Date:31 Dec 2011
Kick-off:15:00
Venue:Ricoh Arena
Attendance:14,158

McSheffrey (33) Jutkiewicz (53)

Goal!

Live Commentary

93mins Unfair challenge on Billy Paynter by Carl Baker results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Alan Navarro.

91mins Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a comfortable save.

91mins The ball is crossed by Gordon Greer.

90mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Navarro by Gary McSheffrey. Alan Navarro takes the free kick.

90mins Craig Mackail-Smith produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

89mins Kazenga LuaLua takes a shot. Richard Keogh gets a block in.

87mins The ball is crossed by Kazenga LuaLua, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

87mins The ball is delivered by Will Buckley, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

84mins Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary McSheffrey on Kazenga LuaLua. Direct free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.

83mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Wood by Will Buckley. Joe Murphy takes the free kick.

83mins The ball is crossed by Kazenga LuaLua, Richard Wood makes a clearance.

82mins Gary McSheffrey delivers the ball, Lukas Jutkiewicz concedes a free kick for a foul on Gordon Greer. Free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.

80mins Gael Bigirimana is brought on as a substitute for Gary Deegan.

78mins Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Gary McSheffrey.

78mins Carl Baker takes a shot. Save made by Casper Ankergren.

77mins Gary Deegan concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam El-Abd. Alan Navarro delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, save by Joe Murphy.

76mins Matthew Sparrow takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Deegan.

76mins The ball is sent over by Kazenga LuaLua, Richard Wood manages to make a clearance.

76mins Gary Deegan challenges Jake Forster-Caskey unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Sparrow crosses the ball in from the free kick, Martin Cranie makes a clearance.

73mins The ball is swung over by Will Buckley, comfortable save by Joe Murphy.

73mins David Bell crosses the ball, Adam El-Abd makes a comfortable save.

73mins The ball is sent over by Kazenga LuaLua, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.

70mins Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kazenga LuaLua from the left by-line.

70mins Centre by Jake Forster-Caskey, Cyrus Christie gets a block in.

69mins The ball is crossed by Will Buckley.

68mins Unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua by Cyrus Christie results in a free kick. Cyrus Christie is cautioned. Alan Navarro crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from own half, Joe Murphy makes a brilliant save.

67mins Shot from just outside the box by Gary Deegan misses to the right of the target.

65mins Ryan Harley leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Forster-Caskey.

65mins Unfair challenge on Richard Keogh by Ryan Harley results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

63mins Kazenga LuaLua takes a shot. Save made by Joe Murphy.

62mins The ball is delivered by Gary McSheffrey, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

61mins Cyrus Christie crosses the ball, blocked by Ryan Harley.

60mins David Bell delivers the ball, Lewis Dunk makes a clearance.

59mins Mauricio Taricco leaves the field to be replaced by Will Buckley. Craig Noone goes off and Kazenga LuaLua comes on.

57mins Cyrus Christie crosses the ball, Casper Ankergren makes a save.

57mins The ball is sent over by Gary McSheffrey, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

56mins Lukas Jutkiewicz crosses the ball, Adam El-Abd makes a clearance.

56mins Unfair challenge on Richard Keogh by Lewis Dunk results in a free kick. Lewis Dunk booked. Joe Murphy takes the free kick.

55mins Gordon Greer takes a shot. Lukas Jutkiewicz gets a block in.

55mins Corner taken by Craig Noone from the right by-line.

55mins The ball is delivered by Matthew Sparrow, clearance made by Martin Cranie.

54mins Centre by Ryan Harley.

53mins Billy Paynter fouled by Richard Wood, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan Navarro.

52mins Gary McSheffrey crosses the ball, Lukas Jutkiewicz finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Coventry 2-0 Brighton.Assist by Gary McSheffrey.

52mins Carl Baker takes a shot. Casper Ankergren makes a save.

50mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lewis Dunk by Gary McSheffrey. Free kick taken by Gordon Greer.

49mins A cross is delivered by Carl Baker.

48mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Noone by Lukas Jutkiewicz. Craig Noone takes the free kick.

47mins Craig Noone crosses the ball, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

46mins David Bell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lewis Dunk. Direct free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.

45mins Lukas Jutkiewicz fouled by Gordon Greer, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Gary McSheffrey from the free kick.

48mins Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary McSheffrey from the right by-line, save by Casper Ankergren.

48mins The ball is crossed by Cyrus Christie, blocked by Ryan Harley.

46mins Foul by Cyrus Christie on Craig Noone, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Harley.

44mins Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Deegan on Craig Noone. Free kick crossed right-footed by Lewis Dunk from left wing.

44mins Ryan Harley delivers the ball.

43mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary McSheffrey by Adam El-Abd. Direct free kick taken by Richard Keogh.

42mins David Bell challenges Adam El-Abd unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.

