Source: FOOTYMAD
Freddy Scores But City Draw
City draw with Preston COVENTRY CITY 1-1 PRESTON NORTH END BY KEV MONKS Date 16/04/10 At The Rioch Arena Championship TeamWestwood, Wright, Cranie, Barnett, Wood, Bell, Clingan, Gunnarsson, McIndoe (Baker 73), Eastwood (Jeffers 91), Morrison. SNU Konstantopolous, Hall, Hussey, Clarke, Wilson Preston Lonergan, Davidson, St Ledger, Chilvers, Coutts, Treacy (Williams 87), James, Wallace, Parkin, Mayor SNU Henderson, Hart, Brown, Mellor, Miller, B.Wright HT CCFC 1-1 PNEFC FT CCFC 1-1 PNEFCATT 15,822 Referee G. Ward Booked Wallace, Clingan, JeffersGoals Freddy Eastwood (18, Calum Davidson (34 pen)Man Of The Match Freddie Eastwood beat Keiren Westwood for the votes. ___________________ “I hate the Championship. Hate it with a passion. It’s rubbish. Full of mediocre teams and low quality matches. I don’t want to keep paying good money to watch sub standard games. I want to watch Premier League football and I want to watch Coventry City playing in that league,” wrote Moz Baker in the latest edition of City Fanzine Twist n Shout and today those who were at the Ricoh, were left feeling that Premier League football is a million miles away after another sub standard game saw City draw 1-1 with Preston North End. With City’s recent form, as unpleasant as the volcanic ash which had spewed over Europe and prevented some supporters from getting to the game, those in attendance, on what was the warmest day for a City home game in 2010, did not know what to expect from the Sky Blues. Much had been written and spoken of the negativity of Chris Coleman’s side who have been playing not to lose rather than to win matches and today was another case in point as especially in the second half, the City supporters had good reason to question the tactics of the manager, who has had some fans calling for his head. There had been good applause to mark the passing of Charlie Timmins in midweek before a City team which had two changes from the side beaten at Sheffield United last week, attacked the CT Stand in the first half. But probably not helped by the heat, it was obvious that this was going to be a drab affair from the start. Michael McIndoe did force Andy Lonergan to push round his post for the first of two corners in the fourth minute but the tactic employed by City soon consisted of passing it back to Keiren Westwood, who picked up the Coventry City London Supporters Club and Coventry City South Wales Supporters Club Player Of The Year awards after the game, who then hoofed it forward. Westwood did make a good save in the 17th minute and this led to City going up the other end and McIndoe picking out Freddy Eastwood who curled the ball into the far bottom corner of the net to give the Sky Blues their first goal for four hours and forty two minutes. The Republic of International made another good save from a free kick in the 24th minute and with Preston pushing towards the Jewson Stand goal, Liam Chilvers fired over from a corner and Leon Barnett made a good header to concede another. That led to Preston equalising when the ball came over and referee Gavin Ward adjuged that Richard Wood had brought down Jon Parkin. A penalty was given and Calum Davidson’s spot kick just beat Westwood into the net, delighting the 829 visiting supporters. City were now having possession for a few passes but then quickly running out of ideas and relying on hit and hope football and although it saw Clinton Morrison have a shot on the turn saved, the mood amongst the Sky Blue faithful at the interval was downbeat. The second half had to be delayed after one of the assistant referees took ill and another referee was found after an announcement. Had one not been found and the match been abandoned with the result standing, there would not have been many complaints but the second half got underway and saw Preston have the better of the chances early on. Davidson sent a long ranger not far wide of the CT Stand goal and in the 51st minute, Jon Parkin was allowed time and space to plant a free header on to the roof of the net. Fifteen minutes later, the big man volleyed over from outside the area and it was clear from the rumblings going round the stand that the City fans were not happy with the fare on the pitch. The tactics were not helping and in the 73rd minute, Carl Baker came on for Mcindoe and went straight into the middle of the midfield rather than on the wing with Eastwood dropping back to play left wing rather than keeping him up as the threat he had been early on. Westwood made a good save with his legs to deny Parkin before long balls forward to no-one by Clingan and Wright were booed. Five minutes were added on to what was a dirge of a second half and Shaun Jeffers came on. He was only on for just over a minute when he was harshly booked. There were boos for his booking and even more when the final whistle sounded.
