Sheffield Weds 0 Coventry 1 - 22/11/2008
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Coventry 1 - 22/11/2008
Sheffield Wednesday: Lee Grant, Mark Beevers, Anthony McMahon, Lewis Buxton, Richard Wood, Sean McAllister, Marcus Tudgay, James O'Connor, Jermaine Johnson, Francis Jeffers (Jimmy Smith 85), Leon Clarke (Deon Burton 69)
Booked: Jermaine Johnson 28
Subs not used: Richard O'Donnell, Frankie Simek, Rocky Lekej
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Stephen Wright, Robbie Simpson (Marcus Hall 90), Guillaume Beuzelin, Michael Doyle, Freddy Eastwood (Leon Best 79), Michael Mifsud (Isaac Osbourne 71), Clinton Morrison
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Ben Turner
Booked: Elliott Ward 73, Freddy Eastwood 76, Stephen Wright 84
Goals: Clinton Morrison 60
Attendance: 16119
Referee: K Friend
Teamtalk
Clinton Morrison headed the winner as Coventry beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 to earn their third away win of the season in the Championship.
The former Crystal Palace striker's header flew into the top corner in the 58th minute to send Sheffield Wednesday crashing to only their second league defeat of the season at Hillsborough.
But at the end of a week when manager Brian Laws questioned which direction the South Yorkshire club were heading in, the Owls were left floundering by Morrison's instinctive finish.
Wednesday had the better of the first half, with big striker Leon Clarke twice going close to lifting a tepid encounter between two teams languishing in lower mid-table.
Laws' side huffed and puffed in a bid to rescue a point in the latter stages, but Marcus Tudgay blazed over and the ever-decreasing crowds at Hillsborough - today's was 16,119 - says much about the current ambition of a club which has yet to find a new chairman nearly 12 months after the departure of the unpopular Dave Allen.
Laws was forced to make four changes to the side that lost at Derby last week, with Francis Jeffers, Sean McAllister, on-loan Stoke defender Lewis Buxton and Jermaine Johnson all returning.
Coventry manager Chris Coleman responded to successive defeats by recalling Stephen Wright, Elliott Ward, Guillaume Beuzelin, Freddy Eastwood and Michael Mifsud.
Wednesday were denied a flying start only by the woodwork.
Leon Clarke swung a foot at a loose ball in the Coventry penalty area and Beuzelin's last-ditch block forced the ball to spin over goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and rebound off the crossbar in the first minute.
Coventry wasted their own golden chance four minutes later when Michael Doyle dallied in the area following Clinton Morrison's cross.
Clarke then headed McAllister's cross narrowly high and wide, Westwood tipped McMahon's bouncing ball into the area over his crossbar and Morrison deflected McMahon's curling cross for a corner.
Westwood did well to punch away another dangerous ball in from McMahon, this time a corner in the 33rd minute.
Coventry began the second half with more intent and Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant reacted sharply to punch Robbie Simpson's cross clear.
Wednesday's penalty appeals when the ball hit Daniel Fox's hand in the area came to nothing before the home side spurned a golden chance.
Tudgay played in Johnson on the left-hand edge of the penalty area and the Owls winger surged powerfully through on goal only to shoot wide.
The game at last had livened up and when McAllister rifled the ball beyond Westwood from inside the area, the Owls thought they had broken the deadlock, but referee Kevin Friend spotted his assistant's flag raised for offside.
Moments later Coventry stole into the lead. Fox fired in a fine first-time cross and Morrison headed the ball past a static Grant into the top corner in the 58th minute.
Jeffers went close to hauling Wednesday level with a curling free-kick following Ward's lunge on James O'Connor, but Westwood reacted in brilliant fashion to fingertip the ball away for a corner.
Tudgay blasted the ball over at the far post when a little more luck and composure could have rescued a point, but Coventry held firm.
CCFC
The Sky Blues got back to winning ways with a hard-fought win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Clinton Morrison's sixth goal of the season - a superb header - was enough to give City the three points in a tight affair at Hillsborough.
Chris Coleman made four changes to the side that lost to Plymouth last weekend. Freddy Eastwood, Stephen Wright, Guillaume Beuzelin and Michael Mifsud were recalled, with Leon Best and Isaac Osbourne dropping to the bench. Jay Tabb was left out of the squad due to flu while Aron Gunnarsson served a one-match suspension.
Wednesday started brightly and could have been ahead in the first minute when Beuzelin's clearance deflected off Wednesday's Leon Clarke towards goal. The ball looped over Keiren Westwood but hit the crossbar and was cleared.
Coleman's men had their first chance after five minutes when Clinton Morrison did well to get a cross into the area. The ball fell to Michael Doyle but the Irishman failed to control the ball and he was tackled before he could shoot.
