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Sheffield's Steal!
By CovSid67 April 3 2008
Three fixtures against the Sheffield's, only two points taken, but the reality is it should have been at least seven! And had Coventry City had a striker who knows where the net is since January (As in, if Michael Mifsud hadn't all but disappeared), we would be looking at the play-offs and not the relegation places this season.

A mere twenty-seven minutes of the original fixture (December 8th 2007) were played before the referee decided to abandon this game - though some thought it shouldn't have started in the first place! McKenzie and Tabb both had decent efforts for the away side, in a match Coventry City were quite obviously going to win, boosting their prospects of a play-off place....

Team: Konstantopolous, McNamee, Borrowdale, Ward, Turner, Cairo, Doyle, M. Hughes, Tabb, McKenzie, Best. SNU: Marshall, Osbourne, S. Hughes, Gray, Adebola.

The second attempt to play this fixture, which would have been Chris Coleman's first game in charge, saw the game postponed before a ball had been kicked this time! We would have won this match too....

In between the cancelled away fixtures, and the actual playing of the game, were visits to Wednesday's rivals Sheffield United, and the home fixture versus Sheffield Wednesday too .... and we were robbed - twice! There were decent enough displays to justify taking at least four points from the two games, but, once again, result altering mistakes from match officials (And the odd poor miss or two from our mis-firing strike force) cost us dearly....

Dann was denied his first goal in Coventry City colours early on against SU, while Leon Best was denied a penalty in the early stages of the match too. SU had the ball in the net twice in the first 20 minutes, the first effort disallowed for a foul on Andy Marshall, and the second time for offside. Both decisions were correct (Obviously). Another Dann effort just before half-time was superbly saved by Kenny.

Sheffield United's first goal, on 67 minutes, saw a blatant shove on Osbourne by goal-scorer Sharp ignored (His first goal in 207 attempts since signing from Scunthorpe), while the penalty that won the game for SU, should never have been awarded (And was originally saved by Marshall, but Speed was first to the rebound). Coventry City were awarded their own slightly dubious penalty (Which Ward put away with aplomb), but trying to come back from a goal down with twenty+ minutes left is far easier than coming back from two-down with 10 minutes left! (Though Coventry City still should have managed it, but were denied what looked a far clearer penalty in the 85th minute).

Team: Marshall, Osbourne, Fox, Ward, Dann, Mifsud, S. Hughes, Doyle, Tabb, Thornton, Best. SNU: Ireland, Hall, Gray, Simpson, Andrews.

MOTM for Sheffield Wednesday in the match at the Arena was their keeper, Lee Grant, but he shouldn't have even been on the pitch from half-an-hour onwards! As far as I was aware, the raising of arms above chest height is a red card offence - so quite why he was allowed to stay on the pitch for attempting to throttle Thornton is something only the referee can explain (Though referees aren't accountable for their poor decision making, so he didn't have to....).

The first half saw SW barely get out of their own half, with a penalty appeal after a foul on Thornton ignored after six minutes, a Tabb effort parried by Grant on 12 minutes, and a poor challenge on Fox going unpunished after 23 minutes. Mifsud's lack of confidence showed after he wasted a decent chance after 25 minutes, while the same player was on the wrong end of a terrible challenge minutes later.

A Mifsud slip saw another decent chance go to waste after 33 minutes, while SW finally crossed the half-way line, only for a linesmans flag to stop them in their tracks, on 38 minutes. Mifsud, Osbourne, and Fox, also all had efforts before half-time. It wasn't quite The Alamo, but it wasn't far off....

The second half was much the same, with a poor touch from Stephen Hughes allowing the SW defence to clear, Mifsud hitting the side netting from a yard out (After unexpectedly receiving the ball!), while a challenge on Doyle left him dazed and confused, and needing to leave the pitch while he worked out what day it was! Soon after he was replaced by Simpson.

Soon after, Wednesday managed to cross the half-way line again, only for the linesman to once again stop them in their tracks by waving his flag.

Another quality Coventry City move ended with a disappointing shot from Thornton, while a glorious ball on 70 minutes was well taken by Mifsud, with his shot tipped round the post by Grant. Soon after, Osbourne set up Mifsud for another attempt, with his effort being deflected for a corner.

The match fizzled out for the draw that Wednesday had quite clearly played for....

Re-scheduled for April Fools Day, a huge turn-out of Coventry supporters made the journey for the return, midweek fixture - and were almost treated to the victory that would have all but guaranteed Championship football next season.

Both sides could have been forgiven for trying to play out a lame 0-0 draw, and hoped to take the necessary points elsewhere, but that wasn't the case, with a fair few chances carved out by both sides.

A superb volley from loanee Hines (In the 83rd minute), whose signing didn't exactly have Coventry City supporters dancing in the streets when it was announced, looked like giving the away side the lead, and him immediate hero status, until a long throw-in saw Wood's header steal a point for the home side (To go with the one they look like keeping, despite breaking the rules against Stoke City last weekend). This came seconds after a very late substitution, which saw Gray replaced by Osbourne. If only the change hadn't been made....

While to still be playing Championship football next season is the No. 1 aim, the possible need for a win against Stoke should hopefully guarantee a decent attendance for said fixture!

Team: Schmeichal, Duffy, Fox, Ward, Dann, Tabb, S. Hughes, Doyle, Gray (Osbourne 90), Mifsud (Hines 72), Simpson. SNU: Marshall, Hall, Thornton.

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