort after 78 minutes.

McGoldrick then wasted a chance to grab his second moments later at the other end when he fired wide from 12 yards

There was still time for Simpson and Skacel to have late shots saved at either end but both keepers stood firm as proceedings ended all square.

CCFC
Clinton Morrison notched up his second successive league goal to hand Coventry City a point at St Mary's.

The Republic of Ireland international grabbed his second goal in as many games for Chris Coleman's side just seven minutes after David McGoldrick had given Southampton a second half lead.

The two sides went into break on level terms after a goalless first half at a chilly St Mary's.

The home side started off the brighter of the two with an enthusiastic approach but both sides had equally good oportunities to open the scoring infront of a record low 14,226 fans at Saints' home.

City strikers Clinton Morrison and Freddy Eastwood both had opportunities to break the deadlock for the visitors but Southampton's Jack Cork and David McGoldrick also found themselves in positions to hit the net in what turned out to be a relatively eventless first half.

Cork was just half a ball's width away from heading home a cross from the right after beating the offside trap on 20 minutes, but the delivery was a fraction to high and rolled out harmessly for a goal kick.

And McGoldrick also went close seven minutes before the break when he leapt for another cross from the right with a scissor kick straight down the throat of Keiren Westwood from eight yards out.

But City had theirown chances, Morrison stealing a back pass just after the half hour mark and chipping over Saints 'keeper Kelvin Davis only for his effort to be cleared off the goal line.

And Eastwood also had a close range effort blocked on the line, a trickled ball just outside the six-yard box blasted goalward by the Welsh international only to be met by two Saints defenders.

Southampton again started the second half the more energetic of the two sides and controlled much of the possession for the opening 15 minutes.

And McGoldrick's opener seven minutes after the hour mark came as little surprise considering the hosts' attacking outlook, Adam Lellana spreading the ball cross field from the right to McGoldrick waiting on the edge of the box.

McGoldrick then controlled the pass before taking the ball to City defender Isaac Osbourne and sliding a shot past Keiren Westwood.

The Saints' advantage was short lived though as the Sky Blues went at the hosts with a renewed vigour.

And their pressure soon paid off when Guillaume Beuzelin slid a ball through the Saints defence to Morrison who fooled the offside trap and slid the ball past Kelvin Davis and into the net.

Both sides then saw out the remainder of the second half chasing a winner but neither could fashion another clear cut opportunity to nudge ahead, leaving both sides with a share of the spoils.

4thegame
Clinton Morrison's second goal in as many games ensured Coventry emerged from St Mary's with a point, but it was a performance that scarcely merited anything for Chris Coleman's side.

Morrison sprung a nervous Southampton offside trap 15 minutes from time before calmly placing his finish past the out-stretched arm of goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.

Saints had taken the lead just seven minutes earlier as David McGoldrick controlled a Lloyd James cross to pick his spot at the far post with precision.

Coventry's one-dimensional style was difficult to watch and as Southampton passed their way across the park with ease a home win looked inevitable.

Midfielders Andrew Surman and Adam Lallana combined on five minutes for the England Under-21 midfielder to unfortunately place his shot straight at Keiren Westwood.

A menacing Rudi Skacel cross was heading straight for Jason Euell only for the ball to ricochet off the back of Elliott Ward and force Westwood into a diving save.

For all their possession though Saints lacked the necessary penetration to genuinely pose a scoring threat and Skacel then nearly undid all their hard work as his misplaced back-header fell at the feet of the opportunistic Morrison on 34 minutes.

The Coventry striker chipped an on-rushing Davis but as the ball drifted towards goal captain Paul Wotton was on hand to clear their lines.

Five minutes before the break Euell broke free on the right and despite initially stumbling kept his feet to deliver a pin-point cross to McGoldrick in space.

The young forward connected perfectly, but sent his powerful volley straight at Westwood where either side would have resulted in a certain goal.

Coventry's tiresome long-ball tactics finally bore some results of sort as an Aron Gunnarsson long throw was poorly dealt with and Freddy Eastwood's half-volley was palmed away by Davis.

The second half opened up marginally more than the first and McGoldrick atoned for his earlier miss as James' dipping cross was well tamed before he steadied himself to nestle a right-foot finish into the far corner.

Having just one home league win to their name all season, the Saints then retreated, allowing Coventry the ball and the impetus to seek an equaliser and when Guillaume Beuzelin's through ball found Morrison, there was only one outcome.

