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| Ungrouped | By IanP | 27/02/2010 at 19:44 |
By Ian Palmer.
Goals from Jon Stead and Sammy Clingan, and a penalty save from Keiren Westwood ensured that 10-man City took all three points against The Iron of Scunthorpe.
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| Saturday 27th February, 2010 – 15:00 – The Ricoh Arena |
| TEAM CHANGES |
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Leon Barnett replaced the injured Richard Wood in defence.
Last week’s goal-hero David Bell missed out through injury.
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| 1st Half |
A dull start to this match certainly wasn’t a portent of the fireworks to come later. In the opening stages City had the better of the play but only in the form of long balls hoofed up to either Clinton Morrison or Jon Stead.
Stead was making his home debut, and it was he who had the first chance when he turned sharply in the area but fluffed a left-foot shot tamely wide. Scunthorpe’s Paul Hayes cracked a better effort at the other end, but straight at Westwood.
Aron Gunnarsson then scuffed a volley as City started to warm up a bit. The Iron replied with a chance of their own when Gary Hooper broke through only to be put off by the attentions of Barnett, before eventually overrunning the ball allowing Westwood to gather.
City then started to find some rhythm and flow about their play. Morrison sent a volley over the bar after a Stead nod back. Then followed a nice interchange between Stead and McIndoe inside the area, but neither was able to get a shot away.
The busy McIndoe then found Stead in the area who laid the ball off to Clingan who in turn fired a first-time shot narrowly over and wide.
Then Gunnarsson had two good chances. The first a 20-yard report that needed a smart tip over from Joe Murphy; then Morrison held the ball up well and played in Gunnarsson after the Icelander had burst from midfield. But defenders caught up quickly and as he held one off, Gunnarsson squirmed a shot wide from the edge of the area.
After this match Chris Coleman likened Carl Baker to City legend Tommy Hutchison. His ability to dance past defenders and create chances is really making him a fan-favourite and a must for the starting eleven.Almost all City’s good attacking play today started with Baker.
At the other end, however, Scunthorpe reminded the Sky Blues of the threat they posed with Sam Togwell side-footing a shot narrowly wide after being set up by Hooper. But it was the home team that continued to dominate.
A speculative shot from Martin Cranie deflected off the head of McIndoe and landed only just wide of the goal. Then Baker went on another mazy run, beating at least five Scunthorpe players before sliding a 20-yard shot wide. This was exhilarating stuff now, but still no goals to show for it.
Stead then lunged at a Baker a cross but was unable to reach it, before Baker played in Stephen Wright who got to the byline but his pull-back was scrambled away by the Iron defence.
Just before half time, Paul Hayes gave City a fright when his header from a Josh Wright free-kick forced Westwood into a smart diving stop.
City were applauded off at half time for their impressive performance that brimmed with endeavour and was lacking only in goals.
| Half Time |
Coventry 0-0 Scunthorpe
| 2nd Half |
City started the second brightly, but an excellent volleyed clearence from Togwell sent Hayes through on Westwood’s goal. Thankfully for City an excellent last-ditch Leon Barnett challenge robbed Hayes of the ball. Scunthorpe’s penalty appeals were waved away.
Minutes later, Barnett was booked for a foul on Hayes – a decision that would prove costly later on. Meanwhile a McIndoe cross was headed clear but only to Baker who returned a volley wide of the mark.
Gunnarsson sent Stead chasing a lovely ball done the right wing. Stead laid it off to Baker who beat a couple before returning it to him. From the corner of the penalty area Stead lashed a left-foot shot smack into the bottom corner of the net to give City the lead.
Finally all City’s pressure had paid off, and Stead had deservedly got his first goal for the club on his home debut.
But just four minutes later there was disaster at the other end. With Hooper bearing down on goal, Barnett slipped as he challenged for the ball, bringing down Hooper, and the referee’s assistant signalled for a penalty. Barnett received his second yellow card and trudged off for an early bath. It was harsh on the defender who was looking impressive again at the back.
Hooper stepped up to take the penalty but his right-foot shot was superbly saved by Keiren Westwood who dived to his right to push the ball away. Westwood punched the air in celebration. City fans cheered it like a goal as they knew just how crucial a moment it was.
Minutes later Gunnarsson drove through midfield and was brought down by Cliff Byrne on the edge of the area. The referee mistakenly booked Matthew Sparrow. Sammy Clingan stepped up and curled the free-kick over the wall, and in to the net past the flailing Murphy. It was a beauty, and gave City a crucial 2-goal cushion.
Clingan nearly got a quick second but his shot was fired straight at Murphy. At the other end, David Mirfin headed over from a corner when he really should have done better. Hooper then had an even better chance, but he screwed his volley from inside the area hopelessly wide.
Scunthorpe were now starting to dominate possesion and City were having to get all their men back behind the ball. McIndoe had reverted to left-back after Barnett’s sending off, with Cranie switching to centre-back, and Morrison moving back into midfield.
Baker relieved some pressure with yet another tricky run at the Scunthorpe defence. A shame that his cross was overhit though. Back came The Iron and substitute Garry Thompson’s cross found the other substitute Grant McCann in the area and he fired a first-time left-foot shot past Westwood to bring his team right back into the match at 2-1.
Hearts were in City mouths minutes later when Thompson’s deflected shot found the back of the net, but City were saved by a flag for offside. Five minutes of stoppage time was signalled.
Deegan was on for Stead, and Eastwood for Morrison as City looked to inject some fresh legs into their bid to hold on in this match. Martyn Woolford worryingly sliced a shot wide.
Byrne was booked for a block on Baker. If the referee had correctly booked him earlier for his foul on Gunnarsson, he would have been off too.
It didn’t matter. City held on and earned themselves a hard-fought victory against a stubborn Scunthorpe side and make it four wins in five on this impressive little run.
Not one City player had a bad game today, and credit must also go to Coleman who really has them all playing for each other as a team.
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| AFTER GAME QUOTES |
“The team spirit amongst the lads is fantastic and it’s funny, the harder we are working, the more luck we are getting.
“We are definitely looking up instead of down now, even though we’ve played one or two games more than some others.
“It was a fantastic save from Keiren, but the lads have earned this.”
Nigel Adkins:
“A few of the decisions that have gone against Scunthorpe United in recent games have not been good.
“We’ve had words in the dressing room though because this is frustrating, and is an opportunity missed for us.
“We were poor in the first half but it was a bit more like it from us in the second period.”
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| HOW THEY LINED UP |
Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Sears, Hussey, Turner, Grandison
Booked: Barnett, Morrison
Sent Off: Barnett (two yellow cards)
Goals: Stead 55, Clingan 68
Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne, Mirfin, Raynes, Williams, Sparrow (McCann 71), Wright, Togwell (McDermott 64), Woolford (Thompson 64), Hooper, Hayes
Subs Not Used: Lillis, Milne, Forte, Canavan
Booked: Sparrow, Byrne
Goals: McCann 83
Att: 16,197
Ref: P. Taylor
Man of The Match:
Carl Baker – seemingly omnipresent on the pitch, and the most exciting player to watch since a little Maltese man played for us.
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