Wednesday were causing problems and Clarke came close in the ninth minute when he rose to meet a Sean McAllister cross - but his header went over the bar.
City were struggling to maintain possession and after Danny Fox had a shot blocked in the 18th minute, Wednesday's McMahon sent a deceiving cross towards goal which Westwood had to tip over the bar again. Wednesday failed to produce an effort from the corner.
Jermaine Johnson was causing problems for City and was half a yard away from winning a penalty. He skipped past Wright and Beuzelin, taking a tumble. The referee gave a free-kick much to the annoyance of City's players and fans but the set-piece leads to nothing.
Johnson received a booking minutes later in the 28th minute when he went in hard of Simpson. All 22 players came together after the incidient but things stayed calm as Simpson received treatment.
Wednesday were back on the attack minutes later and after winning a corner, McMahon's cross went directly towards goal causing Westwood to save well in the 33rd minute.
The game suffered from a quiet patch with neither side clinical in the final third. Wednesday's fans voiced their frustration at their side's forward play with loud groans greeting every misplaced pass.
But the second half started with a bang and Morrison got City's first effort on target after rising to meet a Fox corner. The header looked goal bound but Wednesday swiped the ball off the line.
Coventry's passing had improved and they looked more cutting than in the first period. But the home side still threatened and Johnson should have given them the lead in the 55th minute when he broke through City's defence to leave himself with a clear chance at Westwood's goal - but his shot was soft and wide.
Minutes later ,City punished the Owls for the miss. Fox broke down the left and played a dangerous ball towards Morrison. The former Palace man rose above his defender and flicked a sublime headed into the top corner of Grant's goal to give City the lead.
City were buoyed by the goal and defended solidly for ten minutes while matching the hosts in midfield. Isaac Osbourne was introduced to support the midfield in the 71st minute, with Mifsud making way.
Wednesday eventually had a chance after Ward tripped James O'Connor 20 yards from goal in the 74th minute. Francis Jeffers stepped up and curled the ball over the wall - but the outstretched hand of Westwood tipped the effort around the post.
Ward and Dann continued to defend well after the effort, clearing away every Wednesday cross and attack. Best was introduced in the 78th minute and greeted with loud cheers from the excellent away support.
Wright was also on hand to protect City's lead in the 83rd minute when the ball fell to the feet of Burton six yards from goal. The returning defender dived to block a certain shot and the ball was cleared.
Wright stopped an attack illegally a minute later and received a booking. Wednesday then had a great chance to level, with the ball dropping to Tudgay at the back post four yards out - but he could only blast the ball high into the stand.
The Owls pushed but failed to test Westwood again. Hall was brought on to steady the defence for the closing stages and despite two late corners, City held strong to get all three points.
CoventryCity: Westwood, Wright, Dann, Ward, Simpson (Hall 90), Doyle, Beuzelin, Mifsud (Osbourne 71), Morrison, Eastwood (Best 78). Subs: Marshall (gk), Turner
Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, McMahon, Wood, Beevers, Buxton, Tudgay, O'Connor, Johnson, McAllister, Jeffers (Smith 85), Clarke (Burton 69). Subs: O'Donnell (gk), Lekaj, Simek
4thegame
Clinton Morrison killed off Sheffield Wednesday with a stunning goal to claim a rare Coventry City victory as Brian Laws' side carved out plenty of chances but missed the lot.
The 29-year-old striker hit the winner in the 60th minute as Chris Coleman's side clung on for only their second win in seven games.
Coventry escaped in the opening minute as Guillaume Beuzelin and Leon Clarke challenged with the ball hitting the Coventry midfielder as it ballooned over Kieren Westwood's head and cannoned off the bar.
Clarke should have broken the deadlock after starting and finishing a sweeping move as he rose unchallenged to meet Sean McAllister's precise cross only to head over from six yards.
Westwood was caught out when he misjudged a Tony McMahon cross as he back-pedalled to fist the ball over the bar and a Francis Jeffers free-kick caused havoc as Morrison tried to clear and almost steered the ball into the Coventry net.
The Sheffield side, with just one win from six games, escaped on 46 minutes as Morrison stooped to reach a Daniel Fox corner only for James O'Connor to clear his close-range header off the line.
Johnson cut inside from the left flank but pulled his right-foot shot wide of the target before Morrison broke the deadlock with a stunning goal.
The well-travelled striker stretched to meet Fox's cross to finish with a bullet header from 12 yards.
Westwood pulled off a stunning save to push a Jeffers free-kick round the post and Marcus Tudgay fired a McMahon free-kick over the top from six yards as the Hillsborough side pounded the Coventry goal without success in the dying minutes.