Coventry 1 Derby 1 - 25/10/2008

Coventry 1 Derby 1 - 25/10/2008

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Elliott Ward, Daniel Fox, Scott Dann, Aron Gunnarsson, Isaac Osbourne, Guillaume Beuzelin (Marcus Hall 88), Michael Doyle (Clinton Morrison 69), Freddy Eastwood, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 80)
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Ben Turner
Booked: Aron Gunnarsson 70, Scott Dann 74
Goals: Clinton Morrison 90

Derby County: Stephen Bywater, Lewin Nyatanga, Miles Addison, Paul Connolly, Dean Leacock (Claude Davis 80), Jordan Stewart, Przemyslaw Kazmierczak, Mile Sterjovski (Gary Teale 61), Kris Commons, Rob Hulse, Nathan Ellington (Emanuel Villa 75)
Subs not used: Roy Carroll, Ruben Zadkovich
Booked: Miles Addison 36, Kris Commons 63
Goals: Rob Hulse 41

Attendance: 18430
Referee: I Williamson

Teamtalk
Clinton Morrison's first Championship goal for Coventry rescued a late point for the Sky Blues in a 1-1 draw with Derby at the Ricoh Arena.

Morrision, a 69th-minute substitute for Michael Doyle, had not scored a league goal since netting for former club Crystal Palace in a 5-0 win for the Eagles against Burnley on May 4.

The summer signing's two previous goals for Coventry had come in the Carling Cup.

But Morrison broke his league duck by poking home from close range after Michael Mifsud cut the ball back from the byline in the last minute.

Rob Hulse's superb header had looked like giving Derby all three points.

Hulse's 41st-minute goal, his fourth of the season, came somewhat against the run of play after Coventry had dominated the first half with their more adventurous and enterprising football.

Kris Commons crossed from midway inside the Coventry half on the left-hand side and Hulse's glancing header from 15 yards looped beyond Keiren Westwood and into the net at the far post.

Guillaume Beuzelin's recall in place of injured midfielder Jay Tabb was the only change for Coventry.

Tabb aggravated a knee injury and suffered a blow to the ribs against Burnley in midweek.

Derby boss Paul Jewell made three changes after Tuesday's defeat at Blackpool ended the Rams' seven-game unbeaten run. Mile Sterjovski made his first start of the season after Nacer Barazite suffered medial ligament damage at Bloomfield Road.

Lewin Nyatanga replaced Claude Davis and Przemyslaw Kazmierczak came in for Paul Green.

Coventry created most of the early chances. Mifsud should have done better than slice his shot wide when he cut inside Jordan Stewart from the right-hand side after three minutes.

Derby responded soon after and quick feet from Nathan Ellington on the edge of the box saw him glide past two Coventry defenders towards goal but his low shot was saved by the legs of Westwood. Sterjovski's follow-up shot through a crowded area went wide.

A superb demonstration of ball retention and one-touch football from Coventry nearly produced a goal after 11 minutes.

A move involving several players saw the Sky Blues work the ball out to Mifsud on the right wing.

Mifsud teed up Isaac Osbourne whose first-time cross looked like it would be headed into the net by Leon Best but he glanced the ball wide under pressure from a Derby defender.

A surging run and shot from 20 yards by Freddy Eastwood was diverted away from the bottom corner by the fingertips of Stephen Bywater in the 18th minute.

Derby posed a rare threat midway through the first half when Miles Addison tested Westwood with a fierce shot from 25 yards.

However, the Coventry keeper was equal to the task and held on to the ball after diving to his right and plucking it out of the air.

Hulse struck four minutes before half-time but Aron Gunnarsson wasted a glorious chance to equalise for Coventry in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The Icelander controlled a long ball before cutting inside two Derby defenders, but with just Bywater to beat thundered a left-foot shot against the post from 10 yards out.

The story after the break was much the same as the first half. Coventry enjoyed the better of the play but lacked penetration in the final third of the pitch as Derby seemed content to defend their lead and hit the Sky Blues on the break.

Bywater easily saved tame efforts from Gunnarsson and Best at the start of the second half.

Eastwood's rising shot from 25 yards narrowly missed the top corner just before the hour.

Westwood kept Coventry in the game with a superb one-handed save to keep out Addison's volley midway through the second half.

Coventry continued to apply the pressure and Bywater produced superb saves from Gunnarsson and Robbie Simpson's free-kick.

But Coventry were eventually rewarded for their efforts when Morrison struck.

CCFC
Clinton Morrison came off the bench to pop up with a late leveller for Coventry City to salvage a point in a 1-1 stalemate with Derby County at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues went into the break a goal down after Rob Hulse headed in the opener for Derby five minutes before the break.

But Morrison grabbed a leveller, much needed for both for himself and the Sky Blues, to bring to an end a run of two straight defeats.

