Coventry 1 Birmingham 0 - 21-02-2009
Coventry 1 Birmingham 0 - 21-02-2009
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Ben Turner, Stephen Wright, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Aron Gunnarsson, David Bell, Michael Doyle, Leon McKenzie (Jordan Henderson 54), Clinton Morrison (Freddy Eastwood 89), Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 88)
Subs not used: Guillaume Beuzelin, Andy Marshall
Booked: Clinton Morrison 41
Goals: Scott Dann 2
Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, David Murphy, Liam Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Lee Carsley (Hameur Bouazza 32), Sebastian Larsson, Scott Sinclair, Keith Fahey, Lee Bowyer, Cameron Jerome (Carlos Costly 71), Marcus Bent
Subs not used: Lyness, Djimi Traore, Damien Johnson
Booked: Sebastian Larsson 84, Lee Bowyer 34
Attendance: 22637
Referee: C Oliver
Teamtalk
Birmingham failed to close the gap on Championship leaders Wolves as Scott Dann's early goal gave Coventry a 1-0 victory at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues raced out of the blocks and Clinton Morrison forced Maik Taylor to save with his feet with little more than 30 seconds on the clock after good link-up play with strike partner Leon Best.
From Daniel Fox's resulting corner, Dann was left unmarked inside the six-yard box to smash the ball home.
It was a thoroughly deserved win for the hosts, who are now unbeaten in four matches in all competitions and look to be on track to achieve Chris Coleman's target of a top-half finish in the league this season.
Birmingham were well below-par, particularly in the first half when their passing was sloppy and lacked urgency.
A lack of goals - the Blues have scored just nine in their last 12 Championship outings - must be a cause for concern for boss Alex McLeish and his side never really looked capable of mounting a recovery after falling behind early-on.
The only consolation for Birmingham is that they remain in second place after Reading slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City.
Both managers made one change to their starting line-up.
Coleman recalled Leon McKenzie as on-loan Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson dropped down to the bench.
McLeish's switch was an enforced one after top-scorer Kevin Phillips suffered a torn hamstring against Nottingham Forest last weekend, so Cameron Jerome came into the side.
Morrison was making a nuisance of himself against his former club and headed narrowly over the crossbar after three minutes before seeing a goal-bound effort blocked by Liam Ridgewell 10 minutes later.
A neat Birmingham move was not given the finish it deserved by Sebastian Larsson when he shot tamely at Keiren Westwood after 15 minutes.
Jerome dragged a shot wide and Marcus Bent missed the target with a header either side of the half-hour mark in the only other efforts of note in the first half.
The Blues lost midfielder Lee Carsley to injury before the break. He was replaced by Hameur Bouazza.
Eight minutes into the second half it was Coventry's turn to make an enforced change as Henderson came on for the injured McKenzie.
And the Sunderland youngster almost made a telling impact midway through the second half with a superb left-foot shot from 25-yards that was brilliantly saved away by Taylor.
Birmingham improved marginally after the restart and Jerome, Keith Fahey and Lee Bowyer all had efforts on goal, but none of them forced Westwood into a save.
At the other end, Taylor kept his side in the game when he kept out Best's low shot with his feet.
Scott Sinclair thought he had rescued a late point for Birmingham when he smashed the ball home from close range but the on loan Chelsea midfielder's celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
Best missed a late chance to seal it as Coventry suffered through five minutes of injury time, but they held on for the win.
CCFC
Coventry City saw out another extended bout of injury time to pick up all three points over Birmingham City infront of a season-record crowd at the Ricoh Arena.
Captain Scott Dann handed the Sky Blues a dream start when he headed home Danny Fox's corner in the first minute.
And Chris Coleman's rearguard withstood a late rally from Blues for another five-minute injury time period to secure a second straight win at home.
The game was barely a minute old when the Sky Blues earned a corner after Clinton Morrison had a close range volley well saved by Birmingham 'keeper Maik Taylor.
But Coventry made the most of their first set piece, Fox delivering for Dann who headed home.
The Sky Blues could have been two up a minute later when a shot took a deflection and looped just over Taylor and his bar.
Birmingham though took 14 minutes to get their first shot on target, Sebastien Larsson getting in a low effort from the edge of the Coventry area which was no trouble for Sky Blues 'keeper Keiren Westwood.
Team mate Fox was also involved in another great set piece for Coventry four minutes after the half-hour mark, floating a free-kick wide to David Bell who headed back across goal for Leon McKenzie to head just wide.
But Westwood was required at the other end just three minutes later, needing to be at full stretch to palm away Sebastien Larsson's free-kick which took a deflection and was heading for the far corner.
Coventry finished the half strong though and came within an inch of getting a second goal before the break.
McKenzie broke down the left flank and beat Martin Taylor to the byline before cutting back into the area, Gunnarsson missing the ball and Bell stabbing a shot which crossed right into the path of Morrison before rolling centimetres wide of Taylor's right-hand post.
