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Coventry 1-1 Town
Coventry 1-1 Town
Saturday, 19th Nov 2005 19:03

Loanee Gavin Williams scored on his debut as the Blues' first game at Coventry's new Ricoh Arena ended in a 1-1 draw. Williams put Town ahead on 50 but Gary McSheffrey equalised six minutes later.

Town played largely the side expected, with Jim Magilton taking over from the suspended Kevin Horlock in midfield. Perhaps surprisingly, Ian Westlake returned to the starting line-up in place of Matt Richards on the left of midfield, while Darren Currie dropped to the bench, as he did for the recent away fixture at Derby, with Williams replacing him.

Richard Naylor went close to putting the Blues in front inside two minutes, the centre-half heading a freekick just wide. This season's testimonial man made an important interception soon after, putting a Dele Adebola cross over the bar. From the corner, former Town man James Scowcroft headed over.

Naylor continued to be the centre of most of the action, heading a Jim Magilton corner wide in the 13th minute. Full-back Sito tried an audacious 45-yarder four minutes later but failed to trouble Coventry's Hungarian keeper Marton Fulop.

Town were having the better of the game but once again without really creating too many chances. There was a scare in the 23rd minute when Adebola played in McSheffrey who failed to control the ball which ran harmlessly to Lewis Price.

Adebola headed a freekick straight to Price, then at the other end Fulop was out quickly to claim the ball ahead of Nicky Forster.

Forster made a dangerous mazy run in the 27th minute and laid the ball back but no Town player was there to add the final touch. Two minutes later, Jay McEveley almost fluked the Blues into the lead but Fulop tipped his dipping cross over the bar.

McEveley picked up a yellow card on the half hour for a somewhat blatant foul on Andrew Whing on the edge of the Town box. Stephen Hughes curled the freekick round the wall and off the outside of the post.


Adebola shot over, then only a late saving tackle from Marcus Hall stopped Ian Westlake from breaking through one-on-one with the keeper.

Jimmy Juan headed a Sito cross but without the power to trouble Fulop. Price was similarly unruffled by a McSheffrey effort from 20 yards.

Coventry were having the better of the latter stages of the half and Michael Doyle hit a powerful strike in the 44th minute but straight at Price. Nicky Forster twice went close in the closing moments, Fulop saving his shot on the turn and then his effort from Westlake's through ball went wide.

A generally uninspiring half which the Blues shaded on possession, while Coventry had the better chances.

Town made one change at the break, Matt Richards taking over from Ian Westlake on the left of midfield.

The Blues started the second half brightly and Jim Magilton was close to netting a rare header from Jimmy Juan's cross from the left but sent the ball wide.

But within four minutes of the restart Town were in front. Whing's poor defensive header fell to Richards in space on the left of the penalty area. The half-time sub took his time before picking out Gavin Williams in the centre, the debutant's first time effort proving too powerful for Fulop's outstretched hand.

Town immediately went looking for a second goal, Magilton having a shot blocked from a Forster cross from the right.

However, in the 56th minute Coventry hit back, very much against the balance of play since half-time. Town failed to clear on the edge of the area and Gary McSheffrey hit a shot on the turn which beat Price to his left.

Two minutes later, the Sky Blues almost scored again. Scowcroft headed a freekick back across goal and Adebola nodded the ball wide when hitting the target looked an easier task. Soon after the former Crewe man sent the ball high and wide from virtually point blank but the linesman's flag had been raised in any case.

Sam Parkin, looking for his sixth away goal of the season, headed Jim Magilton's 60th minute corner over the bar, prior to Darren Currie replacing the Town skipper.

Matt Richards, by now playing in the centre with Currie on the left, hit a shot on the turn which Fulop saved. On 79 Dean Bowditch took over from Nicky Forster, shortly after a Coventry supporter running on to the pitch had held up play.

By the last 10 minutes the Blues were completely dominant with Coventry keeper Fulop looking less than confident at dealing with crosses.

In the 81st minute Richard Naylor headed a Currie corner straight at Fulop, who did well to save Currie's 25-yard shot from the left. Juan headed another Currie cross wide, then Bowditch flicked a Richards ball from the left to the keeper.

As the game entered injury time, Sam Parkin shot Town's final chance of the game wide from a deflected Jay McEveley cross.

The Blues probably did enough to win the match and were very much in the ascendant as the game ended. Town continued the improvement of recent weeks, keeping hold of possession far better than earlier on in the season and creating enough in the second half to take three points back to Suffolk, although the Sky Blues will feel they also squandered one or two decent opportunities.

Richard Naylor was once again impressive at the back, while Gavin Williams put in a very promising performance on his debut. Matt Richards starred after coming on at half-time and could well have done enough to win back his starting place for Tuesday's game at home to Reading, as did Darren Currie.

Town: Price, Sito, McEveley, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton (Currie 62), Juan, Westlake (Richards 46), Williams, Parkin, Forster (Bowditch 79). Unused: Supple, Wilnis. Att: 18,316.


Photo: Action Images



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