Former Sheffield United striker Hulse put the visitors ahead after flicking a headed effort from Kris Commons' cross just inside the City penalty area.

The Sky Blues would have felt slightly aggrieved at being behind at half time after producing the majority of the attacking football.

City once again put on a crisp passing display but lacked the final ball in Derby's half which could have handed them a goal.

Much of the half's football had been played in the Rams' half but the visitors appeared content to hit Coventry on the counter.

But for all the Sky Blues' possession, their best opportunity to get on the scoresheet in the first half was two minutes before half time when Aron Gunnarsson crashed a close range shot against the bar when Bywater was already half beaten.

City were already behind by that point, however, when Hulse, who had been largely anonymous up to that point, flicked a header off Commons' cross with his back to goal, the looped ball just beating Keiren Westwood at his back post.

The second half produced a more open display from both sides though who could have added two each to the half time score.

Mifsud produced an excellent wide display, constantly teasing Jordan Stewart and cutting back a number of crosses at the byline.

And Leon Best almost benefitted just before the hour although Addison just got infront to clear the danger.

Addison though made a nuisance for himself at the other end on 66 minutes, Ellington crossing for the big midfielder who stabbed a shot at goal which was only stopped by a fine reflex one-handed save by Keiren Westwood.

The middle part of the second half dulled down slightly but the final 15 minutes undoubtedly belonged to the Sky Blues who, like at Molineux, mounted a late rally only this time it paid dividends.

Gunnarsson's chest trap and volley eight minutes from time was denied by a superb one-handed save from Bywater when the ball was heading into his top corner.

And Mifsud swapped from right wing to left to get to the byline again and cut back into the six yard box only for Stewart to boot the ball out of the goal mouth.

Substitute Robbie Simpson also enjoyed a rare dead ball opportunity two minutes from time, his 25-yard effort tipped over the bat by Bywater.

But City deserved their 89th minute equaliser when replacement Morrison was on hand to poke home another of Mifsud's dangerous cut backs after hi shrugged off two defenders in the corner, much to Morrison's delight as he was joined in celebration by City manager Chris Coleman.

4thegame
An injury-time Clinton Morrison goal gave Coventry City a vital point at home to Derby County.

Derby had led from the 41st minute thanks to Rob Hulse, but Morrison levelled after bundling an effort past keeper Stephen Bywater in a crowded penalty area.

The game started well and Derby could have been a goal up in the eighth minute after good work by Nathan Ellington.

He dribbled through the Coventry defence only for his low shot to be stopped by goalkeeper Keiren Westwood's feet.

Coventry's first decent attempt came ten minutes later when Freddy Eastwood beat two Derby defenders and fired an effort towards the bottom corner from 20 yards only for Bywater to tip around the post.

The tempo had slowed but a sudden burst of pace from Jordan Stewart in the 41st minute helped lead to the first goal.

Stewart laid the ball to Kris Commons on the left and his cross was met by Hulse with the ball looping over Westwood and into the net.

The goal sparked Coventry into life and they could have been level two minutes later.

Scott Dann's through ball found Aron Gunnarsson eight yards from goal but the Iceland international's shot hit the post.

Coventry came out fighting in the second half and Gunnarsson had another chance to level but his shot from 18 yards deflected into the arms of Bywater.

Eastwood also tried his luck and fired a shot from 25 yards but his effort flew just past the bar.

Derby were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure which forced Chris Coleman to change the dynamic of the game.

He introduced Morrison as a fourth striker and the home side again started to pressure.

Gunnarsson hit a half-volley from 16 yards which Bywater saved well, before Stewart came up with a last-gasp clearance as the City strikers waited to hit the ball home.

But just as Derby seemed to be leaving with three points, Michael Mifsud slid a pass across the crowded box and Morrison scored his first league goal for Coventry.

Coventry 1 Burnley 3 - 21/10/2008

Coventry 1 Burnley 3 - 21/10/2008

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Elliott Ward, Daniel Fox, Scott Dann, Michael Doyle (Guillaume Beuzelin 74), Aron Gunnarsson, Isaac Osbourne, Jay Tabb (Robbie Simpson 40), Michael Mifsud, Leon Best (Clinton Morrison 66), Freddy Eastwood
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Marcus Hall
Booked: Robbie Simpson 55, Guillaume Beuzelin 81, Isaac Osbourne 49
Goals: Elliot Ward 40(pen)

Bristol City: Brian Jensen, Steve Caldwell, Graham Alexander, Christian Kalvenes, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Johannes Gudjonsson (Chris Eagles 71), Chris McCann (Robert Blake 79), Wade Elliott, Steven Thompson (Jay Rodriguez 84), Martin Paterson
Subs not used: Remco van der Schaaf, Diego Penny
Booked: Lee Johnson 14
Goals: Michael Duff 52, Robert Blake 88, Chris Eagles 90

Attendance: 14621
Referee: M Thorpe

Teamtalk
Chris Eagles came off the bench to inspire Burnley to a deserved 3-1 victory over Coventry in their Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues had taken the lead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute through Elliott Ward after Graham Alexander had fouled Michael Mifsud before Michael Duff pulled one back six minutes after the half-time break.

