07 April 2007...
-v- 
Coventry City 0 - 1 QPR
Attendance - 22850
A superb result today, topped by a very good second half performance by our players; now a 5 point cushion between ourselves and third from bottom; and three places from the drop zone. How good does that feel?
Last season at Coventry it was of course their first game at their new ground, and so true to form we laid down and died to allow the home faithful to enjoy their day. It was a different story, as I knew it would be, and whilst in the first half we didn't play to our potential, the second half was much improved and in my opinion were fully deserving of all three points.
But to rewind a bit....
Last season, with the Ricoh only having just opened there were teething problems taking place. Today was a much better experience (though obviously winning helped!) as in the concourse area there were more refreshment bars open, and a better selection to choose from. Last season inside the actual arena, they didn't have a scoreboard working, but this time around there was a large screen, showing the game, flashing up scores etc.
Our seats were near enough at the back of the stand, it's quite a long way up, and with the steps being steep, by the time reaching the top of the stand you feel as though you need a nap. Maybe this is why the home fans were so quiet? ;-) The ground itself is uniform all around (i.e. all stands the same height) and I would imagine wherever you sit, you'd get a good view of the game. The only trouble is at the top you need binoculars so if I've made any mistakes with wrong players a couple of times it's not really that I need to go to specsavers, it just seemed a long way to the pitch.
When the players were warming up there was a discussion going on as to whether Dexter was out there, the girls reckoned they couldn't see him, could spot Stefan Moore, but not Dex, which made me spill my tea so off I went to have a quick mop down in the ladies and then used the excuse to go to the front on the way back to have a look where I could actually see the players properly. Panic over. There was Dex, though no sign of Cookie or Mancienne.
When the teams were announced we sussed that Moore would be playing on the left in place of the missing Cook, whilst Jimmy Smith was playing in central midfield in place of Lomas, and Kanyuka at right back instead of Mancienne. Also, Bignot was on the bench with Timoska in his place at left back. Interesting selections by JG were our initial thoughts.
We got into the ground early and watching the away end start to fill up as it neared kick off, the stewards had to open another section with the hoops that seemed to be pouring in. Don't believe the Coventry 'official' figures, to me it looked more like at least 3000 R's fans there today.
When the players emerged for kick off there was an excited, yet nervous, atmosphere around, though Q block Pete banging his drum got everyone going to the we are the rangers boys chant.
The first half to be honest was a bit of a strange affair. Maybe it was because the players were trying to get used to a couple of slightly different players in the team from recent weeks in Smith, Timoska and Moore. We were kicking towards our end in the first half but there was a fair amount of huff and puff going on. We were trying to squeeze it through the middle too much at times and weren't using the width as much as we could have done. Furlong had a half chance, and Ainsworth at one time drilled the ball over the face of the goal but there was nobody running in at the right moment to make contact.
Stefan, playing in an out of position role to be fair to him, wasn't getting into the game as he perhaps should have done, and lost possession a couple of times which was a tad frustrating. Ainsworth on the other side when in possession frustratingly gave the ball away too much to his marker and you could see him actually getting annoyed with himself. If anything, I kind of thought he was trying *too* much if that makes sense. In the middle, Jimmy was actually winning us a few free kicks in areas that mattered, but the final ball was being wasted, probably another indication of trying too much.
Towards the end of the first half, Smith was making a run in the box when he appeared to be brought down, the problem was he probably made a bit too much out of the fall and the ref (and it wasn't Uriah Rennie! Yes!) waved the appeals away. Talking of the ref, he was another idiot of an official. Time and time again, 50/50 balls were given the other way and at one time Furlong was clearly fouled down our end, arms all over him, and yet he was given no protection whatsoever. The other way though, oh yeah, all it took was for one of their players to take the slightest of touches, and he would be blowing up for them.
