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Town 2-1 Coventry
Town 2-1 Coventry
Saturday, 23rd Nov 2002 18:32

A late Pablo Couñago goal gave the Blues a valuable three points and Joe Royle his first home league win against Gary McAllister's Coventry City. Town at times rode their luck with goalkeeper Paul Gerrard making some particularly vital saves in the first half.

The Blues lined-up in their now regular 3-5-2 formation with the same personnel as last week at Watford. This again meant no place for either of the club's top scorers, Darren Ambrose and Pablo Couñago.

The game was only two minutes old when referee Tony Bates gave the Sky Blues a generous looking freekick on the edge of the Town box for a foul by Thomas Gaardsøe. After spending some while organising the Town wall, Mr Bates allowed McAllister to take the freekick which he curled wide of Paul Gerrard's post.

Coventry began the game positively and gave the Blues' defence a great deal of trouble. A forward three with loanee Jamie McMaster in the middle of two widemen, Richie Partridge and Gary McSheffrey proved dangerous. The latter was particularly effective and only seconds after McAllister's freekick he went through one-on-one with Gerrard, the Town keeper down well to save with his feet.

But despite McSheffrey getting away from the Town defence on a number of occasions it was the Blues who were to go ahead, in the 10th minute, with their first serious attempt on goal. As so often lately the goal started with Hermann Hreidarsson making a typically gritty run down the left, winning a corner. Jim Magilton took the kick which Darren Bent flicked goalwards after escaping his marker, keeper Debec nowhere.

As at Watford last week the goal gave Town confidence and only a minute later Jamie Clapham hit a shot over the bar from Hreidarsson's ball inside. Holland had an effort saved by Debec shortly afterwards, but the keeper hardly had to move to stop his low shot.

Paul Gerrard was impressing his new fans again on 15 as he rushed out to dive at McMaster's feet after McSheffrey had again got away in the clear on the left and sent a low ball across the box to the on loan Leeds striker. It was a fine save from Gerrard and had the North Stand calling for him to be signed-up permanently.

A minute later Calum Davenport became the first name in Mr Bates' book after somewhat cynically pulling Darren Bent down as the striker got away from him just beyond the halfway line on the Town right.

Bent was close to adding a second in the 20th minute as a deep Chris Makin shot went just beyond him. The early stages had been mainly Town despite the succession of breaks from Coventry.


However, the latter stages of the half were Coventry's. On 30 McSheffrey wasted a good opportunity as McMaster got away on the right and played a ball across to him. His touch let him down and Jamie Clapham cleared up.

Coventry were having more of the possession than earlier but ironically weren't creating the opportunities which should have seen them on the scoresheet earlier on. The best they could muster were two wayward shots from Dean Gordon and Mo Konjic.

Town's final chance of the half was a Clapham cross flicked just wide by Armstrong while at the other end a break on the right from McMaster ended with Gerrard saving at his near post.

No changes at half-time and Town began the half the stronger side without turning that into chances. Quickly though the Sky Blues took the initiative but once again Gerrard was standing in their way, solidly punching a McAllister corner away through a crowd of players.

Despite their dominance the visitors' efforts were once again restricted to long-range efforts as Town defended in numbers. A rare Town break in the 64th minute saw Darren Bent's shot saved by Debec after Davenport has mis-cleared a ball over the top for Armstrong.

Bent was again testing the keeper five minutes later with a volley from a Clapham cross which was again dealt with well by the Coventry keeper.

However, Coventry's pressure told after 73 minutes as confusion in the Town defence gave an opportunity on the edge of the area to sub John Eustace. Chris Makin appeared to be passing the ball across the edge of the box to Matt Holland as the skipper was making a move forward. Eustace seized on the loose ball and hit a shot to Gerrard's right which left the keeper with no chance.

It was a blow for Town and the earlier positive mood on the terraces started to take on a more negative appearance. The introduction of Pablo Couñago for Alun Armstrong on 75, and a renewed attacking approach from Town soon started to reverse that trend.

Matt Holland picked up his third booking of the season, only the fourth of his Town career, within seconds of Couñago's introduction. The Town skipper appeared to have made a solid contact on the ball as he challenged in the centre circle, however as so often on the afternoon referee Bates saw an infringement.

There were calls for a Town penalty in the 77th minute as Chris Makin appeared to be felled in the area by Gary Caldwell. Most of the appeals came from the crowd and Mr Bates waved play on.

Town were pushing for the win with sub Couñago and Hreidarsson particularly prominent on their attacks. With 12 minutes left the Icelander sent a low ball across the Coventry box but the ball evaded Darren Bent and other Town attackers.

An incident involving Hreidarsson and Calum Davenport led to more calls for a penalty on 80 as the Town player went to ground. Davenport made clear his anger at Hreidarsson's fall and the referee had to call both players over for a chat.

Town were continuing to press and Couñago was proving a thorn in the sides of the Coventry defenders. On 81 he made a run in from the left and was tripped just outside the area. After protracted wall arrangement, Jim Magilton took the kick, getting the ball over the wall but failing to beat Debec. Fortunately for Town the keeper failed to hold onto the ball and Pablo Couñago was the first man to react, stabbing the ball into the corner of the net before running to the Britannia Stand for a shirtless celebration.

Once more the goal seemed to give Town more confidence going forward and a third looked more likely than a second Coventry equaliser. Couñago played a one-two with Magilton after winning the ball and making a run down the left. Debec was off his line quickly to gather.

With three minutes left the same two players conjured what, had it gone in, would have been the Town goal of the season so far. Hreidarsson sent a ball in from the left to the Spaniard on the edge of the area where he cleverly flicked into the path of Magilton. The Northern Irishman clearly spotted Debec off his line and chipped him from 20 yards, the ball dipping onto the bar and over.

As injury time ran out for Coventry Darren Bent hit a 20-yarder which Debec saved and shortly afterwards the match ended, Hermann Hreidarsson jumping on Pablo at the sound of the whistle.

Not quite the fluent performance seen at Watford last week but a battling display against a Coventry side who will wonder how they didn't score in the first half. Town appeared nervous when the game wasn't going too well for them, perhaps the result of the sometimes negative atmosphere and the recent poor performances at home.

Both goals gave the side more confidence and eventually the points were won as the team's battling qualities were to the fore. Two league wins in a row, and three matches without defeat. Next Nottingham Forest and David Johnson stand in the way of the continued Town revival.

Town: Gerrard, Wilnis, Hreidarsson, Gaardsøe, McGreal, Makin, Holland, Magilton, Clapham, Bent, Armstrong (Couñago 75).


Photo: Action Images



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