Eagles then set up Robbie Blake in the 88th minute with a clever ball which the Clarets striker confidently put away and then capped off an impressive 20-minute performance with a spectacular strike moments later.

The hosts had begun brightly with Mifsud lively in attack but it was the visitors who created the first real chance of the game in the seventh minute.

Winger Wade Elliott delivered a dangerous corner from the right which was met by Chris McCann who saw his header fly just over the bar.

The Clarets continued to press and Martin Paterson brought a smart save out of goalkeeper Keiren Westwood with a firm strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 10th minute.

Coventry enjoyed a spell of possession as the game continued and Freddy Eastwood struck a shot from 25 yards out in the 31st minute but the ball was off-target.

Michael Doyle saw a similarly ambitious - albeit weaker - attempt from long range fail to test Brian Jensen four minutes later.

Chris Coleman's side though were then handed a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot five minutes before the interval when Alexander, making his 700th league start, brought down Malta international Mifsud inside the box and referee Mike Thorpe pointed to the spot.

Ward took the resulting spot-kick and he placed the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net while Duff was booked for his earlier protests.

The hosts were dealt a blow moments before half-time when they lost midfielder Jay Tabb, who had been struggling with a knee problem during the week, and was replaced by Robbie Simpson.

Owen Coyle's side began the second half positively and almost levelled within two minutes of the restart when Steven Caldwell's cross was met by the head of Joey Gudjonsson only for Westwood to save.

A determined Burnley continued to dominate and were rewarded for their endeavour with an equaliser in the 51st minute through Duff.

The Northern Ireland defender created a shooting opportunity inside the penalty area and lashed a left-footed shot past Westwood and high into the net.

The visitors were now rampant and Gudjonsson and Elliott both saw long-range efforts go narrowly wide in the minutes immediately after the goal as Alexander continued to shield the Clarets back four.

Coventry responded and should have regained their lead in the 72nd minute when Daniel Fox delivered a dangerous corner but Scott Dann could only direct a weak header wide of the goal.

Coleman introduced Clinton Morrison for the largely ineffective Leon Best and he almost had an impact in the 77th minute after he was picked out by Fox but could only hit his close-range shot straight at Jensen.

Eastwood then went close moments later but it was Burnley who would take the points late in the game thanks to 71st-minute substitute Eagles.

The former Manchester United winger supplied an intelligent ball for Blake to strike the ball past Westwood and into the net in the 88th minute.

Eagles then grabbed a goal himself two minutes later when he lashed a spectacular 20-yard strike into the top-right corner of the net to seal the points for the visitors.

CCFC
Coventry City saw any chance of a point dissolve against Burnley after five mad minutes at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday night.

City took a one-goal lead into the break after Elliott Ward's spot kick six minutes before half time.

But Michael Duff grabbed a leveller from a set piece for the Clarets six minutes after the interval.

And a double salvo from substitutes Robbie Blake and Chris Eagles in the final five minutes sealed a win for the visitors.

Ward answered answered critics over his role as penalty taker with a sweetly struck spot kick in the 39th minute after Michael Mifsud had been brought down in the area.

The eventual penalty was the conclusion of one of the best attacking moves of a first half which displayed plenty of desire and movement but little in the way of clear cut chances.

Freddy Eastwood and Isaac Osbourne both tried unsuccessful efforts from range and Michael Paterson also got his head to a pair of semi-dangerous deliveries.

But it took an excellent passing move from the Sky Blues to create the opportunity for Ward to open the deadlock with Eastwood, Osbourne, Aron Gunnarsson and Michael Doyle all involved.

The final ball to Mifsud then saw the Maltese international knock the ball past Graham Alexander who then brought down Mifsud as he skipped past him.

Ward then stepped up to the spot a fired to Burnley 'keeper Brian Jensen's right to put Chris Coleman's side ahead.

Jay Tabb was substituted immediately after the opener, replaced by Robbie Simpson, but from their it was relatively quiet as the Sky Blues saw out the remainder of the half to carry the advantage into the interval.

