Derby County 2 Coventry 1 - 31/01/2009

Derby County 2 Coventry 1 - 31/01/2009

Derby County: Stephen Bywater, Miles Addison (James McEveley 45), Martin Albrechtsen, Paul Connolly, Jordan Stewart, Robbie Savage, Nacer Barazite (Mile Sterjovski 62), Gary Teale, Paul Green, Rob Hulse, Kris Commons
Subs not used: Roy Carroll, Emanuel Villa, Luke Varney
Booked: Robbie Savage 7
Goals: Rob Hulse 14, Kris Commons 16

Attendance: 29710

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Stephen Wright, David Bell, Guillaume Beuzelin, Jordan Henderson, Michael Doyle (Lee Sawyer 86), Freddy Eastwood (Leon McKenzie 45), Clinton Morrison
Subs not used: Curtis Wynter, Andy Marshall, Kevin Thornton
Goals: Michael Doyle 53

Attendance: 29710
Referee: M Jones

Teamtalk
Nigel Clough's first victory as boss lifted Derby out of the Championship drop zone - but Coventry made them work for a 2-1 win at Pride Park.

Derby looked to be coasting after quickfire goals from Rob Hulse and Kris Commons put them firmly in control at half-time.

But Michael Doyle reduced Coventry's arrears eight minutes after the break and a much-improved display from the Sky Blues made for a nervous second half for Derby.

The Rams were impressive despite the midweek defeat to Birmingham that saw them slip into the bottom three.

And they picked up where they had left off at St Andrew's with a rampant first-half display to put Chris Coleman's side to the sword.

Clough described the performance against Birmingham as Derby's best of the season and that was reflected by the Rams boss naming an unchanged side.

Hulse was Coventry's primary tormentor as the hosts created several early chances.

His fourth-minute header from Commons' inswinging free-kick forced City keeper Kieren Westwood to palm the ball away.

From Gary Teale's resulting corner the then striker headed narrowly wide at the far post.

A minute later Hulse was at the hub of the action again when his shot from the right-hand side of the area was deflected just wide.

Elliott Ward did enough to put Hulse off when he got his head to another Teale cross after 10 minutes, but Coventry were merely delaying the inevitable.

After Martin Albrechtsen's header from Commons' corner was deflected wide for corner from the opposite side, Derby made the breakthrough in the 14th minute.

Westwood punched Teale's cross into his own defender causing the ball to loop goalwards and Hulse headed home at the far post from virtually on the goalline.

Hulse then turned provider three minutes later when he controlled Teale's low cross at the near post before setting up Commons, who steered the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Commons could have put the game beyond Coventry in the 19th minute when he went through one-on-one, but Westwood made a fine one-handed save to thwart the Scotland international.

An extraordinary passage of play nine minutes before the break again denied Derby a third goal.

Teale raced clear down the right-hand side of the box before striking the near post with his shot.

The rebound fell to Commons on the edge of the area and he hit a first-time shot that cannoned back off the other post.

Coventry threatened to make Derby pay for failing to put themselves out of sight when Doyle halved City's deficit after 53 minutes.

Doyle's initial prod goalwards was palmed away by Stephen Bywater but Clinton Morrison reacted quickest to the rebound and crossed low into the six yard box where the unmarked midfielder simply turned the ball home.

However, the fightback never really materialised.

Coventry had plenty of possession and looked dangerous during a sustained spell of pressure midway through the second half.

Jordan Henderson, making his City debut after signing on loan from Sunderland this week, looked the most likely to unlock the home defence.

But Derby defenders always seemed to get to his crosses ahead of his new team-mates.

When Ward did get to the ball first his header across goal was scrambled clear.

CCFC
Derby County resisted a late Sky Blues surge to take three points at Pride Park.

The Rams had dominated the opening period and raced into a 2-0 lead through Rob Hulse and Kris Commons strikes.

But City restored some pride - if not the points - with a battling second half display, with Michael Doyle getting a goal back early.

Derby started the game well and came close after three minutes when Doyle conceded a foul 40 yards from goal. Commons swung in a dangerous ball which Hulse flicked towards goal - but Keiren Westwood pulled off a good save.

Hulse was the early threat for the Rams and, after coming close with a header from the resulting corner, he came close again after capitalising on a Marcus Hall mis-kick only the shoot wide.

The other Derby threat was Kris Commons and in the 14th minute the pair combined to take the lead. Gary Teale swung a corner into the box which Westwood could only half clear. As he went to collect, Commons headed towards Hulse who glanced a header into the net from a yard.

Two minutes later, Derby doubled their lead after the three men linked well again. Teale raced past Stephen Wright and played in Hulse, who held the ball before teeing up Commons to smash home.