Down the other end in the first half, it's fair to say that Lee Camp made a couple of excellent saves, one a point blank one when he got down low, and then shortly afterwards he made a double save, though it wasn't really a double save, he made a sharp save as the nippy Mifsud had a shot which looked goal bound, then he picked himself up, as the ball had rebounded just outside the area where it was being picked up and he made a challenge that any defender would have been proud of, to send the ball to safety.
So, half time, the score was even stevens, other results appeared to be going our way. I said to the others that Coventry were there for the taking, we just needed to compose ourselves better, use the width more (maybe by bringing on Ricketts), and bring on Nygaard for Furs.
Gregory had obviously told the players that we needed to tighten up more, and perhaps also had had a word with Stefan, because he looked more confident, because we had a different look about us from the restart. And then seven minutes into the restart, we took the lead. An attack down the Cov end and Bolder put a cross over into the box, Furlong it looked like, had time to look up and shot, their keeper made a good save but the ball rebounded out to Dexter who it seemed for sure would score but again, Marshall in goal managed to stick a leg out for another superb save, however it was third time lucky because there was Jimmy Smith running in on the left, and as the ball fell to him he was not going to make any mistake in putting the ball away from fairly close range.
1-0 up and with Jimmy enjoying his goal, he ran over to the bench giving them high fives, and then came sprinting over to the middle where he was giving clenched fists towards the QPR fans, pointing to the badge on his shirt etc. I know many are sceptical of the old badge pointing/kissing routine, but I love it.
This goal then seemed to put the home side completely on the back pedal, it was as if they weren't sure how to respond, and though Dowie made a couple of changes, at one time bringing on that cheat Leon McKenzie, by then we had the bit between our teeth and it was going to take something special to get past us. After we'd scored, JG brought on Bignot for Timoska, he probably thought that fresh legs on that side of the pitch was required because a couple of times we were allowing too much space over there. And then around midway through the half, he brought Nygaard on in place of Furlong, who went off to a standing ovation. Then with around 20 mins remaining when we saw Lomas was to come on, I thought maybe he would have replaced Jimmy Smith, to make sure the midfield area tightened up, but he replaced Adam Bolder instead, who went off to one adam bolder chants, which he seemed appreciative of judging by the wave he gave towards the away end.
We actually had the chance to extend our lead when the ball broke down the right, Ainsworth made a good run, but he fluffed it at the last minute as he put a what looked like between a poor cross and a half baked attempt at a shot across, when all he needed to do was look up, compose himself, put the ball over further into the box where Nygaard was perfectly placed. Still never mind, the run was excellent considering that he must have been tiring by then.
With around 10 minutes remaining of the game, a corner kick was given to us (in fact I think it was our first!) and it was at this stage that a home 'fan' decided to run onto the pitch. Only he will know what he was trying to achieve, Cullip was not happy and had a word with him, and with him making a dash towards Lee Camp (I was thinking oh not another of goalkeeper's to be given grief by an opposition fan) two of the Coventry players grabbed hold of him and he was taken out of the stadium by the slow stewards.
After the game, while chatting to a couple of friends outside it must have been matey being taken away in the police van that passed us as all we could hear was this nutter kicking away inside, chanting about Coventry, and the occasional hand through the window bar. Maybe he hadn't been told that they lost!
Anyway, it was typical that we missed our only corner (certainly from the second half anyway) as we were still watching matey being led away as the next thing we knew Coventry had a free kick in the middle of the pitch. Not quite sure what happened there but anyway....
The last few minutes of the game were nerve wracking, four extra minutes were added on and in those extra minutes Coventry had two corners in succession, Adebola should have done better following the second one but headed wide.
When the final whistle was blown, players and fans celebrated as if we'd won a cup. Fantastic stuff, with Cullip coming over to throw his shirt into the crowd. We also noticed Gianni Paladini on the pitch celebrating with John Gregory and the players and then downstairs in the concourse area Lee Cook was getting mobbed for photos etc as he'd been in the stand (along with Bircham) watching the game. I wonder at how many other clubs you'd get this kind of closeness with the players? We have a cracking club here, and lets none of us forget that.