A steady start to the second half only hid what was to follow six minutes after the restart when Wade Elliott's corner delivery flashed across the penalty area to the waiting Duff who controlled the ball at the back post before firing past Westwood.

The second half largely followed the pattern of the first with little in the way of clear cut chances from that moment on.

And outside of the visitors' two late goals, Steven Thompson came closest to hitting the net, dribbling his way through the City defence but stabbing his effort wide of Westwood's post.

Substitutes Blake and Eagles then made the impact Coyle would have hoped, Blake first producing a fine individual goal after skipping through the City defence before chipping over Westwood.

And former Manchester United winger Eagles then put the game beyond the Sky Blues with a well-struck 25-yard effort which found its way into Westwood's top corner.

4thegame
Hawk-eyed super-sub Chris Eagles came off the bench to give visiting Burnley the three points.

The former Manchester United wideman scored a late screamer and set up another to seal the victory for the Clarets.

Both teams got off to a lively start with Coventry providing the initial excitement in the first few seconds.

Michael Mifsud fired low and wide of Brian Jensen's right-hand post after latching onto a Freddy Eastwood ball.

Seconds later the ball was up the other end of the pitch and Burnley's Wade Elliott sent a long-range effort over the Coventry crossbar.

The promising start was not matched by the rest of the half and there was no real action until the 37th minute when the Sky Blues' Maltese striker Mifsud was brought down just inside the area by Coventry-born Graham Alexander.

Burnley's Michael Duff was booked for his part in the protests which followed and almost two minutes had passed before Ward was able to step up and smash the resulting spot-kick high into the net.

The Clarets struck back just seven minutes after the interval when Coventry's backline failed to deal with a Elliott corner and, after a few deflections, Duff stole in at the back post to fire a right-foot drive past the helpless Keiren Westwood.

Coventry had a golden chance to restore their lead in the 63rd minute when Leon Best weaved his way through a crowded area before dragging an effort across goal and inches wide of Jensen's right-hand post from an acute angle.

Burnley should have taken the lead on 77 minutes when Steven Thompson found a gap between Ward and Scott Dann but put his chance wide when it would have been easier to hit the target.

However, the fabulous Eagles came off the bench late on to set up Robbie Blake, who latched onto his through ball before slotting home from close range.

Eagles sealed the victory in the 90th minute with a spectacular effort from the corner of the area which found its way into the top corner.

Wolves 2 Coventry 1 - 16/10/2008

Wolves 2 Coventry 1 - 16/10/2008

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Carl Ikeme, Kevin Foley, Richard Stearman, Neill Collins, Michael Kightly, David Jones, Karl Henry, Stephen Ward (Jason Shackell 85), Chris Iwelumo, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Carlos Edwards 81), Andy Keogh (David Edwards 81)
Subs not used: Wayne Hennessey, Sam Vokes
Booked: Kevin Foley 81, Michael Kightly 47, Chris Iwelumo 90, Karl Henry 85
Goals: Michael Kightly 42, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 59

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Aron Gunnarsson (Guillaume Beuzelin 69), Isaac Osbourne, Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Freddy Eastwood, Michael Mifsud (Clinton Morrison 69), Leon Best
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Robbie Simpson, Marcus Hall
Booked: Daniel Fox 90, Freddy Eastwood 49, Michael Doyle 44, Jay Tabb 84, Leon Best 90
Goals: Michael Mifsud 6

Attendance: 25893
Referee: S Bennett

Teamtalk
Wolves surged back to the top of the Championship after coming from behind to see off Coventry 2-1 in a game full of excitement at Molineux.

Michael Mifsud gave the visitors the lead after just six minutes, firing neatly under Carl Ikeme from close range after a well-worked move on the edge of the area left Wolves' defence for dead.

The Sky Blues looked to be heading into the interval with a deserved lead until Michael Kightly popped up in the 42nd minute to round Keiren Westwood and fire home after evading a visiting defence appealing for offside.

And with Wolves looking a different side after the break, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake took advantage of Westwood's fumble to nick what proved to be the winning goal just before the hour mark.

Much of the pre-match focus centred around opposing strikers Chris Iwelumo after 'that' miss for Scotland and Freddy Eastwood, who was making his first return to Molineux since his high-profile summer move to the Ricoh Arena.

But it was Mifsud who broke the deadlock early on to silence a sell-out home crowd.

Danny Fox played a long ball up from the back before some neat interchange on the edge of the area between Michael Doyle and Eastwood played in Mifsud, who slotted coolly under Ikeme.

Leon Best should have doubled the visitors' advantage six minutes later when put clean through but Ikeme came off his line quickly to smother.