City were on the ropes and could have been three behind in the 19th minute when Nacer Barazite played a through-ball to Commons, leaving him one-on-one with Westwood. However, the Irishman was equal to the low shot.

The game settled after the flurry of chances and City were able to enjoy some possession.

However, the Sky Blues failed to launch a meaningful attack and were soon in trouble again. In the 36th minute, Teale was released by Commons on the left and crashed a shot against Westwood's bar. Dan Fox could only clear as far as Commons, and his shot deflected off Hall and onto the post.

City managed to keep the home side at bay for the remainder of the half - and came out fighting in the second half.

Within minutes, they had a goal back. Wright broke forward and crossed towards Guillaume Beuzelin, who flicked a header into Doyle's path. The midfielder touched the ball towards goal for Stephen Bywater to push wide - but Clinton Morrison squared the ball back to Doyle for him to finish.

City were more attacking-minded and continued to push. But Derby were the side creating chances and Hulse tested Westwood again in the 66th minute. He managed to turn in the box and hit a half-volley towards goal - but Westwood gathered well.

After that effort, City started to dominate. Morrison and David Bell linked well to put pressure on the Derby backline, with McKenzie - a half-time replacement for Eastwood - almost setting up Henderson in the box.

Fox provided several threatening corners, but Bywater was able to scramble the efforts to safety.

Lee Sawyer was introduced late on but City were unable to create a chance for the equaliser.

4thegame
Derby made a mockery of their position in the Championship relegation zone with a first-half performance that was too much for a desperately poor Coventry side.

Rob Hulse and Kris Commons scored twice in the space of three minutes and Derby should have had more goals before the visitors had the chance to regroup during the interval.

Michael Doyle reduced the arrears early in the second half and Derby's poise drained away, but they still had enough to deliver manager Nigel Clough's first victory in his fifth game in charge.

Coventry lost centre-half Ben Turner with a migraine before kick-off but that could not excuse a wretched first-half performance.

Hulse could have scored twice in the first five minutes, but Coventry's creaking defence finally folded in the 14th minute when goalkeeper Keiren Westwood could only push a Gary Teale corner across his goal and Hulse headed in at the back post.

Derby increased their lead two minutes later when Teale fizzed in a low cross and Hulse laid it back to Commons, who side-footed past Westwood from ten yards.

Commons should have scored again three minutes later when he was put clear by Nacer Barazite, but Westwood saved to his right and both Teale and Commons struck the woodwork before the interval.

Coventry could only improve and the introduction of Leon McKenzie for Freddy Eastwood along with the withdrawal of Derby centre-back Miles Addison gave them a foothold in the match.

Doyle scored in the 52nd minute when Clinton Morrison pulled the ball back across goal from the right and it needed an excellent saving tackle by Teale to deny Jordan Henderson an equaliser.

Derby began to wobble but Coventry could not conjure up another clear opening and Clough's team held on for the win that lifts them out of the bottom three.

Torquay 0 Coventry 1 - FA Cup4 - 24/01/2009

Torquay 0 Coventry 1 - FA Cup 4 - 24/01/2009

Torquay United: Scott Bevan, Kevin Nicholson, Steve Woods, Lee Mansell, Tim Sills, Roscoe Dsane (Musapha Carayol 88), Nicky Wroe, Chris Hargreaves, Wayne Carlisle (Danny Stevens 88), Lee Hodges, Matthew Green (Elliot Benyon 80)
Subs not used: Michael Poke, Chris Robertson, Tyrone Thompson, Steve Adams
Booked: Lee Mansell

Coventry City: Kieron Westwood, Marcus Hall, Ben Turner, Aron Gunnarsson (Elliot Ward 45), Daniel Fox, Michael Mifsud, Leon McKenzie, Michael Doyle, Guillaume Beuzelin (Kevin Thornton 64), Freddy Eastwood, Clinton Morrison
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Scott Dann, Adam Walker, Sean Fraser, Curtis Wynter
Booked: Aron Gunnarsson
Goals: Elliot Ward 87

Attendance: 6,018
Referee: K Friend

Teamtalk
Elliott Ward scored a late winner as Coventry scraped past non-league Torquay United 1-0 at Plainmoor and into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The half-time subsitute headed home Daniel Fox's corner in the 87th minute to avoid the embarrassment of a replay against a team three tiers below City.

The Gulls can consider themselves desperately unlucky not to have earned at least a replay, having dominated possession and chances in the second half.

But for a short spell in the first half, Coventry's stretched team created little and were bereft of invention.

