A second half David Johnson goal gave Town a victory in an understated Worthington Cup fourth round tie at Portman Road. Town took the lead early through Titus Bramble shot, but a Craig Bellamy penalty levelled after half-time.
The Blues made several changes from the side which won at Manchester City on Saturday. Richard Wright missed his first game since March 1997 as Keith Branagan made his first appearance for Town. Titus Bramble came in for the injured Mark Venus, while David Johnson stepped in for the rested Marcus Stewart. Jim Magilton also missed out with injury and was replaced by Martijn Reuser. Reuser played on the right of midfield as Jermaine Wright moved into the centre.
Town started the game in impressive form and it was only five minutes before they went ahead. Titus Bramble hammered home from the edge of the area after Coventry failed to clear a corner. It was an awesome strike which was typical of the power he demonstrated many times on the night.
The Blues had few clearcut chances despite pretty much running the show. Matt Holland had a couple of shots charged down, but the best opportunity once again fell to Bramble. The centre-half rose high from a corner and headed the ball wide of the Coventry post.
Coventry gradually got themselves more and more into the game, although much of this was down to Town’s increasing over-confidence. At one point every single Town defensive player tried to dribble the ball out and lost possession only for another defender to win the ball back. Eventually Keith Branagan got hold of the ball but it was a dodgy moment. Branagan had begun the evening with a stunning save from Chippo, tipping the ball over when diving high to his left. It was a save very much reminiscent of Richard Wright.
Coventry’s best chance of the first half came when Eustace was left completely unmarked eighteen yards out. The ball was played into him, but he hit his shot straight at Branagan. Craig Bellamy’s only contributions were two runs into the box down the right from short corners. Both ended with the striker greedily choosing to shoot at Branagan’s near post when a cross would have been a better option. The second ended with John Aloisi needlessly kicking Branagan in the head. Neither the Town player or the referee reacted.
Town were not playing well, despite the score and things were to get trickier. Half-time saw Matt Holland and Martijn Reuser replaced by Gary Croft and Marcus Stewart. Holland had been injured after a bad tackle midway through the half (this may explain Eustace’s freedom in the incident above), although Reuser had shown little sign of injury. In fact as Town’s general performance dropped off as the half went along Reuser had got more and more into it.
Gary Croft went to left back, Hreidarsson to centre-half while John Scales took on an unfamiliar central midfield role. Marcus Stewart joined David Johnson and James Scowcroft up front.
On 54 minutes Coventry drew level. Fabian Wilnis tackled Chippo on the edge of the Town area. It was tricky to see whether the Town player had touched the ball, but referee Paul Durkin had no doubt. Former Budgie Craig Bellamy stepped up, paused and sent Branagan the wrong way.
Durkin and his linesmen were not impressing the Town fans. Inexplicable decision followed inexplicable decision. Paul Williams twice brought down Town players when they were through on goal, first Johnson and later Bramble after a typical stealthy run. Was Williams shown a red card? He wasn’t even shown a yellow. In fact it seemed that Mr Durkin had left his cards at home until he decided to book Bramble for a challenge which was nothing compared to some of the tackles which had flown in. His linesmen matched him for ineptitude with throw-in and corner decisions being given almost at random.
Despite being nowhere near their best Town put one or two decent moves together. David Johnson went close with a couple of headers and was inches from a Marcus Stewart cross when about a foot out. Finally a goal came in the 65th minute. Johnson ran on to a long pass down the left in acres of space. He cut in and fired a shot under Kirkland in the Coventry goal. It was the piece of luck the striker had been waiting for for weeks and it was an important goal for Town.
The game faded out with only Mr Durkin’s odd decisions being the only major talking points. Finally the whistle went and Town were through to the fifth round to meet the winners of Manchester City against Wimbledon. By no means a vintage performance, but a win all the same.