Two Decent Results In Three Days For CCFC!

By CCFC Sid
January 9 2005

A good few days for Coventry City fans! Peter `I Won't Ever Quit' Reid quit the club, and CCFC disposed of Crewe with relative ease. And those that stayed away raised a good few pound for the Tsunami appeal....

Those that want the current chairman to got to (No comment) were disappointed to learn that the board are still behind him, and, despite threats that he would possibly be re-considering his position following Reid's departure, it looks as if he is here for a while longer. In a surpise move, it was also revealed that CCFC supporters will have some input into who the new manager will be. Arsene Wenger please....

Gary McSheffrey was finally given a start in his preferred position, as an out-and-out striker (Interesting to know if this decision was made because Adebola was out, or, if it would have been made anyway), and scored his third and fourth goals in six games, while Stern John scored his third in six games too - all three goals tap-ins from in or around the six yard box. When was the last time a CCFC side did that?!

The crowd was a disappointing 7,629, though with ticket prices being as per Championship matches, and with the weather not being too good, it's difficult to work out if the `stayaways' were protesting or just not bothered! Villa losing on TV shortly before kick-off should have been enough to see a few more smiling faces venture up to Highfield Road though....

My hopes that somebody would sign Dean Ashton this week came true (Or almost true! `In talks', meaning he wasn't available to play), and without him Crewe were like Wise without Morecambe - no doubt their academy will find another quality replacement though.

CCFC took the lead after 24 minutes (Which temporarily lifted the morgue like atmosphere), with John's shot saved on the line, but McSheffrey followed up to give CCFC a 1-0 advantage. And, on the stroke of half-time, Morrell's cross was put away by (The sometimes maligned!) Stern John for 2-0.

Bobby Gould, who was at CCFC to watch this tie, was allowed to move his car from the side streets of CCFC into an official parking space at half-time, and, with a surge of votes for him on the iccoventry site (A bizarre amount in a very short time), the significance of this I'm unsure of....

McSheffrey created a great chance for himself within a minute of the re-start, but wasted the opportunity. Soon after, Morrell and Staunton both took wrong options when a chance to increase the lead looked on, with both opting to shoot despite McSheffrey being in acres of space, having lost his marker.

Shaw was penalised for a push near the halfway line on Crewe's right, and minute later was lucky not to be spotted doing the same in CCFC's penalty area - a far more `stick on' looking decision than the penalty that saw Crewe take all three points in the league fixture in November.

A decent free-kick from Hughes was cleared by the Crewe defence, and minutes later Staunton attempted to get his name on the scoresheet, but hit a disappointing shot after doing all the hard work.

In the 68th minute a quality run and cross from Hughes saw McSheffrey score his second of the game, and booked CCFC's place in the fourth round.

McSheffrey, sometimes accused of being too greedy, then opted to pass rather than try for his hat-trick, setting up others on a number of occasions, then looking as if he wished he hadn't as chances were wasted!

Suffo and Jorgensen were brought on for Morrell and Stern John with just over 10 minutes left, with the latter once again suggesting he might be worth a run in the CCFC side (Neil Wood's display also suggested that he might be worth an extended run in the side - though he could do with working on keeping his shots down!).

With Heath considering putting his name forward for the CCFC job (Though he doesn't seem to have to much support from CCFC fans), this result will have done his chances no harm - especially as he is the `cheap' option. But, should he still be in charge for next weeks fixture at Ipswich, the Championship leaders will provide a far stiffer test.