To make matters worse for the Sky Blues, Aron Gunnarsson came off injured at half-time, although his replacement, Ward, ultimately provided the winning goal.

Torquay were first to threaten at Plainmoor when Lee Mansell's cross was caught by City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

Coventry soon began to stamp their authority on the game though with Freddy Eastwood missing the target first with a header and then a shot from the edge of the box, before Gunnarsson fired over from distance.

Daniel Fox looked certain to open the scoring in the 12th minute but Kevin Nicholson cleared his close-range effort, and keeper Scott Bevan was equally alert to deny Michael Mifsud's speculative volley from the right of the box.

The hosts responded with a header from top-scorer Tim Sills which flew over the bar and a shot from Wayne Carlisle from the centre of the box which was comfortably saved by Westwood.

Matthew Green should have hit the target for United but dragged his shot wide from the left, and the striker was unlucky to be denied by a good block from Ben Turner just before half-time.

Green was in action again early in the second half, heading straight at Westwood and then forcing the goalkeeper to parry his fierce left-footed shot following a swift counterattack.

The Gulls continued to dominate with Roscoe DSane shooting over and Carlisle blasting wide from long range, while Coventry could only muster a lacklustre response in Leon McKenzie's wayward shot.

Sills missed another header in the 72nd minute from Green's teasing cross and Steve Woods was also wasteful in the air as chances continued to go begging.

Chris Hargreaves was next to try his luck but could only shoot over the bar following DSane's cross, and Nicky Wroe was also off target with an opportunistic effort.

The missed chances eventually proved costly as Coventry took an unlikely lead. Fox's corner from the left swung into a crowded penalty area where Ward rose to head high into the goal.

That proved to be the last of the action as a stunned Torquay failed to mount a comeback in the dying minutes.

CCFC
Coventry City defender Elliott Ward came off the bench and grabbed a late winner to send the Sky Blues into the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Chris Coleman's side owned the first half in terms of possession and chances.

But non-leaque Torquay gave a terrific account of themselves in the second 45 minutes and for long periods of time seemed to have the Sky Blues against the ropes.

But Ward, making his first appearance following a near month-long absence with a knee injury, rose at the far post four minutes from time to head home Danny Fox's cross and send City through to the fifth round.

The Sky Blues dominated much of the attacking play in the opening 45 minutes and could have been a goal up at the interval.

But the Gulls did far from lie down with Matt Green, the goal hero from their third round success against Blackpool, proving to be the target of many of Torquay's attacks.

Freddy Eastwood had an early half opportunity to put the Sky Blues ahead after only three minutes, Clinton Morrison dummying Lee Mansell and getting to the goal line down the left flank and delivering a cross for Eastwood that proved just to high for the striker, his header going over the bar.

Torquay's Steve Woods then had a half chance 60 seconds later, Nicholson's deep cross finding him a the far post from a free-kick, Woods touching the ball into the hands of Westwood.

Eastwood then got a second bite of the cherry after six minutes, chasing down a free ball and trying to chip the ensuing Bevan who came off his line and did just enough to put off the Welsh international.

Aron Gunnarsson had an opportunity on seven minutes, found by Guillaume Beuzelin's deep ball but failing to make a clean connection with the ball and guiding a weak shot straight at Gulls 'keeper Scott Bevan.

Danny Fox though had arguably the best chance to put City ahead on 11 minutes, receiving a ball from McKenzie in the left corner and dribbling as far as the corner of the six-yard area and firing past Bevan although his shot failed to beat Kevin Nicholson who cleared the effort off the line.

Infact the majority of the dangerous play occurred in the opening 15 minutes. The majority a result of City attacks.

But Green remained a threat throughout the half, always the target of long balls, putting him in a race with makeshift City centre half Gunnarsson, the defender winning the exchanges.

Green did though manage a shot after half an hour though, firing into Westwood's side netting.

Coventry's half ended on a bitter note though as Gunnarsson was substituted in injury time for Elliott Ward, Gunnarsson appearing to be in a bit of discomfort.

And Torquay turned the tables on City in the second half, creating much more in the way of attacking opportunities.

Seven minutes into the second half Westwood had to palm a corner delivery away from the underside of the crossbar.

He was then forced into making a superb save two minutes later, getting down low to beat away Nicholson's effort which squeezed its way through Ward and Hall

It was nearly blushes for the City rearguard on the hour, a communication mix-up between Turner, Westwood and Fox allowing Wayne Carlisle to launch a shot from the halfway line at an empty net although the shot ended up nowhere near the intended target.

Carlisle then had a shot at the edge of the area charged down by Turner and club top scorer Tim Sills headed over the bar after a cross from Green found him unmarked.