The Sky Blues also started off the second half in fine fashion, Morrison delivering a crossfield ball to McKenzie although the delivery was just out of reach.
McKenzie was then the target of Aron Gunnarsson's through ball four minutes into the second period, only to get the ball stuck underneath his feet.
It was McKenzie's last real contribution of note after an impressive as he was stretchered off with an injury and replaced by Jordan Henderson.
Henderson was lively on the right flank after his introduction and on 65 minutes played through Best who shot at the legs of Maik Taylor.
Best returned the favour on 78 minutes, breaking away and playing in an unmarked Henderson whose shot was blocked after David Murphy's desperate challenge.
It was a case of déjà vu for Coventry fans on 90 minutes when the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time for the third consecutive time when the Sky Blues were ahead.
But outside of the nailbiting atmosphere of another extended waiting period, Birmingham enjoyed plenty of possession in the final moments but failed to turn them into anything threatening.
Another great win for the Sky Blues against another of the Championship's promotion chasers.
4thegame
Scott Dann's first minute strike proved decisive as Coventry City edged out Midlands rivals Birmingham City at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues got off to the best possible start when they took the lead after just 59 seconds.
Clinton Morrison forced a good save from Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor and the resulting corner was hit low by Dan Fox to Coventry skipper Dann at the near post, who side-footed home into the bottom left-hand corner.
The visitors' best chance of the half came on 38 minutes, Sebastian Larsson at the heart of the action when his free-kick took a deflection, forcing Keiren Westwood to pull off a brilliant save down to his left.
Coventry's new signing David Bell should have scored on the stroke of half-time when Leon McKenzie's low cross found him, but he sent an effort wide of Taylor's left-hand post.
The home side again began the livelier of the two teams and Morrison hit a fantastic 30-yard ball for McKenzie, but he failed to make clean contact and his weak strike was hit straight at Taylor.
In an end-to-end half chances for either side saw Keith Fahey shoot wide from the top of the box, before Leon Best was played through on goal by substitute Jordan Henderson, but Best's powerful effort produced a good save from Taylor.
Larsson made up for a costly error when Best robbed the Swede in Coventry's half before playing Henderson in, but Larsson ran the length of the pitch to block the shot.
Controversy reined in the 81st minute when substitute Hameur Bouazza had a goal ruled out for offside.
Coventry composed themselves quickly and Best should have done better with an effort at the far post on 83 minutes.
The Sky Blues defended in numbers throughout five minutes of injury time and held firm to take all three points.
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Ben Turner, Stephen Wright, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Aron Gunnarsson, David Bell, Michael Doyle, Leon McKenzie (Jordan Henderson 54), Clinton Morrison (Freddy Eastwood 89), Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 88)
Subs not used: Guillaume Beuzelin, Andy Marshall
Booked: Clinton Morrison 41
Goals: Scott Dann 2
Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, David Murphy, Liam Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Lee Carsley (Hameur Bouazza 32), Sebastian Larsson, Scott Sinclair, Keith Fahey, Lee Bowyer, Cameron Jerome (Carlos Costly 71), Marcus Bent
Subs not used: Lyness, Djimi Traore, Damien Johnson
Booked: Sebastian Larsson 84, Lee Bowyer 34
Attendance: 22637
Referee: C Oliver
Teamtalk
Birmingham failed to close the gap on Championship leaders Wolves as Scott Dann's early goal gave Coventry a 1-0 victory at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues raced out of the blocks and Clinton Morrison forced Maik Taylor to save with his feet with little more than 30 seconds on the clock after good link-up play with strike partner Leon Best.
From Daniel Fox's resulting corner, Dann was left unmarked inside the six-yard box to smash the ball home.
It was a thoroughly deserved win for the hosts, who are now unbeaten in four matches in all competitions and look to be on track to achieve Chris Coleman's target of a top-half finish in the league this season.
Birmingham were well below-par, particularly in the first half when their passing was sloppy and lacked urgency.
A lack of goals - the Blues have scored just nine in their last 12 Championship outings - must be a cause for concern for boss Alex McLeish and his side never really looked capable of mounting a recovery after falling behind early-on.
The only consolation for Birmingham is that they remain in second place after Reading slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City.
Both managers made one change to their starting line-up.
Coleman recalled Leon McKenzie as on-loan Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson dropped down to the bench.
McLeish's switch was an enforced one after top-scorer Kevin Phillips suffered a torn hamstring against Nottingham Forest last weekend, so Cameron Jerome came into the side.
Morrison was making a nuisance of himself against his former club and headed narrowly over the crossbar after three minutes before seeing a goal-bound effort blocked by Liam Ridgewell 10 minutes later.
A neat Birmingham move was not given the finish it deserved by Sebastian Larsson when he shot tamely at Keiren Westwood after 15 minutes.
Jerome dragged a shot wide and Marcus Bent missed the target with a header either side of the half-hour mark in the only other efforts of note in the first half.