The display today whilst certainly not one of the best this season, in the second half the players came through once again and showed the kind of commitment and bravery required which will keep us up this season. John Gregory too was very brave with his selections and I am very proud of them all tonight.
Player ratings:
Lee Camp: Well up for it today. Some great saves in the first half and was wide awake in the second. Looked completely safe hands and so far as I'm concerned should be our first signing for next season. 9
Sampsa Timoska: Has had his hair cut, looked different. A tad shaky in the first half but settled down as the game went on. Was taken off for Bignot in the second half, but with a taste of first team action, should have given him some confidence. 7
Danny Cullip: Was Captain today, and boy did he lead like one. Was simply immense in the central defence, and in the second half when Coventry were pumping balls into our area, he was dealing with them with an air of total commitment. 9
Damion Stewart: Again, another player that improved in the second half. Gave away a couple of fouls in the first, and was needlessly booked at one point but once we had scored he and Cullip together played with real determination. 7
Pat Kanyuka: Showed real encouraging glimpses today. Got caught a couple of times but all in all did ok. 7
Gareth Ainsworth: One minute he frustrates the hell out of you. The next he has you out of your seat clapping him for his commitment. It was that kind of game for Gareth today. Good man. 7
Jimmy Smith: Made a real nuisance of himself in the first half by gaining us free kicks, chasing and harrying. Had a couple of his usual snap shots on goal, and then of course got the all important goal for us in the second half. The only thing I would say is that he sometimes needed to get a bit closer to his man, but then he's not a defensive minded player. Done good for a player that's been out of first team action for a few weeks now. 8
Adam Bolder: Bit of a lax game from Adam in the first half but made up for giving a few stray balls away by making interceptions, closing down, and continuously had an eye for going forward when he could. 7
Stefan Moore: I've remarked already on his first performance and I think it important to point out how he was improved in the second. Not a natural winger so it was a hard game for him to come into, he stood firm in the second half and quite possibly repaid some of the faith put in him by his manager. I don't know if he'll start on Monday but he showed a couple of glimpses of potential in that second half. Well done for sticking with it Stefan. 7
Paul Furlong: One thing about Furs is that he will always give his all and today was no exception. He got quite a bit of mention in the Coventry programme as well, being one of their old boys, and whilst the chances didn't really come his way this afternoon, given the choice of Furs or that donkey Adebola, I know who I'd rather have in my side. 7
Dexter Blackstock: Quieter game for Dex in the first half, who was not getting to the ball as quick as he perhaps could have done? Better in the second half and the ref missed a blatant foul on him late on in the second half when he had to receive treatment on the sidelines for a fair bit. He came back on (as by then we'd used all our subs) but he didn't look too comfortable so it might be a nervy wait to see if he'll be ok for Monday. 7
Subs:
Marcus Bignot: On for Timoska. Looked well fired up and closed down well when required. 7
Marc Nygaard: My boy done good again when he came on, chasing all balls, defending when required, important clearances (particularly one at the end) and good on him for celebrating in fine style with the fans at the final whistle. 7
Steve Lomas: Didn't see too much of him but when we did, he did the usual Lomas thing of watching what was going on around him, good tackling and looked fired up. 7
Manager rating: Have to admit, didn't quite understand the Moore on the wing thing when we had Ricketts on the bench but fair do's, it paid off in the second half. He was quite literally playing every single ball with his players this afternoon. If the ball went over to the bench, he'd be the first to pick it up/kick it back to the pitch. His subs were spot on in my opinion and whatever he said to them at half time worked. Very good day in the office for him. 8
MOTM: Between Camp and Cullip but I'll go for Cullip to shade it. People used to dub Bryan Robson as captain marvel during his Man Utd heydays. Well this afternoon we had our own captain marvel out there. Well done Danny.
TS