Wood's similar headed effort went the same way with 15 minutes to go and four minutes later Chris Hargreaves flashed a half volley over the bar.

But Torquay only had themselves to blame after creating a series of chances and not taking them, underlined when Ward towered above everyone else in Bevan's penalty box in the 86th minute to grab a crucial winner.

Coventry 2 Blackpool 1 - 17/01/2009

Coventry 2 Blackpool 1 - 17/01/2009

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Ben Turner, Daniel Fox, Curtis Wynter, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Guillaume Beuzelin, Michael Mifsud (Leon McKenzie 73), Clinton Morrison, Freddy Eastwood (Robbie Simpson 79)
Subs not used: Adam Walker, Kevin Thornton, Andy Marshall
Booked: Aron Gunnarsson 14
Goals: Guillaume Beuzelin 47, Michael Mifsud 51

Blackpool: Paul Rachubka, Ian Harte, Ian Evatt, Shaun Barker, Rob Edwards, David Fox, Keith Southern (Graeme Owens 83), Ben Burgess (Dave Vaughan 64), DJ Campbell, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Roy O'Donovan
Subs not used: Daniel Nardiello, Matthew Gilks, Danny Coid
Booked: Roy O'Donovan 90, Keith Southern 33
Goals: DJ Campbell 25

Attendance: 15551
Referee: C Pawson

Teamtalk
Two goals in four minutes earned Coventry all three points as they came from behind to beat Blackpool 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

Caretaker Seasiders boss Tony Parkes watched on as DJ Campbell, who only arrived at Bloomfield Road on loan from Leicester this week, gave his new side a half-time lead with a cool finish in the 25th minute.

Blackpool have not won at Coventry for 72 years and it looked as if that unwanted record would remain as Guillaume Beuzelin levelled when he bundled home in the 47th minute.

The rejuvenated Sky Blues had the momentum and took the lead just four minutes later when Micheal Mifsud smashed home after a flowing attacking move.

The home side were the first to register their attacking intent as midfielder Beuzelin demonstrated impressive skill and composure before rifling a curling effort toward goal which had goalkeeper Paul Rachubka at full stretch to tip round the post.

Coventry continued to pile forward and Rachubka was called upon agains as a frantic goalmouth scramble broke to Ben Turner, but he failed to connect properly with his shot.

The visitors came to life as Aron Gunnarsson's last-ditch tackle prevented Ben Burgess from scoring a certain opener in the 24th minute but the Seasiders were not to be denied a minute later.

A ricochet took Burgess' misplaced pass straight into the path of Campbell, who showed great composure before slotting past Keiren Westwood.

Chris Coleman's men almost found an instant response but captain Clinton Morrison got the ball stuck under his feet with the goal at his mercy.

But two minutes after the break parity was restored as Beuzelin found space in the Blackpool defence to get on the end of Jay Tabb's right-wing cross and made no mistake from just inside the area.

Coventry were a team revived and took the lead in the 51st minute as a swift interchange between Morrison and strike partner Freddy Eastwood opened up the defence, Morrison teeing it up for Mifsud to stroke home confidently from 12 yards out.

Blackpool were far from out of the game though and the Sky Blues had Westwood to thank as he pulled off a fantastic save to deny Shaun Barker's volley from finding the back of the net.

The visitors desperately searched for an equaliser and were again denied at the death as Barker's goal-bound header was cleared off the line by alert 17-year-old debutant Curtis Wynter.

They did find the net with just three minutes to go but Campbell's tap-in was ruled out for offside.

CCFC
Coventry City produced a stubborn and spirited second half performance against Blackpool to come from a goal behind and pick up all three points at the Ricoh Arena.

DJ Campbell handed the visitors the lead on 24 minutes after a defensive slip from the Sky Blues.

But Guillaume Beuzelin got City level straight after the second half restart and Michael Mifsud bagged the winner just four minutes later to leave City knocking on the door of the top half of the Championship table.

Blackpool's lead was mildly undeserved after City had controlled the majority of the possession in the opening exchanges which saw them win four corners in the opening ten minutes.

And after 15 minutes the Sky Blues almost found themselves level when Danny Fox's fifth corner delivery caused panic in the Tangerines' penalty box and forced three consecutive goal-line close range stops from Clinton Morrison, Freddy Eastwood and Beuzelin.

Blackpool looked dangerous in flashes though and on the counter-attack, Ben Burgess only stopped from almost certainly putting the visitors ahead on 22 minutes by makeshift centre-half Aron Gunnarsson's boot.

Blackpool took their chance two minutes later though when a ball over the top of the City backline found Campbell who beat the offside trap, bore down on the City goal slipped a shot underneath Westwood.