41mins Corner taken by Ryan Harley, clearance by David Bell.

40mins Corner taken by Ryan Harley, Richard Wood manages to make a clearance.

39mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Noone by Gary Deegan. Gary Deegan is given a yellow card. Ryan Harley delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, blocked by Richard Keogh.

37mins Billy Paynter concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Keogh. Free kick taken by Richard Keogh.

37mins Shot by Richard Wood from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

36mins Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Sparrow on Gary McSheffrey. Free kick taken by Gary McSheffrey.

35mins The ball is delivered by Craig Noone.

35mins Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a brilliant save.

33mins A goal is scored by Gary McSheffrey from just outside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Coventry 1-0 Brighton.

32mins Unfair challenge on Matthew Sparrow by David Bell results in a free kick. Ryan Harley shoots direct from the free kick.

32mins Mauricio Taricco produces a cross, Cyrus Christie makes a clearance.

32mins The ball is crossed by Craig Noone.

31mins Gary Deegan produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

28mins Gary McSheffrey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam El-Abd. Ryan Harley crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance made by Conor Thomas.

26mins Richard Keogh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Mackail-Smith. Alan Navarro is cautioned by the ref for time wasting. Alan Navarro restarts play with the free kick.

25mins The ball is crossed by Carl Baker, save made by Casper Ankergren.

25mins Billy Paynter takes a shot. Save by Joe Murphy.

24mins The ball is crossed by Matthew Sparrow, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

20mins Corner taken short by Ryan Harley.

20mins Billy Paynter takes a shot. Martin Cranie gets a block in.

19mins Gary McSheffrey takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

18mins Lukas Jutkiewicz is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Adam El-Abd restarts play with the free kick.

17mins Gary Deegan challenges Craig Noone unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Harley crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance made by Richard Wood.

17mins Craig Noone delivers the ball, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

16mins Matthew Sparrow takes a shot. Comfortable save by Joe Murphy.

12mins The ball is sent over by Gary McSheffrey, save made by Casper Ankergren.

11mins Centre by Gary McSheffrey, blocked by Adam El-Abd.

11mins Ryan Harley fouled by Gary Deegan, the ref awards a free kick. Gordon Greer takes the direct free kick.

10mins The official flags Lukas Jutkiewicz offside. Indirect free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.

10mins Carl Baker takes a shot. Blocked by Gordon Greer.

9mins The ball is crossed by Lukas Jutkiewicz.

8mins The ball is sent over by Gary McSheffrey, save by Casper Ankergren.

7mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Noone by Cyrus Christie. Craig Noone takes the direct free kick.

7mins The ball is crossed by Craig Noone, save by Joe Murphy.

5mins Foul by Conor Thomas on Billy Paynter, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mauricio Taricco.

5mins The ball is delivered by Cyrus Christie, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

4mins Foul by Matthew Sparrow on Conor Thomas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Gary Deegan.

4mins Ryan Harley produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Adam El-Abd misses to the right of the target.

3mins Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Harley to the near post, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.

1mins The ball is swung over by Richard Wood, Lewis Dunk makes a clearance.

Match Preview

Sky Blues waiting on duo Coventry will assess defenders Chris Hussey and Cyrus Christie ahead of their New Year's Eve clash against Brighton at the Ricoh Arena. Hussey was forced off at half-time in Coventry's 1-0 Boxing Day victory at home to Bristol City nursing an ankle injury while Christie was also replaced five minutes from time nursing a knock. Midfielder Gary Deegan returned into contention and stepped off the bench at half-time to replace Gael Bigirimana before bagging the only goal of the game. The Irishman could now find himself promoted into Andy Thorn's starting XI as the Sky Blues aim to record back-to-back wins for only the second time in 2011. Nathan Cameron replaced Hussey at the break against the Robins but his place in Thorn's matchday 16 is now threatened as City await the results of a scan to a knee injury, with Martin Cranie (ribs) in a fitness race to be ready if called upon. Skipper Sammy Clingan (fractured toe) and strikers Clive Platt (back) and Cody McDonald (knee) are set to miss out again. Liam Bridcutt will miss his first game of the season when Brighton head north. Albion's ever-present midfielder was booked for the fifth time this season against Reading on Boxing Day and serves a one-match ban. Alan Navarro provides a like-for-like replacement in the starting line-up while boss Gus Poyet is considering adding youth team starlet Jake Forster-Caskey to the bench. Defender Romain Vincelot and striker Ashley Barnes are still suspended following their red cards against Burnley before Christmas. The Seagulls also have a lengthy injury list with Vicente Rodriguez (thigh), Inigo Calderon (knee), Marcos Painter (hamstring) and Will Hoskins (hip) all expected to miss out along with long-term absentees Gary Dicker (broken leg) and Tommy Elphick (Achilles).