Kightly was at the centre of everything going forward for the home side but the Sky Blues were playing without fear themselves, pressing every player in a gold shirt at every opportunity to win the midfield battle.

Coventry's movement up front was causing Wolves' static back line all sorts of problems and it was Mifsud who found himself clean through after a great ball from Jay Tabb, only for Ikeme to again come to the home side's rescue.

Doyle cleared Ebanks-Blake's header off the line just after the half-hour mark before Kightly levelled matters in the closing stages of the first 45 minutes.

But it was a tale of two halves for Wolves and, under the leadership of captain Karl Henry, they set about dominating proceedings with the kind of free-flowing football that saw them win seven successive league games earlier in the season.

Kightly saw a towering header well-saved by Westwood in the 57th minute, but the Coventry keeper went from hero to villain in the space of 60 seconds.

Kevin Foley started on a surging run down the right and squared a ball back across the area for Kightly, who fired his effort straight at the Sky Blues number one.

However, he could only fumble the strike straight into the path of Ebanks-Blake who bundled home on the line.

The home side started to control the tempo of the game after they went ahead, restricting Coventry to very little in the way of goalscoring opportunities.

Ikeme dived low to his left to save well from substitute Clinton Morrison as the encounter entered the final 15 minutes.

And the Wolves shot stopper then produced two stunning saves to deny firstly Tabb and then Morrison again shortly after.

But Wolves held on for all three points to end a two-match winless streak.

CCFC
Coventry City went down to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux despite taking an early lead and mounting a late rally for a point.

Michael Mifsud handed City a dream start with his fifth minute opener but Michael Kightly equalised four minutes before the break and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake bundled in the winner three minutes before the hour mark.

Mifsud netted his first of the season after a good move by the Sky Blues, Michael Doyle taking the ball in the Wolves area with his back to goal before laying off for Freddy Eastwood who then skipped past one defender and knocked the ball to Mifsud who tapped the ball underneath Wolves 'keeper Carl Ikeme.

The hosts responded to the opener as Mick McCarthy would have hoped though with a positive display of attacking football.

But for the majority of the half the Sky Blues rearguard prevented Wolves from delivering the final ball, thus keeping the ball away from City 'keeper Keirenn Westwood.

Coventry could have been 2-0 up after ten minutes, Mifsud playing through Leon Best who got to the ball ahead of the oncoming Ikeme but had little time to send the ball anywhere else but at Ikeme's legs.

Wolves almost levelled the score just after the half hour mark, Kevin Foley's dangerous delivery after a short corner finding Richard Stearman whose header was cleared off the line by Michael Doyle.

The home side could not have been begrudged their leveller on 41 minutes though, especially from Kightly who had been the source of most things positive for Wolves.

Keough floated in a cross deep to to the far post which Kightly took in his stride, allowing him to skip across the box past Westwood and fire into a half-empty net.

Wolves also started the second half the more attack minded of the two sides and continued to push for another goal.

David Jones's half-volleyed effort went straight at Westwood after 52 minutes and the City 'keeper also had to make a good save from Kightly's header four minutes later, diving to his right.

But Wolves' pressure soon turned into an ugly goal to give them the lead, Kightly cutting back a ball at the by-line for Chris Iwelumo whose shot was parried by Westwood, allowing Ebanks-Blake to bundle the ball home with his head from close range.

The introduction of Clinton Morrison and Guillaume Beuzelin for the Sky Blues gave the visitors a boost as City mounted a 15-minute period of pressure on the Wolves defence although they could not turn it into a leveler.

Morrison managed a low shot from the edge of the area four minutes after his introduction but Ikeme got down well to save.

And the Wolves 'keeper again frustrated the City attack with three close range saves in quick succession 12 minutes from time.

First he turned away Jay Tabb's flicked effort at the near post and then twice threw himself infront of half volleys from Morrison after the ball from Tabb's initial effort spilled forward.

Elliott Ward was also only a bootlace away from a late equaliser, Danny Fox's free kick delivery to the back post headed back across the six-yard area but Ward just failed to get the slightest of touches which would have sent the ball into the net.

4thegame
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly made decisive returns from injury as they combined to fire Wolves back to the top of the Championship table after a 2-1 win over Coventry City at Molineux.

Kightly, who had recovered from a hamstring strain that forced him to miss one game, fired Wolves back on to level terms just before half-time to cancel out Michael Mifsud's sixth-minute opener.

Ebanks-Blake, back in action after missing a match with a knee injury, set the seal on the comeback when he started and finished the move that saw him grab his sixth goal of the season in the 59th minute.

