Source: Team_Talk
Fred dumps Argyle to foot of table
Paul Mariner's first home game since succeeding Paul Sturrock proved a forgettable afternoon for the new Argyle boss as Eastwood scored his fourth goal in the last two games.[LNB]Fresh from his hat-trick heroics in the 3-2 win over Peterborough, Eastwood netted after 72 minutes of Saturday's clash at Home Park as the Sky Blues claimed their first away win since the end of September.[LNB]While back-to-back Championship victories have propelled Chris Coleman's men clear of the drop zone, a run of five successive defeats has left Argyle stuck in the mire.[LNB]With both sides toiling at the wrong end of the Championship table, it was of little surprise they played out a low-key opening at Home Park.[LNB]Argyle's Jamie Mackie created the first half-chance after 23 minutes but his 12-yard effort was blocked by the imposing figure of Leon Barnett.[LNB]Chris Clark was next to try his luck for the home side just after the half-hour mark before the lively Eastwood rifled wide from 25 yards during a rare Coventry attack.[LNB]Alan Judge's weak free-kick drew a comfortable save from Keiren Westwood but it was the visitors who were unfortunate not to go in ahead at the half-time interval as Coleman's side spurned three chances in the space of as many minutes.[LNB]Michael McIndoe's close-range shot first struck Kari Arnason and Barnett failed to hit the target with the rebound. Leon Best then headed wide from McIndoe's left-footed free-kick with the goal seemingly at his mercy.[LNB]Westwood had to be alert eight minutes after the restart to parry Carl Fletcher's 20-yard strike.[LNB]The Pilgrims again went close to breaking the deadlock three minutes later as Rory Fallon rose well to meet another Judge set-piece but the New Zealand international planted his close-range header over.[LNB]Fallon, who scored the decisive goal to help the All Whites qualify for next year's World Cup, diverted another close-range header off target just after the hour mark from Shane Lowry's centre.[LNB]Judge continued to prove a threat from set-pieces but the home side were left to rue their profligacy as Eastwood broke the deadlock with 18 minutes remaining.[LNB]McIndoe's neat pass allowed David Bell to send an inviting cross in from the right wing and Eastwood made no mistake from six yards, heading high beyond Romain Larrieu.[LNB]Fallon had a goal-bound effort blocked by Elliott Ward as Argyle battled to get back on level terms immediately before Bell hacked Lowry's header clear from a Craig Noone cross.[LNB]Westwood held his nerve to deny Fallon late on as Coventry clung on for the three points.[LNB][LNB]