Morrison very nearly levelled the score just after the half hour mark for the Sky Blues, finding himself in a two-on-one situation with Freddy Eastwood, only for the ball to get trapped underneath him.

With plenty of toil but lack of glaring opportunities making up the second half, Eastwood's effort ten minutes before the break went over Rachubka's bar from the edge of the area.

And Roy O'Donovan flashed a tame shot across the face of the City goal a minute before the interval.

The tables turned almost immediately after the restart though in a five-minute period which turned the game on it's head.

Beuzelin started and finished the move which allowed the Sky Blues to get themselves on level terms, his first touch pass to Tabb allowing the winger to get to thegoalline and cross back for Beuzelin to fire home.

And City were infront four minutes later, Morrison finding Mifsud on a breakaway on the corner of the area, allowing the Maltese international to poke home Coventry's second past Rachubka inside his far post.

The Sky Blues almost found themselves in position for a third a minute later, Eastwood's ball from the left on the counter searching for Mifsud on the opposite side but finding Morrison in an offside position.

It was Eastwood and Mifsud again after 53 minutes when Mifsud broke away and found Eastwood inside the area although the Welsh international stumbled in his efforts to beat Shaun Barker.

Eastwood also curled a shot just around Rachubka's post four minutes after the hour mark from the edge of the area.

DJ Campbell came within a foot of getting Blackpool on level terms with 71 minutes gone, beating Westwood to a corner delivery but steering his header over the bar.

And but for a few skirmishe into the Tangerines' half, the Sky Blues had to soak up the pressure in the closing stages to hang on to their lead.

Barker's volley at the far post from a set piece was well saved down low by Westwood with ten minutes to go.

And youngster Curtis Wynter came to City's rescue on 85 minutes, heading Coventry-born Ian Evatt's effort off the goalline to keep City on course for the points.

Blackpool had a last throw of the dice with a corner deep into injury time but the delivery was headed away by Fox leaving the referee to blow for full time and hand City another win at the Ricoh.

4thegame
Coventry City fought back from behind to continue their rise up the Championship table.

The Sky Blues are unbeaten in five matches and despite going behind to a DJ Campbell strike in the first half, they hit two goals in five minutes to take the points.

Chris Coleman's squad has been ravaged by injury and illness and with just two fit professional defenders, he was forced to move midfielder Aron Gunnarsson to centre-back and hand a league debut to 17-year-old Curtis Wynter at right-back.

The Sky Blues threatened early on with a low-drive from Guillaume Beuzelin testing Paul Rachubka, but their backline was soon under pressure.

In the 23rd minute, a pass from debutant Campbell put Ben Burgess through on goal only for Gunnarsson to block his shot with a last-gasp tackle.

A minute later, Campbell fired another warning shot but his effort was high of Keiren Westwood's bar.

But City ran out of lives in the 25th minute when Burgess sent a lofted pass over the defence for Campbell to run on to and after shaking off Gunnarsson's advances, he slid the ball past Westwood.

Blackpool continued to push but failed to test Westwood again in the half.

Coleman's frustration was evident throughout the opening period but his half-time teamtalk helped turn the game on its head.

In the 47th minute, Jay Tabb's clever cross left the Seasiders' defence in a muddle and Beuzelin smashed home the loose ball to level.

Then a superb piece of hold-up play by Clinton Morrison freed Michael Mifsud to run onto a pass and put home his second of the season.

Blackpool looked deflated but had a late surge as they tried to level. Roy O'Donovan connected with a corner in the 84th minute only for it to be cleared off the line.

And the visitors thought they had got the equaliser minutes later when Campbell tapped home Graeme Owens shot but the linesman ruled the goal offside.

QPR 1 Coventry 1 - 10/01/2009

QPR 1 Coventry 1 - 10/01/2009
QPR: Radek Cerny, Kaspars Gorkss, Matthew Connolly, Damion Stewart, Damien Delaney (Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma 73), Hogan Ephraim (Fitz Hall 89), Wayne Routledge, Mikele Leigertwood (Samuel Di Carmine 81), Martin Rowlands, Heidar Helguson, Dexter Blackstock
Subs not used: Matteo Alberti, Gavin Mahon
Booked: Heidar Helguson 72, Wayne Routledge 66
Goals: Dexter Blackstock 87

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, Daniel Fox, Ben Turner, Guillaume Beuzelin, Aron Gunnarsson, Jay Tabb, Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud (Freddy Eastwood 84), Clinton Morrison, Leon Best (Leon McKenzie 66)
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Kevin Thornton, Curtis Wynter
Booked: Stephen Wright 24, Daniel Fox 56, Keiren Westwood 90, Aron Gunnarsson 62
Sent off: Stephen Wright 37
Goals: Daniel Fox 73

Attendance: 13330
Referee: K Stroud

Teamtalk
Dexter Blackstock rescued a point for QPR as they made hard work of breaking down 10-man Coventry before earning a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road.

