.COVENTRY CITY 3-1 LEYTON ORIENT
City:Murphy (GK), Adams, Webster, J. Clarke, Willis, Moussa (Barton 82), Thomas, Fleck, Baker (C) (Garner 86), Wilson (Manset 91), L. Clarke.
Subs: Burge (GK), Phillips, Haynes, Rankin.
Leyton Orient: Jones (GK), Omozusi (Sawyer 82), Vincelot, Cuthbert, Baundry, Cox, James, Mooney (Lasiment 76), Odubajo, Batt (Stockley 68, Clarke (C)
Subs: Larkins, Gorman, Bartley, Sutherland.
HT CCFC 1-0 LOFC
FT CCFC 3-1 LOFC
ATT 2386
GOALS Carl Baker 9, Franck Moussa 66, Leon Clarke 77, Yohann Lasiment 92
Referee David Webb
Booked Vincelot, Moussa, Nathan Clarke
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All good runs come to an end and the one that had seen Leyton Orient go on an eleven game unbeaten run ended when they were beaten by a hard working Coventry City side.
The third game against Leyton Orient this season, came on a day when City Council Leader Ann Lucas called for the Sky Blues to be home for Christmas.
Obviously, a lot needs to happen but being in the Ricoh Arena, just in the city of Coventry, is a lot more preferable to the current situation of shifting staff, players and those fans who can or want to go, to a Sixfields Stadium whose main stand currently would be a death trap in the event of a fire etc and was the only one stand open for City supporters tonight, due to a lack of stewards.
Leon Clarke and Jordan Willis were fit and City boss Steven Pressley named the same team that had started at Wolves, whilst Orient were without Kevin Lisbie.
With Mark Robins in the crowd, Nuneaton chairman Ian Neale, Gary Numan's agent and Steve Froggatt in the press box working for Radio London, the Sky Blues, City in their new sky blue kit had to defend two early corners, taken by Lloyd James.
As the rain came down, Carl Baker got the ball,in the ninth minute, twenty five yards, cut inside and launched a stunning left footed drive which flew into the net.
Baker turned defender getting his foot in following on from a corner.
In the 16th minute, City had their first corner of the game when Leon Clarke played in Callum Wilson. A low shot from the Coventry kid was blocked by Jamie Jones with his legs and the ball went for a corner.
Replacement referee David Webb decided not to pick up on a handball or a shove and allowed Dean Cox to get in a daisy cutter which Murphy did well to deal with on the wet surface.
Callum Wilson had a 23rd minute shot parried for a corner and when the ball came back to him from the flag kick, his shot was blatantly handled by Scott Cuthbert. The whole stand in a crowd of 2386, appealed but Mr Webb was having none of it.
Orient started to press on the City midfield as Steven Pressley in a black coat and tracksuit bottoms, paced his technical area like an expectant father in a waiting room.
A flash of lightening and a clap of thunder that made a change from the annoying whistle which was being blown by someone outside the ground before Wilson was pulled back in the 35th minute as Mr Webb played the advantage.
Such was the lack of stewards at the game that Tim Fisher and Steve Waggott were minded by only two stewards at the interval, although their walkabout failed to generate the same amount of interest as Sky Blue Sam giving away an away shirt did.
City needed a second goal and it nearly came when Leon Clarke had one shot saved and in the 48th minute, Fleck played in Wilson for a shot which Jones sat on in order to save.
At times, it was like watching a reserve game at Highfield Road in terms of the crowd and the noise generated but a talking to for the industrious Conor Thomas for winning the ball from Mr Webb did raise the noise level in the stand along with a 56th minute of the Sky Blue Song
Moses Odubajo was the biggest threat for the O's who were awarded a 57th minute penalty. It looked a harsh decision but justice was down when Joe Murphy got down to his right and save Mooney's spot kick.
The City supporters were on their feet in delight and in the 66th minute, the City fans were telling the Orient players that they were having a laugh if they were top of the league when Franck Moussa got the ball on the left hand side of the area and superbly dinked it over Jones.
The lightening continued to flash as another Odubajo attack won the O's a 73rd minute corner.
Three minutes later, Callum Wilson attacked and was brought down. That gave City a free kick. Baker took it and swung it over to the far post for Leon Clarke to head down and past Jones to put City 3-0 up.
The Orient fans started to head for home as Franck Moussa left to a standing ovation when he was replaced by Adam Barton and Carl Baker also got a good ovation when he was replaced by Louis Garner with four minutes to go.
Four minutes were added on. Manset was sent on and Yohann Lasiment scored with a low drive but City were very worthy winners.
Source: Coventry MAD
Source: FOOTYMAD
