Saturday, March 21, 2009

Coventry 1 Doncaster 0 - 21/03/2009

Coventry 1 Doncaster 0 - 21/03/2009

Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, Scott Dann, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall, Jordan Henderson (Robbie Simpson 85), Guillaume Beuzelin (Isaac Osbourne 79), Aron Gunnarsson, David Bell, Freddy Eastwood (Leon Best 62), Clinton Morrison
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Elliott Ward
Booked: Stephen Wright 45, Jordan Henderson 25, Clinton Morrison 57
Goals: David Bell 20

Doncaster Rovers: Neil Sullivan, Gareth Roberts (Sam Hird 89), James Chambers, Adam Lockwood, Matthew Mills, Richard Wellens, Mark Wilson (Waide Fairhurst 84), John Spicer, Martin Woods, Dean Shiels, Paul Heffernan (James Hayter 74)
Subs not used: Jos van Nieuwstadt, James O'Connor
Booked:Richard Wellens 24

Attendance: 18498
Referee: R Beeby

Teamtalk
David Bell capitalised on Neil Sullivan's gaffe to score his first goal for Coventry and give them a 1-0 win over Doncaster at the Ricoh Arena.

Coventry had looked the better side in the opening stages. With 20 minutes gone, Sullivan came rushing out of his goal to clear Keiren Westwood's goal-kick - only for it to go straight to Bell, who finished superbly from 45 yards.

It was no more than Coventry deserved.

Stephen Wright saw a shot hit the post minutes later, and at the other end Westwood made a good save from John Spicer as Doncaster pressed forward before the break.

Westwood had to be alert to deny Dean Shiels early in the second half, but Coventry held on to record their first victory in five matches and move nine points clear of the bottom three.

The defeat was Doncaster's third in a row without scoring and left them with work to do to secure their Championship status for next season.

The home side almost went in front with two minutes gone when Aron Gunnarsson headed into the path of Jordan Henderson, who cut the ball across for Freddy Eastwood. But his shot skimmed the top of the bar.

Doncaster quickly found their rhythm, and Wilson was allowed to stride forward unchallenged before unleashing a long-range effort which Westwood did well to turn around the post.

Shortly after Coventry's opener, they went agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Gunnarsson's throw was headed straight into the path of Wright - whose first-time shot cannoned back off the post.

The visitors began to come into the game late in the half. Spicer was played in, but Westwood was quickly off his line to block the shot.

Doncaster continued where they left off at the start of the second half, and a quick break saw Shiels get away inside the area. But once again, Westwood did well to save the shot.

Coventry did still look dangerous, though, and Guillaume Beuzelin's cross found Scott Dann - but his flicked header went just over the bar.

Doncaster's Mark Wilson fired a long-range effort wide, and at the other end Gunnarsson saw his shot well blocked by Adam Lockwood.

Doncaster tried to push for a way back in the closing stages, but Coventry held firm to secure a battling three points.

CCFC
Coventry City ended a four-game run of successive defeats with a one-goal victory over travelling Doncaster Rovers thanks to a superb first-half strike from David Bell.

The Irish midfielder produced a flash of combined brilliance and opportunism to catch Doncaster 'keeper Neil Sullivan off his line from around 45 yards to give City the lead after 20 minutes.

And it could have been more had it not been for Rovers' woodwork in the first half.

Freddy Eastwood skimmed the crossbar from 12 yards just two minutes in, connecting with Jordan Henderson's cutback on the counter but unable to keep his shot down enough.

Rovers defender Matt Mills came close to giving the visitors the lead, his header from a corner going over Keiren Westwood's bar after 18 minutes.

But two minutes later, Bell took his cue from City fans urging him to shoot, then producing an effort reminiscent of David Beckham's famous halfway-line goal, from which Sullivan was also the victim.

Six minutes later Stephen Wright nearly made it 2-0 to City, a headed clearance finding it's way to the full-back who fired a volley at goal from 20 yards which hit Sullivan's post and shook the framework of the goal.

Keiren Westwood was needed to tip two efforts around his post from John Spicer and Richie Wellens with ten minutes of the half to go.

And, bar a breakway between Henderson and Wright which resulted in Henderson's shot going straight at Sullivan, Doncaster enjoyed most of the possession in the closing stages of the first half.

They never really threatened the goal though as the Sky Blues saw out the two added minutes without incident.

The second half in comparison passed without much incident although there was tension aplenty among City fans who grew gradually closer to a valuable Championship three points.

Westwood stayed alert three minutes into the second period, getting a strong palm to a close-range flick from James Chambers.

And he was called upon again after 56 minutes, coming off his line to block the effort of oncoming Sheils who took the rebound with the ball going out for a goal kick.

Dann had a close range header flicked just over the bar three minutes after the hour which could all but have sealed the points for the Sky Blues.

And while Doncaster continued to pepper the City area with long deliveries in search of an equalizer, they by far came out on top in terms of possession in the final 15 minutes but did little to suggest they would be getting a goal back.

The win for the Sky Blues, while ending their recent poor run, extends Rovers' run of league defeats to three on the bounce, something City know all too well but for know do not have to worry about.

4thegame
David Bell's first goal for Coventry City was enough to secure the three points as the Sky Blues defeated Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena.

The first half was brought to life in the 20th minute by Bell's fantastic effort. A hopeful ball into the corner from Aron Gunnarsson was sliced clear by Rovers keeper Neil Sullivan, straight to Bell, who took a touch before unleashing a 40-yard-effort into the top right-hand corner of the unguarded net.

The Sky Blues almost added a second spectacular goal to their collection on 28 minutes when Stephen Wright's 25-yard-volley smashed against Sullivan's left-hand post.

Doncaster threatened to equalise when John Spicer was played through by Richie Wellens on 34 minutes but Keiren Westwood did well to block the shot.

Wellens again caused problems when he danced through the Sky Blues' midfield before forcing a good save from Westwood with his low drive.

Doncaster started the second half brightly when Paul Heffernan adjusted quickly to flick Gareth Roberts' cross at goal on 49 minutes - but Westwood made a comfortable stop.

Dean Shiels escaped Scott Dann before finding himself one-on-one with Westwood, who did well to close him down at the near post and block the shot.

City responded to the early pressure with an effort of their own in the 64th minute as Guillaume Beuzelin's whipped cross from the left was sent over the bar by the head of Dann.

Substitute Robbie Simpson could have wrapped up the win on 86 minutes but he failed to connect with Bell's cross as he slid in at the far post.

But it was of little consequence as the Sky Blues saw out three minutes of stoppage time to end a run of four straight defeats and move above their opponents in the Championship table.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home