Swansea 0 Coventry 0 - 26/12/2008
Swansea 0 Coventry 0 - 26/12/2008
Swansea City: Dorus de Vries, Angel Zaragoza Rangel, Alan Tate, Gary Monk, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen (Gorka Pintado 59), Thomas Butler (Mark Gower 82), Leon Britton, Garcia Jordi Gomez, Darren Pratley, Jason Scotland
Subs not used: Andrea Orlandi, Febian Brandy, Alberto Polo Serran
Booked: Thomas Butler 36
Goals: -
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, Ben Turner, Elliott Ward, Marcus Hall, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud (Leon Best 77), Clinton Morrison (Guillaume Beuzelin 84), Freddy Eastwood, Robbie Simpson (Leon McKenzie 60)
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Curtis Wynter
Booked: Stephen Wright 50, Aron Gunnarsson 86, Guillaume Beuzelin 90, Keiren Westwood 88
Goals: -
Attendance: 17603
Referee: S Tanner
Teamtalk
Swansea were unfortunate not to win their Championship clash with Coventry after dominating the goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium.
The hosts had the majority of the chances but could not make a breakthrough and have now drawn seven league games in a row.
Swansea named an unchanged line-up from the side which drew with Blackpool last weekend, while Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman called up Marcus Hall and Michael Doyle in place of Daniel Fox and Jay Tabb.
The home side had the first chance of the match, Tom Butler cutting in from the left-hand side and curling a shot into the hands of Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
The Swans forward Jason Scotland then created a chance from nothing, jinking his way past two defenders but his shot was blocked by Ben Turner.
Butler had his second chance of the game after 17 minutes when he ran at the defence at pace and curled a shot towards the top corner, but Westwood was equal to it and tipped the ball over the bar.
The game failed to pick up any pace with both sides failing to stamp their authority on the game and a poor effort from long range from Joe Allen for the Swans was easily collected by Westwood.
Coventry continued to reduce the hosts to long-range chances with Darren Pratley and Scotland both dragging shots wide from outside the area.
The visitors had a fine chance after 32 minutes as Freddie Eastwood found himself free in the area but his shot was palmed away by Dorus De Vries.
Swansea started the second half brightly and Jordi Gomez tested Westwood with a free-kick from 20-yards although the ball went straight into the stopper's hands.
A quick break from the hosts saw Butler charge down the left-hand side and pull the ball across for Gomez but his shot crept wide of the upright as Roberto Martinez's men started to take control.
Martinez brought Gorka Pintado on as his side went in search of an opening goal and Pintado set Gomez away, but his third shot of the game again flew wide as frustrations began to show for the home side.
Scotland came close after turning on the edge of the area and his powerful shot was punched wide by Westwood as the Sky Blues keeper continued to keep his side on level terms.
Coventry substitute Leon Best had a half-chance but he flashed his shot straight at De Vries in the closing stages as both sides had to settle for a point.
CCFC
Coventry City remain on the fringes of the top half of the Championship table after picking up a point with a sturdy Boxing Day performance at Liberty Stadium.
The Sky Blues' 1,000-strong travelling support saw little in the way of goals but were treated to a stubborn City performance which earned them a point against manager Chris Coleman's hometown club, still leaving them within touching distance of the top half of the table at the midway point of their Christmas fixture schedule.
Swansea enjoyed the majority of possession and chances and on many occassions were frustrated by Coventry's defend-in-numbers approach.
But the Sky Blues possessed more than enough speed to hit the hosts on the counter attack and almost reaped the rewards of a breakaway in the second half.
Coventry created chances which could quite easily have handed them a potential winner, but it was Swansea who created opportunities with more frequency and could easily have felt they had had their pockets picked by the Artful Dodger had the Sky Blues come away with a maximum points haul.
But for a pair of excellent saves from Coventry shotstopper Keiren Westwood, the hosts could have headed into the interval with a lead although Chris Coleman's side had opportunities of their own to break the deadlock in an opening period which provided plenty in the way of lively entertainment but little in the way of final chances.
City 'keeper Westwood was called into action for the most crucial save of the first half after 17 minutes when he stretched to tip Thomas Butler's effort over his top left hand corner, a save typical of his recent form.
But Swansea shotstopper Dorus De Vries was also called into action just after the half hour mark, getting down low to make an excellent save from Freddy Eastwood's effort for the Sky Blues, an effort De Vries palmed almost into the path of the approaching Michael Mifsud until Swans bodies could clear the ball to safety.
A bout of gung-ho defending from City also ensured they entered the break on level terms with entire back four Stephen Wright, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner and Marcus Hall all throwing themselves infront of close range efforts from the visitors.
And Westwood was also called upon again just two minutes before the half time break with a two-handed save again from Butler, possessing enough awareness to push the parried ball out of the path of any bodies on the follow up.
But the Sky Blues finished off the half on a high note, Eastwood pairing up with Robbie Simpson on the breakaway only for Simpson to be barged in the area, allowing the Swans to clear the ball and prevent an opener which would have been harsh on the home side given their performance in the first 45 minutes.
