Coventry City 2 - 2 Southend United

Very few supporters in the local pub tonight. I actually thought that as it was a bank holiday there might be a few: sadly, not to be the case.

It's been mentioned in another forum that it should have been an afternoon kick-off.

Coventry City 2 Southend United 2: Match report



Bidding to win their first three home games for the first time in a quarter of a century – a feat that would have lifted them to second spot in the table – Coventry City had to settle for a draw against the newly-promoted Shrimpers.

But they treated their biggest contingent of fans this season to some rousing entertainment as, having seen Reda Johnson’s opener overhauled in the space of seven minutes, they rescued their point with a first Sky Blues goal for skipper Sam Ricketts.

The game got off to a hectic and, from the Shrimpers angle, a rugged start as a couple of ‘let ‘em know you’re there’ tackles on the half-way line earned stern words from referee Handley.

And although City were soon weaving their midfield passes, it was Southend who created the better early chances, Leonard firing a 20-yard snap shot narrowly over before Worrall broke down the right but pulled his shot wide of the far post.

A minute later Mowbray was moved to give the fourth official some grief as City’s best move to date was terminated when White slide in on from Murphy from behind – the referee turning down home penalty appeals despite depriving the defender of his ‘played the ball’ alibi by awarding a goal kick.

Southend passed up a simple chance in the 11th minute, Leonard miscuing horribly when Hunt picked him out on the six-yard line.

But City hit back strongly as Bentley dived full length to save from Lameiras and Rea reacted quickly to block the deflected follow-up from O’Brien.

Johnson was fractionally wide with a towering header from Lameiras’s free-kick before Leonard squandered another good opportunity. And having waited half an hour for a goal, three arrived in the space of seven minutes.

City made the breakthrough from a right-wing corner as Johnson teed up Armstrong for a close-range header that was blocked on the line by Timlin. O’Brien’s follow-up was also charged down but Johnson made no mistake at the third time of asking with a ferocious left-foot shot that left Bentley helpless.

Southend were furious claiming that the Stokes shot that led to the corner had gone directly out. But any sense of injustice was soothed two minutes later from their own corner, Coker hooking a recycled ball to the far post where Hunt headed home from point-blank range.

And five minutes later Southend, kicking took the lead as Burge got down well to parry Mooney’s drive but the referee called a penalty as Phillips and Timlin challenged for the loose ball.

Mooney’s spot-kick was hard and straight and although Burge made a valiant effort he could only push the ball into the roof of the net.

With Tudgay on for Lameiras, the second half got off to a low-key start – so much so that Phil Brown briefly abandoned his poor man’s Mourinho postering on the touchline – but it picked up dramatically in the 52nd minute as Ricketts, up for a corner, was clumsily tripped by Leonard.

O’Brien shouldered the responsibility but opted for placement rather than power and saw Bentley dive to divert it round his left-hand post.

The home fans turned their frustration on Mr Handley when, having booked White for a move-ending foul on Murphy he turned a blind eye as the Southend captain provided an instant replay 90 seconds later.

But the jeers turned to jubilation in the 72nd minute as home skipper Ricketts conjured up the equaliser, sprinting to the near post to convert Murphy’s header with a classic glanced header into the opposite corner.

Suitably encouraged, City powered forward and Bentley had to deny Murphy twice in rapid succession, the first as routine near-post dive, the second a superb one-handed effort to turn the Norwich youngster’s swerving 25-yarder over the bar.

Armstrong, being watched by Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr, wasn’t receiving the service he required but almost claimed an assist when he teed up Vincelot for a drive that skidded the far post.

But although City dominated the closing stages, Southend clung on for the draw they probably deserved on the night when Bentley confirmed his man-of-the-match credentials with a fine diving save from Tudgay in the closing seconds of injury time.