The Blues lost midfielder Lee Carsley to injury before the break. He was replaced by Hameur Bouazza.
Eight minutes into the second half it was Coventry's turn to make an enforced change as Henderson came on for the injured McKenzie.
And the Sunderland youngster almost made a telling impact midway through the second half with a superb left-foot shot from 25-yards that was brilliantly saved away by Taylor.
Birmingham improved marginally after the restart and Jerome, Keith Fahey and Lee Bowyer all had efforts on goal, but none of them forced Westwood into a save.
At the other end, Taylor kept his side in the game when he kept out Best's low shot with his feet.
Scott Sinclair thought he had rescued a late point for Birmingham when he smashed the ball home from close range but the on loan Chelsea midfielder's celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
Best missed a late chance to seal it as Coventry suffered through five minutes of injury time, but they held on for the win.
CCFC
Coventry City saw out another extended bout of injury time to pick up all three points over Birmingham City infront of a season-record crowd at the Ricoh Arena.
Captain Scott Dann handed the Sky Blues a dream start when he headed home Danny Fox's corner in the first minute.
And Chris Coleman's rearguard withstood a late rally from Blues for another five-minute injury time period to secure a second straight win at home.
The game was barely a minute old when the Sky Blues earned a corner after Clinton Morrison had a close range volley well saved by Birmingham 'keeper Maik Taylor.
But Coventry made the most of their first set piece, Fox delivering for Dann who headed home.
The Sky Blues could have been two up a minute later when a shot took a deflection and looped just over Taylor and his bar.
Birmingham though took 14 minutes to get their first shot on target, Sebastien Larsson getting in a low effort from the edge of the Coventry area which was no trouble for Sky Blues 'keeper Keiren Westwood.
Team mate Fox was also involved in another great set piece for Coventry four minutes after the half-hour mark, floating a free-kick wide to David Bell who headed back across goal for Leon McKenzie to head just wide.
But Westwood was required at the other end just three minutes later, needing to be at full stretch to palm away Sebastien Larsson's free-kick which took a deflection and was heading for the far corner.
Coventry finished the half strong though and came within an inch of getting a second goal before the break.
McKenzie broke down the left flank and beat Martin Taylor to the byline before cutting back into the area, Gunnarsson missing the ball and Bell stabbing a shot which crossed right into the path of Morrison before rolling centimetres wide of Taylor's right-hand post.
The Sky Blues also started off the second half in fine fashion, Morrison delivering a crossfield ball to McKenzie although the delivery was just out of reach.
McKenzie was then the target of Aron Gunnarsson's through ball four minutes into the second period, only to get the ball stuck underneath his feet.
It was McKenzie's last real contribution of note after an impressive as he was stretchered off with an injury and replaced by Jordan Henderson.
Henderson was lively on the right flank after his introduction and on 65 minutes played through Best who shot at the legs of Maik Taylor.
Best returned the favour on 78 minutes, breaking away and playing in an unmarked Henderson whose shot was blocked after David Murphy's desperate challenge.
It was a case of déjà vu for Coventry fans on 90 minutes when the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time for the third consecutive time when the Sky Blues were ahead.
But outside of the nailbiting atmosphere of another extended waiting period, Birmingham enjoyed plenty of possession in the final moments but failed to turn them into anything threatening.
Another great win for the Sky Blues against another of the Championship's promotion chasers.
4thegame
Scott Dann's first minute strike proved decisive as Coventry City edged out Midlands rivals Birmingham City at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues got off to the best possible start when they took the lead after just 59 seconds.
Clinton Morrison forced a good save from Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor and the resulting corner was hit low by Dan Fox to Coventry skipper Dann at the near post, who side-footed home into the bottom left-hand corner.
The visitors' best chance of the half came on 38 minutes, Sebastian Larsson at the heart of the action when his free-kick took a deflection, forcing Keiren Westwood to pull off a brilliant save down to his left.
Coventry's new signing David Bell should have scored on the stroke of half-time when Leon McKenzie's low cross found him, but he sent an effort wide of Taylor's left-hand post.
The home side again began the livelier of the two teams and Morrison hit a fantastic 30-yard ball for McKenzie, but he failed to make clean contact and his weak strike was hit straight at Taylor.
In an end-to-end half chances for either side saw Keith Fahey shoot wide from the top of the box, before Leon Best was played through on goal by substitute Jordan Henderson, but Best's powerful effort produced a good save from Taylor.
Larsson made up for a costly error when Best robbed the Swede in Coventry's half before playing Henderson in, but Larsson ran the length of the pitch to block the shot.
Controversy reined in the 81st minute when substitute Hameur Bouazza had a goal ruled out for offside.
Coventry composed themselves quickly and Best should have done better with an effort at the far post on 83 minutes.
The Sky Blues defended in numbers throughout five minutes of injury time and held firm to take all three points.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 9:00 pm
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