Coventry started off the brighter of the two sides in the second half, Michael Doyle using Coventry's first corner of the afternoon after 53 minutes to cause havoc in the Swansea area although the ball was eventually scrambled away.
And the Sky Blues continued to dictate play for the next ten minutes, helped by the introduction of Leon McKenzie who completed another half hour as he continues his fight back to full fitness.
Coleman's side had to endure a goalmouth scramble of their own with 20 minutes to go though, Jordi Gomez's corner eventually having to be stabbed away from the Coventry penalty area by McKenzie.
Immediately from that, Eastwood and Mifsud shaped a counter attack which could have delivered the all important goal, the attacking pair on a two-on-one situation which finished with a weak shot from Eastwood, not troubling De Vries.
Ben Turner also put in an important turn for the Coventry rearguard, getting a vital foot in to put off Jason Scotland who was found wide open in the penalty area by Butler, Scotland let down by his first touch which allowed the Coventry defender a window of opportunity to put in a crucial challenge.
And Westwood capped off another impressive afternoon in a Sky Blues jersey, tipping substitute Mark Gower's long range effort over his own bar with two minutes to go to complete another resolute performance between the sticks for Coventry.
4thegame
Swansea City extended their winless run to eight games as Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman earned a hard-fought point on his first return to his hometown.
Coventry boss Coleman, who began his playing career with the Welsh club, had a heroic defensive display to thank for earning a share of their spoils.
Visiting goalkeeper Keiren Westwood made two stunning saves but Coventry's last-ditch rearguard display blunted a Swansea side that have now drawn seven games on the bounce.
In a listless first half, the wind played havoc from the off as Swansea saw a serious of shots blown off target.
Darren Pratley, Alan Tate and Joe Allen all failed to bring their shooting boots as, for all their first-half control, they rarely troubled Westwood in the Coventry goal.
Westwood was called into action with a fine fingertip save to deny fellow Irishman Tom Butler in the 16th minute.
It actually took the Sky Blues until the 34th minute before they finally mustered an attempt on goal, when Freddy Eastwood's low drive was palmed out by Dorus de Vries.
Swansea, whose last victory was way back in November, still looked full of running with their winless streak showing no signs of denting their confidence.
Jordi Gomez's free-kick forced Westwood to make a low save before substitute Gorka Pintado was inches away from netting with his first touch.
Butler went close with a deflected drive in the 66th minute as Coventry continued to soak up the pressure.
But the Swans' dominance could have also been their downfall as they threw bodies forward in the final quarter.
But Wales striker Eastwood missed a golden chance to clinch a late win when a swift breakaway saw him scuff his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Swansea City: Dorus de Vries, Angel Zaragoza Rangel, Alan Tate, Gary Monk, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen (Gorka Pintado 59), Thomas Butler (Mark Gower 82), Leon Britton, Garcia Jordi Gomez, Darren Pratley, Jason Scotland
Subs not used: Andrea Orlandi, Febian Brandy, Alberto Polo Serran
Booked: Thomas Butler 36
Goals: -
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, Ben Turner, Elliott Ward, Marcus Hall, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud (Leon Best 77), Clinton Morrison (Guillaume Beuzelin 84), Freddy Eastwood, Robbie Simpson (Leon McKenzie 60)
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Curtis Wynter
Booked: Stephen Wright 50, Aron Gunnarsson 86, Guillaume Beuzelin 90, Keiren Westwood 88
Goals: -
Attendance: 17603
Referee: S Tanner
Teamtalk
Swansea were unfortunate not to win their Championship clash with Coventry after dominating the goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium.
The hosts had the majority of the chances but could not make a breakthrough and have now drawn seven league games in a row.
Swansea named an unchanged line-up from the side which drew with Blackpool last weekend, while Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman called up Marcus Hall and Michael Doyle in place of Daniel Fox and Jay Tabb.
The home side had the first chance of the match, Tom Butler cutting in from the left-hand side and curling a shot into the hands of Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
The Swans forward Jason Scotland then created a chance from nothing, jinking his way past two defenders but his shot was blocked by Ben Turner.
Butler had his second chance of the game after 17 minutes when he ran at the defence at pace and curled a shot towards the top corner, but Westwood was equal to it and tipped the ball over the bar.
The game failed to pick up any pace with both sides failing to stamp their authority on the game and a poor effort from long range from Joe Allen for the Swans was easily collected by Westwood.
Coventry continued to reduce the hosts to long-range chances with Darren Pratley and Scotland both dragging shots wide from outside the area.
The visitors had a fine chance after 32 minutes as Freddie Eastwood found himself free in the area but his shot was palmed away by Dorus De Vries.
Swansea started the second half brightly and Jordi Gomez tested Westwood with a free-kick from 20-yards although the ball went straight into the stopper's hands.
A quick break from the hosts saw Butler charge down the left-hand side and pull the ball across for Gomez but his shot crept wide of the upright as Roberto Martinez's men started to take control.
Martinez brought Gorka Pintado on as his side went in search of an opening goal and Pintado set Gomez away, but his third shot of the game again flew wide as frustrations began to show for the home side.
