Coventry City 0 - 1 Notts County

Sky Blues suffer home defeat as they fail to have a shot on target



The Sky Blues’ fragile confidence was again exposed as they slumped to a home defeat against high-riding Notts County.

City failed to get a single shot on target as they fell to Garry Thompson’s second-half strike in a poor-quality game on a dreadful pitch

Pressley made two anticipated changes, Frank Nouble starting up front after his spectacular JPT winner against Plymouth in midweek, while Aaron Martin, cup-tied for that game, returned at centre-half.

Captain Reda Johnson was not in the matchday squad after his later return from international duty in Morocco but County, short of several regulars, were boosted by the surprise inclusion of goalkeeper Roy Carroll after his Friday-night stint for Northern Ireland in Morocco.

The Sky Blues made a promising start, Barton’s low drive fractionally wide after fine work by Madine, Fleck and Nouble, but that second-minute effort was to prove the highlight of a grim first half in which both sides struggled to find any kind of midfield flow.

County passed up one clear chance in the tenth minute, Edwards spooning a tame effort at Allsop when McLaughlin’s free-kick pickedf him out on the six-yard line.

And after an exchange of speculative shots – Barton’s charged down at one end while Edwards’s was deflected to Allsop at the other – it was the visitors who almost snatched the lead in the 28th minute.

Allsop slipped as he back-pedalled to field a corner and Thompson’s header was heading just inside the post when Phillips – on for the injured Willis – dived to head off the line.

And that was pretty much that for the rest of the first half, the only subsequent excitement in overtime when Phillips went in marginally late on Carroll who hit the deck as if he’d been pole-axed.

The County players and fans seemed anxious to convince Michael Bull that it was a red-card offence but, after consulting his linesman, the referee settled for yellow.

City looked marginally brighter after the break, stringing half-a-dozen passes together to force a corner before Finch cleverly made space for himself on the edge of the box to rip a fierce shot just over the bar.

Madine was far too high with as 25-yard free-kick but just as if it looked the Sky Blues might be able to build some momentum they were rocked by a goal out of the blue. Thompson got a lucky ricochet as he was challenged by Webster midway in the City half and took ruthless advantage, running through to calmly pick his spot past the exposed Allsop.

It might have been worse as Jones headed just over from free-kick but the Sky Blues summoned up a late flourish that produced furious penalty appeals when Hollis clipped Madine in the area.

The referee had a long look but waved play on and City’s frustration was increased seconds later when Barton got up to Flecvk’s cross but saw his header drop on to the roof of the net.