Sheffield Wednesday: Lee Grant, Mark Beevers, Anthony McMahon, Lewis Buxton, Richard Wood, Sean McAllister, Marcus Tudgay, James O'Connor, Jermaine Johnson, Francis Jeffers (Jimmy Smith 85), Leon Clarke (Deon Burton 69)
Booked: Jermaine Johnson 28
Subs not used: Richard O'Donnell, Frankie Simek, Rocky Lekej
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Stephen Wright, Robbie Simpson (Marcus Hall 90), Guillaume Beuzelin, Michael Doyle, Freddy Eastwood (Leon Best 79), Michael Mifsud (Isaac Osbourne 71), Clinton Morrison
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Ben Turner
Booked: Elliott Ward 73, Freddy Eastwood 76, Stephen Wright 84
Goals: Clinton Morrison 60
Attendance: 16119
Referee: K Friend
Teamtalk
Clinton Morrison headed the winner as Coventry beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 to earn their third away win of the season in the Championship.
The former Crystal Palace striker's header flew into the top corner in the 58th minute to send Sheffield Wednesday crashing to only their second league defeat of the season at Hillsborough.
But at the end of a week when manager Brian Laws questioned which direction the South Yorkshire club were heading in, the Owls were left floundering by Morrison's instinctive finish.
Wednesday had the better of the first half, with big striker Leon Clarke twice going close to lifting a tepid encounter between two teams languishing in lower mid-table.
Laws' side huffed and puffed in a bid to rescue a point in the latter stages, but Marcus Tudgay blazed over and the ever-decreasing crowds at Hillsborough - today's was 16,119 - says much about the current ambition of a club which has yet to find a new chairman nearly 12 months after the departure of the unpopular Dave Allen.
Laws was forced to make four changes to the side that lost at Derby last week, with Francis Jeffers, Sean McAllister, on-loan Stoke defender Lewis Buxton and Jermaine Johnson all returning.
Coventry manager Chris Coleman responded to successive defeats by recalling Stephen Wright, Elliott Ward, Guillaume Beuzelin, Freddy Eastwood and Michael Mifsud.
Wednesday were denied a flying start only by the woodwork.
Leon Clarke swung a foot at a loose ball in the Coventry penalty area and Beuzelin's last-ditch block forced the ball to spin over goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and rebound off the crossbar in the first minute.
Coventry wasted their own golden chance four minutes later when Michael Doyle dallied in the area following Clinton Morrison's cross.
Clarke then headed McAllister's cross narrowly high and wide, Westwood tipped McMahon's bouncing ball into the area over his crossbar and Morrison deflected McMahon's curling cross for a corner.
Westwood did well to punch away another dangerous ball in from McMahon, this time a corner in the 33rd minute.
Coventry began the second half with more intent and Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant reacted sharply to punch Robbie Simpson's cross clear.
Wednesday's penalty appeals when the ball hit Daniel Fox's hand in the area came to nothing before the home side spurned a golden chance.
Tudgay played in Johnson on the left-hand edge of the penalty area and the Owls winger surged powerfully through on goal only to shoot wide.
The game at last had livened up and when McAllister rifled the ball beyond Westwood from inside the area, the Owls thought they had broken the deadlock, but referee Kevin Friend spotted his assistant's flag raised for offside.
Moments later Coventry stole into the lead. Fox fired in a fine first-time cross and Morrison headed the ball past a static Grant into the top corner in the 58th minute.
Jeffers went close to hauling Wednesday level with a curling free-kick following Ward's lunge on James O'Connor, but Westwood reacted in brilliant fashion to fingertip the ball away for a corner.
Tudgay blasted the ball over at the far post when a little more luck and composure could have rescued a point, but Coventry held firm.
CCFC
The Sky Blues got back to winning ways with a hard-fought win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Clinton Morrison's sixth goal of the season - a superb header - was enough to give City the three points in a tight affair at Hillsborough.
Chris Coleman made four changes to the side that lost to Plymouth last weekend. Freddy Eastwood, Stephen Wright, Guillaume Beuzelin and Michael Mifsud were recalled, with Leon Best and Isaac Osbourne dropping to the bench. Jay Tabb was left out of the squad due to flu while Aron Gunnarsson served a one-match suspension.
Wednesday started brightly and could have been ahead in the first minute when Beuzelin's clearance deflected off Wednesday's Leon Clarke towards goal. The ball looped over Keiren Westwood but hit the crossbar and was cleared.
Coleman's men had their first chance after five minutes when Clinton Morrison did well to get a cross into the area. The ball fell to Michael Doyle but the Irishman failed to control the ball and he was tackled before he could shoot.