Blackstock struck three minutes from time to earn the hosts a point against the Sky Blues, who took the lead in the Championship clash when Daniel Fox's free-kick somehow found its way under Radek Cerny.

City looked like taking home the spoils from Loftus Road for the fourth season in a row when Fox netted in the 73rd minute, a goal made even more impressive following Stephen Wright's dismissal for the visitors eight minutes before the break.

The City defender was shown a straight red card for a high lunge on Heidar Helguson but the hosts failed to make enough of their numerical advantage as they struggled to create openings thereafter.

Helguson and Blackstock spurned good chances for the hosts before the latter finally equalised in the dying minutes.

The hosts started brightly and had the first shot in earnest when Helguson, who signed a permanent deal in the week, sent a hooked shot over the bar.

At the other end, Clinton Morrison failed to trouble Cerny with a wild volley which he sent over.

Both sides started to press forward with intent and it was the hosts who almost broke the deadlock in the 16th minute as Helguson drilled a rasping volley just over following Blackstock's knock down.

Wayne Routledge looked the most effective attacking outlet for Rangers and his trickery on the wing was causing the City defence all sorts of problems.

More often than not, though, the former England Under-21 international was hampered by the lack of movement from the R's strikers who were stifled out by the stoic City backline.

A potentially decisive moment in the match came after 37 minutes when Wright was sent off for his challenge on Helguson.

As expected, the R's held the lion's share of possession after the break, but rather than pushing home their numerical advantage they lacked any initiative going forward and were restricted to long-range efforts.

On the few occasions Rangers did manage to break the City defence, the finish was lacking and Helguson was again guilty of wasting a good chance when he headed straight at Westwood from six yards.

It was then Blackstock's turn to spurn a good opening minutes later as he dragged a shot wide when clean through.

The hosts were then hit by a sucker punch as City took the lead in the 73rd minute totally against the run of play.

Fox curled a vicious free-kick which caught Cerny flatfooted and somehow squirmed in at the front post.

Rangers' persistence paid off, however, and after 87 minutes Blackstock atoned for his earlier miss with a header from close range to ease the frustration of the home fans.

CCFC
Ten-man Sky Blues came away with a point at QPR after a resilient display.

Stephen Wright had received a straight red card in the 40th minute - but a Dan Fox free-kick had given City the lead. However, despite a solid display, a late Dexter Blackstock goal saved Rangers' blushes.

Chris Coleman had brought back six players from the side who beat Kidderminster last weekend - and there was little sign of rust in the opening exchanges.

The Sky Blues started with a high-tempo in the freezing conditions and good work from Clinton Morrison and Michael Mifsud started a series of four corners in the opening seven minutes.

Their aerial one-two unnerved the Rangers defence and led to the series of deliveries from the returning Danny Fox - but they were scrambled to safety.

City continued to push but Rangers were able to force their first chance. A ball into the box fell to Heidar Helguson eight-yard from goal - but he snatched at the ball on the half-volley to send it high over Keiren Westwood's net.

QPR's main outlet was debutant Wayne Routledge and when he was caught by Stephen Wright in the 23rd minute, referee Keith Stroud produced his first yellow card of the game. However, the home side failed to make the resulting free-kick count.

The game suffered a lull soon after with neither side mustering an opportunity. Routledge proved to be the dangerman for Rangers with his pace proving tricky to deal with.

But encouraged by the vocal travelling support, City had their best chance when a flick on from Best was volleyed by Tabb - for Radek Cerny to save.

Then, Stroud changed the match in the 37th minute by issuing the straight red - City's first of the season. Wright - who had already been booked - challenged Heidar Helguson and appeared to catch him accidentally with a high foot. But referee Keith Stroud deemed the challenge dangerous and issued marching orders.

Coleman responded by moving Aron Gunnarsson to centre-back, Tabb to right-back and Morrison to left midfield.

City tried to see-out the half but still managed to force two corners, although Cerny's punches were enough to keep the game level.

After the restart, Rangers looked to assert their advantage and had chances to take the lead.

Blackstock was played through on goal and, despite appeals for offside, no flag was raised. The forward was unchallenged and eight yards from goal - but dragged his shot wide. Fox then protested the linesman's decision and received a booking.

Rangers came close again in the 58th minute when a cross found Mikele Leigertwood unmarked - but the midfielder's header from six yards was weak and Westwood saved with ease.