Wolves, who had lost their previous two games, initially had to ride their luck to stay in contention after Mifsud's opener.

In-form Coventry had arrived at Molineux on a run of just one defeat in six games and if their finishing had been better they could have been out of sight before Kightly sparked the revival.

But they found the Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme a tough nut to crack and he ended Coventry's hopes of rescuing a point with a stunning double save in the 79th minute from Jay Tabb and Clinton Morrison.

For the third game running, Wolves were undone by an early strike when Mifsud finished off a smart four man move.

Scott Dann fed Aron Gunnarsson and his pass picked out a run by Freddy Eastwood.

Eastwood, making his return to Molineux after leaving in the summer, rolled a pin point pass into the path of Mifsud who drilled a low shot past Ikeme.

Coventry should really hammered home their advantage but were frustrated by Ikeme who kept Wolves in the game.

He denied Leon Best after a mistake by Neill Collins and then frustrated Isaac Osbourne and Jay Tabb with smart saves.

Wolves only really came to life in the final 15 minutes of the opening period and Richard Stearman was unlucky not to grab an equaliser when his close range header was cleared off the line by Danny Fox.

But Wolves pressure finally paid off three minutes before the interval when a teasing cross from Andy Keogh picked out Kightly.

The England Under-21 international looked to have let the ball go too far across the face of goal, but he was able to turn neatly before beating Kieren Westwood from eight yards.

Coventry struggled to keep the lively Kightly in check and it was no surprise that he had a hand in Ebanks-Blake's decisive strike.

Ebanks-Blake fed a right-wing cross into the area for Kightly whose 16 yard drive was spilled up into the air by Westwood.

Westwood did his best to grab the loose ball but Ebanks-Blake was on hand to muscle it home at the near post.

Coventry 4 Southampton 1 - 04/10/2008

Coventry 4 Southampton 1 - 04/10/2008

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Elliott Ward, Daniel Fox (Marcus Hall 81), Scott Dann, Isaac Osbourne, Jay Tabb, Michael Doyle, Aron Gunnarsson, Freddy Eastwood (Michael Mifsud 89), Leon McKenzie, Leon Best (Clinton Morrison 81)
Subs not used: Guillaume Beuzelin, Andy Marshall
Booked: Leon Best 18
Goals:Jay Tabb 19,87, Leon McKenzie 33, Leon Best 47

Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Oliver Lancashire, Joseph Mills, Chris Perry, Jack Cork, Lloyd James (Simon Gillett 58), Adam Lallana (Tomas Pekhart 59), Andrew Surman, Paul Wotton (Bradley Wright-Phillips 58), Jordan Robertson, David McGoldrick
Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Jamie White
Booked: Lloyd James 42, Kelvin Davis 36
Goals: Andrew Surman 63

Attendance: 15518
Referee: M Jones

Teamtalk
Leon Best celebrated his first start of the season with a goal against his former employers as Coventry beat Southampton 4-1 at The Ricoh.

Southampton started well but it was the home side who went in front after 19 minutes when Leon McKenzie's fine cross was headed in by the onrushing Jay Tabb.

Referee Michael Jones then sparked controversy by awarding a penalty to Coventry after adjudging Ollie Lancashire to have fouled Best when contact looked minimal.

Elliott Ward's foolish chipped penalty was saved by Kelvin Davis, but the Sky Blues did extend their lead in the 33rd minute when Scott Dann nodded the ball into the path of McKenzie who beat the offside trap and finished from close range.

Best made the game virtually safe when he stabbed home two minutes into the second half before Saints pulled one back through Andrew Surman.

The visitors pushed for a way back into the game but with four minutes remaining Freddy Eastwood got away down the left and crossed for Tabb who volleyed in his second.

Southampton started well but the hosts went ahead against the run of play when McKenzie's superb ball found Tabb who got in front of his marker to plant a bullet header past Davis.

Eight minutes later Jones shocked the visiting fans when he pointed to the spot after Lancashire attempted to clear the ball and connected with Best.

However justice was done when Ward cheekily tried to chip the penalty home but Davis gathered the ball comfortably, much to the dismay of manager Chris Coleman.

Moments later Best hit the post from close range when he should have scored but the home side did double their lead when Aron Gunnarsson's long throw was flicked on by Dann to McKenzie, who swept home.

Gunnarsson should have made it 3-0 just before half-time when he went clean through after a one-two with Eastwood but his shot hit Davis' shoulder.

Southampton began the second half sluggishly and paid the price when Daniel Fox's cross found Best at the far post and he stabbed home.