Wednesday were causing problems and Clarke came close in the ninth minute when he rose to meet a Sean McAllister cross - but his header went over the bar.
City were struggling to maintain possession and after Danny Fox had a shot blocked in the 18th minute, Wednesday's McMahon sent a deceiving cross towards goal which Westwood had to tip over the bar again. Wednesday failed to produce an effort from the corner.
Jermaine Johnson was causing problems for City and was half a yard away from winning a penalty. He skipped past Wright and Beuzelin, taking a tumble. The referee gave a free-kick much to the annoyance of City's players and fans but the set-piece leads to nothing.
Johnson received a booking minutes later in the 28th minute when he went in hard of Simpson. All 22 players came together after the incidient but things stayed calm as Simpson received treatment.
Wednesday were back on the attack minutes later and after winning a corner, McMahon's cross went directly towards goal causing Westwood to save well in the 33rd minute.
The game suffered from a quiet patch with neither side clinical in the final third. Wednesday's fans voiced their frustration at their side's forward play with loud groans greeting every misplaced pass.
But the second half started with a bang and Morrison got City's first effort on target after rising to meet a Fox corner. The header looked goal bound but Wednesday swiped the ball off the line.
Coventry's passing had improved and they looked more cutting than in the first period. But the home side still threatened and Johnson should have given them the lead in the 55th minute when he broke through City's defence to leave himself with a clear chance at Westwood's goal - but his shot was soft and wide.
Minutes later ,City punished the Owls for the miss. Fox broke down the left and played a dangerous ball towards Morrison. The former Palace man rose above his defender and flicked a sublime headed into the top corner of Grant's goal to give City the lead.
City were buoyed by the goal and defended solidly for ten minutes while matching the hosts in midfield. Isaac Osbourne was introduced to support the midfield in the 71st minute, with Mifsud making way.
Wednesday eventually had a chance after Ward tripped James O'Connor 20 yards from goal in the 74th minute. Francis Jeffers stepped up and curled the ball over the wall - but the outstretched hand of Westwood tipped the effort around the post.
Ward and Dann continued to defend well after the effort, clearing away every Wednesday cross and attack. Best was introduced in the 78th minute and greeted with loud cheers from the excellent away support.
Wright was also on hand to protect City's lead in the 83rd minute when the ball fell to the feet of Burton six yards from goal. The returning defender dived to block a certain shot and the ball was cleared.
Wright stopped an attack illegally a minute later and received a booking. Wednesday then had a great chance to level, with the ball dropping to Tudgay at the back post four yards out - but he could only blast the ball high into the stand.
The Owls pushed but failed to test Westwood again. Hall was brought on to steady the defence for the closing stages and despite two late corners, City held strong to get all three points.
CoventryCity: Westwood, Wright, Dann, Ward, Simpson (Hall 90), Doyle, Beuzelin, Mifsud (Osbourne 71), Morrison, Eastwood (Best 78). Subs: Marshall (gk), Turner
Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, McMahon, Wood, Beevers, Buxton, Tudgay, O'Connor, Johnson, McAllister, Jeffers (Smith 85), Clarke (Burton 69). Subs: O'Donnell (gk), Lekaj, Simek
4thegame
Clinton Morrison killed off Sheffield Wednesday with a stunning goal to claim a rare Coventry City victory as Brian Laws' side carved out plenty of chances but missed the lot.
The 29-year-old striker hit the winner in the 60th minute as Chris Coleman's side clung on for only their second win in seven games.
Coventry escaped in the opening minute as Guillaume Beuzelin and Leon Clarke challenged with the ball hitting the Coventry midfielder as it ballooned over Kieren Westwood's head and cannoned off the bar.
Clarke should have broken the deadlock after starting and finishing a sweeping move as he rose unchallenged to meet Sean McAllister's precise cross only to head over from six yards.
Westwood was caught out when he misjudged a Tony McMahon cross as he back-pedalled to fist the ball over the bar and a Francis Jeffers free-kick caused havoc as Morrison tried to clear and almost steered the ball into the Coventry net.
The Sheffield side, with just one win from six games, escaped on 46 minutes as Morrison stooped to reach a Daniel Fox corner only for James O'Connor to clear his close-range header off the line.
Johnson cut inside from the left flank but pulled his right-foot shot wide of the target before Morrison broke the deadlock with a stunning goal.
The well-travelled striker stretched to meet Fox's cross to finish with a bullet header from 12 yards.
Westwood pulled off a stunning save to push a Jeffers free-kick round the post and Marcus Tudgay fired a McMahon free-kick over the top from six yards as the Hillsborough side pounded the Coventry goal without success in the dying minutes.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:41 pm
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