Coventry City 2 - 1 Millwall

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Andy Turner dissects City's victory over Neil Harris' promotion-chasing Lions



Coventry City came from behind to claim their first win in six games – John Fleck and Marcus Tudgay turning the tide after Shaun Williams’s red card forced Millwall to play the final hour a man short.

Fleck balanced Byron Webster’s first-half header with a brilliant long-range shot and Marcus Tudgay – wearing the skipper’s armband after replacing the injured Sam Ricketts – slid in the winner which leaves Coventry City eight points outside the play-off places with only four games to play.

A bout of food poisoning for newcomer Jodi Jones meant one enforced change for Tony Mowbray and in the event he made three – Gael Bigirimana and Jacob Murphy dropping to the bench with Joe Cole, Ruben Lameiras and fit-again Andy Rose in the starting 11.

Lions’ top scorer Lee Gregory, who has been carrying a knock in recent weeks, was a substitute for the visitors with Aidan O’Brien partnering Steve Morison up front.

The two tall strikers combined to create the first real threat in the sixth minute, Morrison heading on and O’Brien unleashing a fierce shot that Charles-Cook tuned over the bar.

Phillips was fractionally off target when he met a half-cleared ball with a well-controlled volley from 25 yards but the Londoners threatened again when Taylor’s first-time shot flew over the bar off the top of Ricketts’s head.

And a minute later Millwall had the lead as Ferguson chipped in a left-wing corner and centre-back Webster arrived late to ram home an emphatic header from just outside the six-yard box.

Cole – relentlessly booed by the big contingent of Millwall fans – had an equaliser ruled out for offside when he netted at the second attempt after a flowing move involving Rose and Phillips.

But two minutes later the game exploded when Williams, seemingly outraged by Lameiras momentarily delaying a Millwall free-kick, head-butted the little midfielder and was shown a straight red card.

That prompted a major bout of hard-core handbags in the centre-circle – Webster, in particular, trying to pick a fight with anybody in a sky-blue shirt – but order was eventually restored leaving City with an hour to exploit their manpower advantage.

Maddison replaced Vincelot ten minutes before half-time and City began to build some pressure, Phillips seeing his long-range pot blocked before Archer was stretched for the first time by Fleck’s skidding 20-yarder.

But they missed out in the four minutes of overtime when first Maddison and then Armstrong fired wide of the far post after finding themselves in space on the left edge of the area.

Lameiras – now firmly established on top of the Millwall hate list – almost made the perfect start to the second half as he scuffed his shot past the near post from a deep Ricketts cross.

Cole fired a long-range attempt straight at Archer before Maddison twisted and turned on the edge of the box to make space for a curling shot that was deflected wide.

Mowbray was forced to revamp his defence when Ricketts limped off in the 55th minute,

But the Sky Blues hauled themselves level just past the hour with a brilliant goal from Fleck – Maddison and Phillips combining cleverly down the right and the Scot collecting the ball 25 yards out to leave Archer standing with a superb left-foot curler into the top corner.

Armstrong, desperate to end his eight-match goal drought, lashed a shot well wide – but seconds later the Newcastle youngster provided a crucial assist, clipping a first-time ball over the top for Tudgay to sprint through and beat Archer at the near post.

Neil Harris pitched on Gregory for the final ten minutes although it was Upson who almost conjured up man equaliser with a half-hit volley that dipped just over and another effort that looked as it if might creep past Charles-Cook before Stephens hacked clear.

Webster earned a belated booking in the first of four extra minutes when he toppled Armstrong just outside the box but rather than trying for a third goal City took the free-kick short and tried to run down the clock.

The tactics almost backfired as Charles-Cook had to react brilliantly to claw Martin’s ferocious 20-yarder out of the top corner. But the Sky Blues had the final word, Armstrong teeing up Maddison for a shot over the top.

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Five men arrested following match



Five men were arrested following Coventry City’s home match against Millwall.

West Midlands Police said two men were arrested and bailed after a small disorder was reported at The Wheatsheaf in Foleshill Road, Coventry, at about 5.30pm.

A 42-year-old man from Nottingham was arrested on suspicion of using threatening behaviour and a 26-year-old Coventry man was arrested on suspicion of affray. Both men were released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Three men were arrested at the Ricoh Arena and have been charged or cautioned for offences.

George Stammers, 46, from Corby Road, Weldon, Birmingham was charged with being drunk in a sports ground.

Lee Teeley, a 28-year-old lift engineer from Elmley Street in London was charged with being drunk in a sports ground and possessing a controlled drug.

Both men were bailed and will appear before Coventry Magistrates Court in May.

A 24-year-old man from Eltham, London, was cautioned for possession of a controlled drug.

Police issued a list of pubs Millwall fans could drink at before the match.

Millwall supporters had been told they were welcome at the Litten Tree in Warwick Road, The Flying Standard in Trinity Street, Earl of Mercia in High Street and Spon Gate in Croft Road.

The Flying Standard and Spon Gate both told the Telegraph they had no trouble with Millwall fans.

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Football fan arrested at Coventry City FC game has charge dropped

A football fan accused of being drunk at a Coventry City match has seen the case dismissed.

Lee Teeley was cuffed by officers during the Sky Blues’ game against Millwall at the Ricoh Arena on April 16 and charged with being drunk in a sports ground.

He pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing and a trial date was set for last week.

However, the case against the 28-year-old, of Elmley Street, London, was dismissed.

Teeley was, however, fined £150 by magistrates for possession of a class A drug - a charge which he pleaded guilty to - and was also ordered to pay £135 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

He was one of five people arrested either at the Coventry-Millwall game or as trouble flared outside The Wheatsheaf pub, in Foleshill Road, afterwards.