Scotland came close after turning on the edge of the area and his powerful shot was punched wide by Westwood as the Sky Blues keeper continued to keep his side on level terms.
Coventry substitute Leon Best had a half-chance but he flashed his shot straight at De Vries in the closing stages as both sides had to settle for a point.
CCFC
Coventry City remain on the fringes of the top half of the Championship table after picking up a point with a sturdy Boxing Day performance at Liberty Stadium.
The Sky Blues' 1,000-strong travelling support saw little in the way of goals but were treated to a stubborn City performance which earned them a point against manager Chris Coleman's hometown club, still leaving them within touching distance of the top half of the table at the midway point of their Christmas fixture schedule.
Swansea enjoyed the majority of possession and chances and on many occassions were frustrated by Coventry's defend-in-numbers approach.
But the Sky Blues possessed more than enough speed to hit the hosts on the counter attack and almost reaped the rewards of a breakaway in the second half.
Coventry created chances which could quite easily have handed them a potential winner, but it was Swansea who created opportunities with more frequency and could easily have felt they had had their pockets picked by the Artful Dodger had the Sky Blues come away with a maximum points haul.
But for a pair of excellent saves from Coventry shotstopper Keiren Westwood, the hosts could have headed into the interval with a lead although Chris Coleman's side had opportunities of their own to break the deadlock in an opening period which provided plenty in the way of lively entertainment but little in the way of final chances.
City 'keeper Westwood was called into action for the most crucial save of the first half after 17 minutes when he stretched to tip Thomas Butler's effort over his top left hand corner, a save typical of his recent form.
But Swansea shotstopper Dorus De Vries was also called into action just after the half hour mark, getting down low to make an excellent save from Freddy Eastwood's effort for the Sky Blues, an effort De Vries palmed almost into the path of the approaching Michael Mifsud until Swans bodies could clear the ball to safety.
A bout of gung-ho defending from City also ensured they entered the break on level terms with entire back four Stephen Wright, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner and Marcus Hall all throwing themselves infront of close range efforts from the visitors.
And Westwood was also called upon again just two minutes before the half time break with a two-handed save again from Butler, possessing enough awareness to push the parried ball out of the path of any bodies on the follow up.
But the Sky Blues finished off the half on a high note, Eastwood pairing up with Robbie Simpson on the breakaway only for Simpson to be barged in the area, allowing the Swans to clear the ball and prevent an opener which would have been harsh on the home side given their performance in the first 45 minutes.
Coventry started off the brighter of the two sides in the second half, Michael Doyle using Coventry's first corner of the afternoon after 53 minutes to cause havoc in the Swansea area although the ball was eventually scrambled away.
And the Sky Blues continued to dictate play for the next ten minutes, helped by the introduction of Leon McKenzie who completed another half hour as he continues his fight back to full fitness.
Coleman's side had to endure a goalmouth scramble of their own with 20 minutes to go though, Jordi Gomez's corner eventually having to be stabbed away from the Coventry penalty area by McKenzie.
Immediately from that, Eastwood and Mifsud shaped a counter attack which could have delivered the all important goal, the attacking pair on a two-on-one situation which finished with a weak shot from Eastwood, not troubling De Vries.
Ben Turner also put in an important turn for the Coventry rearguard, getting a vital foot in to put off Jason Scotland who was found wide open in the penalty area by Butler, Scotland let down by his first touch which allowed the Coventry defender a window of opportunity to put in a crucial challenge.
And Westwood capped off another impressive afternoon in a Sky Blues jersey, tipping substitute Mark Gower's long range effort over his own bar with two minutes to go to complete another resolute performance between the sticks for Coventry.
4thegame
Swansea City extended their winless run to eight games as Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman earned a hard-fought point on his first return to his hometown.
Coventry boss Coleman, who began his playing career with the Welsh club, had a heroic defensive display to thank for earning a share of their spoils.
Visiting goalkeeper Keiren Westwood made two stunning saves but Coventry's last-ditch rearguard display blunted a Swansea side that have now drawn seven games on the bounce.
In a listless first half, the wind played havoc from the off as Swansea saw a serious of shots blown off target.
Darren Pratley, Alan Tate and Joe Allen all failed to bring their shooting boots as, for all their first-half control, they rarely troubled Westwood in the Coventry goal.
Westwood was called into action with a fine fingertip save to deny fellow Irishman Tom Butler in the 16th minute.
It actually took the Sky Blues until the 34th minute before they finally mustered an attempt on goal, when Freddy Eastwood's low drive was palmed out by Dorus de Vries.
Swansea, whose last victory was way back in November, still looked full of running with their winless streak showing no signs of denting their confidence.
Jordi Gomez's free-kick forced Westwood to make a low save before substitute Gorka Pintado was inches away from netting with his first touch.
Butler went close with a deflected drive in the 66th minute as Coventry continued to soak up the pressure.
But the Swans' dominance could have also been their downfall as they threw bodies forward in the final quarter.
But Wales striker Eastwood missed a golden chance to clinch a late win when a swift breakaway saw him scuff his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:32 pm
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