In the 62nd, Routledge broke down the wing and was fouled by Gunnarsson - who was booked. Rangers failed to make the set-piece count.

A clash of heads minutes later ended Leon Best's game. He was replaced by Leon McKenzie.

City then defied the odds to take the lead. Mifsud had raced towards goal and was brought down 30-yards from goal. Fox stepped up and curled his effort around the wall and into the bottom corner of Cerny's net and the City players raced towards the away support to celebrate.

Rangers introduced Emmanuel Ledesma for defender Damien Delaney in an attempt to force an equaliser and the home side pressured the makeshift defence.

They should have had a goal through Helguson in the 82nd minute when his fellow countryman Gunnarsson mis-headed the ball in the box. The ball sat up perfectly ten yards out - but his shot flew towards the corner flag.

But City were left heartbroken five minutes later when a mix-up in defence allowed Blackstock to run and head the ball past Westwood to level.

It was tough on City but the players held on to take a deserved point.

4thegame
Dexter Blackstock saved QPR's blushes with an equalising goal with only three minutes remaining against ten-man Coventry City at Loftus Road.

The away side thought they had nicked the winning goal when Danny Fox fired in a free-kick against the run of play with 17 minutes left after team-mate Stephen Wright was dismissed in the first half.

But leading scorer Blackstock bravely chased a through ball and rose above the onrushing Keiren Westwood to nod home.

QPR had the better of the first half but, while they enjoyed the majority of the possession, they found little end product.

After seven minutes, Icelandic international striker Heidar Helguson swivelled and shot in the Coventry area but his shot was weak and easily gathered by Westwood in the away goal.

Helguson had another chance nine minutes later when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the area, but the 31-year-old was wasteful again and laced his half-volley high over the bar.

Wayne Routledge soon began to show why QPR shelled out £600,000 in the week as he menaced Coventry down the left flank.

He gave right-back Aron Gunarsson a torrid time and when Routledge past him after 25 minutes, Wright had to come across and foul him on the edge of the area.

Though QPR failed to make the free-kick count, a booking was dished out and that should have calmed Wright down.

But nine minutes later, his high and reckless challenge on Helguson warranted a straight red card from referee Keith Stroud and changed the game's complexion.

In injury time before the interval, QPR managed their first meaningful shot on Westwood's goal when left-back Damian Delaney fizzed a shot that the goalkeeper did well to parry.

After the break, QPR huffed and puffed but still found Coventry hard to break down.

Ten minutes in to the half, Mikele Leigertwood looped over a pass that beat the away side's offside trap and with the goal gaping, Blackstock could only scuff his shot wide left.

With Routledge now on the right, QPR tried to change the angle of attack but the home crowd were getting restless at the lack of real chances.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Helguson was profligate once again when he failed to poke in Deleney's driven cross.

And those wasted chances cost QPR dearly as when a frustrated Helguson fouled Michael Misfud after losing possession, he conceded a free-kick 30-yards out.

Fox, the left-back who is a set-piece specialist, stepped up and coolly placed his effort inside the right-hand post of Radek Cerny's goal.

Helguson, anxious to make amends, proceeded to miss two more gilt-edged opportunities - one which was sliced out for a throw in.

Luckily his strike partner, Blackstock, was more fortunate and put his head in bravely in the 87th minute while chasing substitute Emmanuel Ledesma's hopeful punt.

He headed in the leveller and the relief was palpable for the home side.

While they took their unbeaten run at home to six games, question marks will remain over their potency up front.

Coventry 2 Kidderminster 0 - FA Cup3 - 03/01/2009

Coventry 2 Kidderminster 0 - 03/01/2009

Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Stephen Wright, Curtis Wynter, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Robbie Simpson (Clinton Morrison 81), Leon McKenzie (Dan Fox 68), Michael Doyle, Aron Gunnarsson, Leon Best, Freddy Eastwood
Subs not used: Dimi Konstantopoulos, Kevin Thornton, Adam Walker, Sean Fraser, Ashley Cain
Goals: Leon McKenzie 52, Leon Best 82

Kidderminster: Adam Bartlett, Lee Baker, Andy Ferrell (Brian Smikle 56), Mark Creighton, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Stefan Moore 85), Russell Penn, Justin Richards, Martin Brittain (Darryl Knights 76), Dean Bennett, Keith Lowe, Martin Riley
Subs not used: Dean Coleman, Luke Jones, David McDermott, Sam Foley

Attendance: 13652
Referee: M Haywood

Teamtalk
Leon McKenzie and Leon Best booked Coventry's place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 win over Kidderminster in a one-sided Midlands derby.