Best's goal appeared to have put his former club to the sword and Southampton boss Jan Poortvliet responded by making a triple substitution with Bradley Wright-Phillips, Simon Gillett and Tomas Pekhart all coming on.

The change paid almost immediate dividends with 63 minutes gone when Surman headed in from Wright-Phillips' wayward shot.

Michael Doyle should have restored Coventry's three-goal lead but blazed over while at the other end, Keiren Westwood did well to deny David McGoldrick.

Southampton pressed in the hope of clawing their way back but that hope was extinguished late on when Tabb volleyed home after good work from the impressive Eastwood.

CCFC
Coventry City picked up a maximum points haul at the Ricoh Arena thanks to a Jay Tabb double and strikes from Leon McKenzie and Leon Best.

The Sky Blues finally found some form in front of goal to pick up their first three points for three games and propel themselves back up the Championship table.

They had to weather some early pressure and a crisp display of passing from the visitors but City soon took the upper hand when Tabb broke the deadlock after 18 minutes and McKenzie doubled their lead just after the half hour mark.

Both sides were relatively quiet in the build-up to Tabb's opener, plenty of movement but little in the way of chances.

Southampton were the side in the ascendancy for the opening 15 minutes but they were caught out three minutes later when McKenzie was released down the left wing, allowing him to put in a deep cross at Kelvin Davis' back post where Tabb was waiting to head home from just a few yards out.

It could have been two-nil after 27 minutes when Leon Best was upended in the area by Oliver Lancashire, but Elliott Ward attempted to outwit Davis with his penalty which just went straight into the hands of the 'keeper.

Coventry did not have to wait long to get their second though two minutes after the half hour, started by a long throw from Aron Gunnarsson on the right.

His long delivery got a flick off the head of Ward in the area before going straight to the feet of McKenzie who had the easiest of tap ins.

Gunnarsson could also have been on the scoresheet three minutes before the break when he found himself one-on-one with Davis.

But an awkward bounce meant the Icelandic international had to wait for the ball to come down before he lashed a half-volley straight at Davis.

Coventry could not have asked for a better start to the second half though when Best made it 3-0 a minute after the restart.

Good work from Freddy Eastwood freed up McKenzie whose through ball to Fox allowed the left back to slide the ball from the by-line across to Best for an easy tap in and his first goal of the season.

Southampton clawed one back just after the hour mark when Andrew Surman benefited from a loose ball parried by Keiren Westwood from substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips' effort.

But City could have grabbed a fourth earlier than they did when, three minutes later, an identical move to the one that saw them get their third gifted Doyle the chance to put one away only for him to blaze his effort over the bar from ten yards.

David McGoldrick had a chance to further narrow the deficit for the visitors when he found himself through on goal only to hit a low shot straight at Westwood who held onto the ball.

But Tabb put the result beyond any doubt five minutes from time when a deep cross from the left from Freddy Eastwood found the pint-sized Irishman at the back post for him to smash a half-volley past Davis.

4thegame
Coventry City hit four goals for the first time this season to beat Southampton at the Ricoh Arena.

Jay Tabb (2), Leon McKenzie and Leon Best all notched for City in a free-flowing performance.

Coventry hit their first in the 19th minute. Freddy Eastwood's flick to McKenzie on the wing gave him the chance to put a cross into the box and Tabb leapt to head a powerful effort into Kelvin Davis' net.

Ten minutes later, the Sky Blues had a golden chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Oliver Lancashire tripped Best in the area and Elliott Ward stepped up but his weak chip did little to trouble Davis.

The home side did not let the miss affect them and continued to pressure.

Dan Fox - one of the players watched by England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce - put in a dangerous cross in the 33rd minute which Scott Dann nodded down for Best to finish - but he hit the post despite having an empty net to aim at.

Coventry made it 2-0 a minute later. Aron Gunnarsson's long throw was nodded headed into McKenzie's path and his low drive gave Davis no chance.

Gunnarsson had a chance of his own two minutes before the break when he was put through by Eastwood, but the Icelandic international put his effort straight at Davis.

The half-time break did little to halt the Sky Blues' attacks and, two minutes after the restart, McKenzie passed to Fox on the left of the area.

He charged into the box and placed a low cross into the path of former Saint Best to make it 3-0.

Southampton head-coach Jan Poortvliet decided to shake-up his side and introduced Tomas Pekhart, Simon Gillett and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

The latter was on hand to give the Saints a glimmer of hope when his cross found Andrew Surman 12 yards out to make it 3-1 in the 62nd minute.

Southampton tried to claw their way back into the game, but Coventry held out before Tabb scored his second with a half-volley from Eastwood's cross in the 87th minute.