Formation:433Manager: Andy Thorn

Coventry

Formation: 442Manager: Gustavo Poyet

Brighton

Joe Murphy
Cyrus Christie
Richard Keogh
Martin Cranie
Richard Wood
Conor Thomas
Gary Deegan
David Bell
Carl Baker
Lukas Jutkiewicz
Gary McSheffrey
SUBS
Chris Dunn
Chris Hussey
James McPake
Shaun Jeffers
Gael Bigirimana

Home

Away

Casper Ankergren
Adam El-Abd
Gordon Greer
Lewis Dunk
Mauricio Taricco
Ryan Harley
Alan Navarro
Matthew Sparrow
Craig Noone
Craig Mackail-Smith
Billy Paynter
SUBS
Peter Brezovan
Kazenga LuaLua
Will Buckley
Grant Hall
Jake Forster-Caskey

Match Report

Sky Blues win again Goals in either half from Gary McSheffrey and Lukas Jutkiewicz saw Coventry boost their survival hopes with a 2-0 victory over Brighton at the Ricoh Arena. McSheffrey, a constant thorn in the visitors defence, netted a first-half opener before turning provider for Jutkiewicz's ninth goal of the season after 54 minutes as the Sky Blues claimed their second successive victory. The three points sees Andy Thorn's side move off the bottom of the table on goal difference at the expense of Doncaster, who were hammered 4-1 by Watford earlier. Gus Poyet's outfit failed to assert themselves on the match and, as a result, were condemned to their fourth successive defeat. They have now failed to score in their last four outings. Brighton did, however, have the first opening of the match, but Adam El-Abd failed to direct Ryan Harley's cross on target. The hosts settled and McSheffrey tested Casper Ankergren in the Brighton goal, with the former Leeds shot-stopper late in punching the winger's effort to safety. Matthew Sparrow had a weak shot saved by Joe Murphy while, at the other end, McSheffrey fired over from 20 yards as the game started to open up. The visitors were determined to catch Coventry on the break but, when the ball fell to Billy Paynter, the on-loan Leeds striker could only find the hands of Murphy from 20 yards. Gary Deegan went close for the Sky Blues, shooting just wide from 18 yards, before the hosts went ahead 11 minutes before the interval. The lively McSheffrey, lacking support, raced forward at pace and drilled a low shot into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards. Brighton had an opportunity to reply immediately, but Murphy brilliantly kept out Craig Mackail-Smith's shot from 12 yards. The goal seemed to inject confidence into Coventry and they almost doubled their advantage three minutes later, Richard Wood volleying just wide. Carl Baker's shot was pushed to safety by Ankergren before Coventry did find a second nine minutes after the interval when Jutkiewicz headed McSheffrey's teasing cross into the bottom corner from six yards. Kazenga LuaLua came off the Brighton bench to provide Murphy with a comfortable save, while Deegan mis-cued a 20-yard effort as Coventry attempted to kill the game off once and for all. Alan Navarro tried to give Poyet's side some impetus with an inswinging free-kick, only to see the commanding Murphy punch clear. Brighton failed to create any real clear-cut chances as Sparrow had another weak long-range effort blocked, while Ankergren denied the dangerous Jutkiewicz a second 12 minutes from time with a fantastic save. Brighton almost notched late on, but Mackail-Smith headed straight at the reliable Murphy.

Form Guide

DLLLLW Coventry VS Brighton WWWLLL

Last Meetings

Brighton 2 - 1 Coventry 26/11/2011 Coventry 2 - 0 Brighton 04/02/2006 Brighton 2 - 2 Coventry 17/09/2005 Coventry 2 - 1 Brighton 02/04/2005 Brighton 1 - 1 Coventry 14/08/2004 Coventry 0 - 0 Brighton 11/01/2003

Top Scorers

Coventry L Jutkiewicz 7 C Platt 2 G Deegan 2 G McSheffrey 1 C Baker 1 S Clingan 1 R Wood 1 C McDonald 1 Brighton C Mackail-Smith 6 A Barnes 3 W Buckley 3 R Harley 2 C Noone 2 G Greer 1 RG Vicente 1 W Hoskins 1 R Vincelot 1

Goals

Coventry Total goals 51 Goals per game 18 2 (For) 3 (Against) Period 0-10 mins (For) 3 (Against) Period 11-20 mins (For) 2 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 2 (For) 3 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 2 (For) 2 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 4 (For) 6 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 2 (For) 4 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 4 (For) 4 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 2 (For) 6 (Against) Period 81-90 mins Brighton Total goals 56 Goals per game 23 3 (For) 1 (Against) Period 0-10 mins 1 (For) 3 (Against) Period 11-20 mins 1 (For) 2 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 2 (For) 2 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 4 (For) 3 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 3 (For) 3 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 3 (For) 2 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 1 (For) 3 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 5 (For) 7 (Against) Period 81-90 mins