The Sky Blues had been frustrated by Kidderminster goalkeeper Adam Bartlett who made a string of fine saves in the first half as both teams went into the break on level terms.

But McKenzie drilled the ball home from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute and Best ended the tie as a contest 30 minutes later with a fine solo goal.

Coventry had begun positively and Bartlett was forced to make a smart save from McKenzie who directed a superb header at goal from Robbie Simpson's teasing cross in the 12th minute.

Bartlett was then called into action again six minutes later when he brilliantly tipped a fierce shot from Best round the post.

Chris Coleman's side continued to press and moments later a corner from Michael Doyle picked out Aron Gunnarsson but the Iceland international could only direct his header over the crossbar.

Another corner from Doyle in the 21st minute caused havoc in the Kidderminster penalty area and Simpson avoided his marker and powerfully headed at goal but Bartlett claimed confidently.

Coventry forward Freddy Eastwood created a shooting opportunity in the 28th minute but was unable to control his left-footed strike from 20 yards out which flew over the bar.

The Blue Square Premier side proved stubborn opponents as the half wore on and Harriers defender Lee Baker made several important blocks before half-time.

Mark Yates' side registered their first attempt on target immediately after the interval and Russell Penn should have done better with a shot on the edge of the penalty area which was saved by Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall.

Kidderminster's rearguard was, though, breached by the Championship side in the 52nd minute when Doyle's mis-hit corner fell into the path of McKenzie just inside the penalty area.

The Sky Blues striker anticipated the bobbling ball and sweetly struck a left-footed shot past Bartlett and into the bottom right corner of the net.

McKenzie's strike saw Coventry push for a second and Doyle's corner to the far post in the 57th minute was met by the head of Ben Turner which was brilliantly tipped past the post by Bartlett.

Best had a good chance to double the advantage in the 66th minute when he found space on the right edge of the box but he could only shoot tamely at Bartlett.

Kidderminster pressed for an equaliser but Best effectively ended their hopes eight minutes from full-time with a fine individual goal.

Eastwood slipped the ball through to Best who danced past several Harriers defenders before he smashed the ball past Bartlett into the bottom left corner of the net.

The visitors almost pulled one back in injury time but Darryl Knights could only shoot tamely straight at Coventry goalkeeper Marshall after finding space just outside the box.

CCFC
Coventry City sailed into the draw for the FA Cup Fourth Round with a comfortable 2-0 win over Kidderminster Harriers at the Ricoh Arena.

Second half goals from Leon McKenzie and Leon Best were enough to down Harriers as the Sky Blues dominated proceedings and got their just rewards after a goalless first 45 minutes.

In a first half where Kidderminster were limited to only one or two skirmishes into the Sky Blues half, Chris Coleman's side controlled much of the possession and created almost all the attacking football on display yet, despite coming close, never managed to break the deadlock.

Freddy Eastwood set the tone in the first minute, firing a shot from an acute angle which forced Harriers 'keeper Adam Bartlett to palm the ball over his bar.

The resulting corner was the first of seven for the Sky Blues, all of which posing a threat but none of which delivered a goal.

Robbie Simpson went closest from set pieces, heading straight at Bartlett from Doyle's corner 20 minutes in.

And he also supplied an excellent floated ball over the top for Leon McKenzie ten minutes earlier, McKenzie directing his header straight at the goalkeeper.

Leon Best also went close after 17 minutes, receiving a ball in the box from 17-year-old debutant right back Curtis Wynter and directing a low shot towards the far corner of the Kiddermister goal only for Bartlett to push it just round the post.

McKenzie also almost had a second bite at the cherry in the dying moments of the opening 45 minutes, marginally missing Simpson's right-hand cross from close range.

Kidderminster started the second half the brightest, Andrew Ferrell hitting an early shot well saved by Andy Marshall.

But City finally broke the deadlock after 51 minutes, McKenzie getting on the end of a corner delivery from Doyle whose bouncing cross allowed McKenzie to flick the ball past Bartlett.

Harriers enjoyed more opportunities to attack in the second half, Russel Penn bending a shot just wide of Andy Marshall's post just before the hour.

But the visiting sides' surges forward were few and far between and the tie was put beyond any doubt nine minutes from time when Eastwood's through ball found Best who ran at the Harriers defence and fired a shot through traffic which, with a slight deflection, found its way past Bartlett.

Harriers found time to fashion a couple more pushes forward to little avail in the closing stages although the final moments were approached in a more subdued style.

All in all a professional job by the Sky Blues who now claim back-to-back wins at the Ricoh Arena and a third clean sheet on the bounce.