Thetownend.com

Since its 9.40 and there have been no takers, here we go.

Too hard to call this one, could easily go either way, should be over 1,000 Town there in a nice stadium, found most of the Coventry fans quite pleasant people (even if their forum contain a few "special" fans but then don't all football forums ours included) all those going enjoy your day out, hopefully with a win.

I've just noticed that we could get into the autos today. Unlikely, but still.

I've got a good feeling about this one, although I'd be happy with a point.

Pre match same old show in The Earl of Mercia.

Got some stick coming out of the railway station, might have been threatened by gangsters.

City of Culture 2021. Wish them well with that.
The Music Museum looks as if it might be worth a look.

On every visit here always seems as if the Luftwaffe have swung by again, but no, it's just planners & architects at work.

A defeat against a direct rival would be damaging, so would happily take a draw.
A 10th away win would be fantastic.

Had a great trip last season and as you say the Cov fans were great, had some really great pre match chats with a lot of them in the Litten Tree, which is where I’ll be today from about 1.

Think it’ll be a tough game today and a score draw.

Our impressive form at Highfield Road / The Ricoh / Six Fields continues (I hope)...

2-0 Anderson, Richards

Have to give yet another shout out to swindon-town-fc.co.uk. If there is a better Club related website anywhere I've not seen it. Check this out... http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/HeadToHead.asp?Team=Coventry%20City

Edit: Possibly the best pre-match pub I've ever been to was this one - The Greyhound Inn at Sutton Stop, next to the Coventry Canal, a couple of miles from the Ricoh. Lovely...

http://www.greyhoundinn.org

Ha Anderson Richards was a meat company in Charlton where I used to work.Omen

I'm getting used to us winning away, which means we'll lose. I'm hoping Richards gets a start.

Have a special day WB.  Any place that could produce these boys deserves credit.... just look at  those jumpers, what taste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsXD8S0l-BE

Pub full of Ulster rugby fans as they are playing Wasps tomorrow.

 2-1 Swindon, Norris (pen) & Dunne

It’s been snowing in Coventry for about an hour now. Pitch is going to be a challenge!

What with that mixed with rugger buggers playing on it every other week could be a day for hoofball.

Charles-Cook; Preston, Lancashire (C), Robertson; Gordon, Dunne, Banks, Anderson, Iandolo; Woolery, Norris.

SUBS Henry, Purkiss, Brophy, Knoyle, Taylor, Mullin, Richards

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DT_WFH5WkAIqu9q.jpg)

Looks like Gordon playing as wing back on the right otherwise unchanged.

I called a draw on this match about a week ago, but the conditions may suit us. Especially if we'll be lumping it up to Richards. A scrambled goal maybe. Cov seem to win or lose by the odd goal. However they've won last three at home..3-2 v Wycombe, 1-0 v Chesterfield, 2-1 v Stoke. I think just one goal will decide this also. I'm going 1-0 or 2-1.....to Town.

it was snowing a minute ago. I'm waiting for a pretzel.

hth

So it is.
Long way from North London for Wasps.
Wonder if RU fans think Franchise.
Coventry RFC ply their trade in National League 1 I believe.

Light snow now, but it's bloody cold.

Cyrille Regis scarves are a fiver apparently.
Always a profit to be made somewhere.

Doesn't look like there are many Coventry fans there yet.

Can just about hear the Town fans singing though.

The camerawork is almost as shocking as the pitch which is terrible, RCC looks nervous in front of his old clubs fans, lots of up and unders.

Robertson should have done better at the far post from a corner.

Coventry look quite shakey at the back and have trouble dealing with our crosses and corners.

Oh and it must be awful playing in front of such a sparsely popluted set of stands with a large capacity.

Gordon finding acres of space down the right side but his delivery is very hit and miss.

Almost all us in the first 15 mins.

Much how my Sheff Weds supporting Uncle felt, when they were in League One. Even when still bringing in around 20k.

good finish, soft through. no challenge

1-0 to Coventry unstoppable shot from outside the box totally against the run of play.

Buggar 1-0.. against the run of play?

Coventry hadn't threatened us at all till that shot.

Totally, a goal that would win any game though TBF.

Grrrr, could be end to end. Maybe they'll park the bus now?

Anderson is far too weak and gets barged off the ball too easily, always looking for the foul and not chasing the ball.

probably was pen. probably

Pen to them

Definately, awful push.

We have crumbled since conceding almost like we did vs Luton.

2-0

Oh well there is always next week

Going to be a long afternoon now.

Considering a controlled 15, we've had a nightmare 5 now! Will take a point now.

I would have taken a point before the game, can't see us getting one though at the moment, we have come back into it the last 5 but still no shots on target.

Sounds as though we are not pressing the ball which we did in the last games.

Ollie Banks hasn't completed a pass yet :(

We are pushing them at the back still with balls played into space behind both fullbacks but our crosses have been poor and not had a shot that has needed to be saved yet.

Woolery looking the best outlet for us, Gordon makes good runs but his final ball is woeful.

I'd bring Richards and Mullin (what does he have to do to get a start now) on for Norris and Dunne 2nd half.

We do have a goalscorer on the bench

Dunne and Norris have been pretty much invisible again so far. Banks runs around a lot but can't find a red shirt with any pass yet.

Gordon is better as a false 9/ no.10 in my opinion. Obviously Elsnik suites that CAM/No.10 role even better. Can't wait till he's fit again. Must be only 2-3 weeks away?

Andersons movement and runs have been good but his final ball is terrible so often, Gordon beaten for pace by their left winger, gave away a poor free kick when he skinned Gordon.

Get in. Back in it! Hopefully...

Banks 2-1

Great ball in from the left wing for once.

Their keeper hates crosses (insert Dracula pun!)

Who needs to pass anyway  ;)

Superb long range shot from Norris saved well, we don't deserve to be losing.

TBF to him, he made 2 great passes in the lead up to the goal! his first 2 all game!

Been all us again this last 10 mins, Coventry had one 5 to 10 min spell when they looked better otherwise its all us doing the attacking.

I think with the opportunities we seem to be getting and their keeper hating crosses/anything with accuracy. I'd bring Taylor on to cause havoc from set pieces and wing attack play. He may link well with Banks too. Possibly bring Taylor on for Gordon and Mullin on for Dunne. Really take it to them. Maybe slot Richards on last 15?

Woolery has run his arse off down the left wing today, our best outlet by miles, always dangerous.

2-1 HT

We have been on top for 35 of those first 45 mins, just one worldy goal and a really bloody stupid penalty cost us.

Still there for the taking, Norris had one great shot but the rest of his play has been poor, Gordon needs to learn to cross the ball.

Our set pieces have been poor.

Can't really tell but I doubt theres much more than 8,000 there with 1,000 or so Town fans, Swindon making all the noise with nothing from the home fans at all even when they were 2 up.

Very, very strange game. We started well then found ourselves 2 down out of nowhere. Pen is never a pen.

We’re right in this. No doubt.

Stating the obvious, but we really need something from this game.  Who gave the penalty away?

 

Certainly can turn the screw in this match. The correct tactical tweak and shuffle. 11 corners in that half alone and 7 for Town. That's why I think Taylor could be handy 2nd half. He's got 45mins in him easily. Just don't Flitcroft's obsession with Dunne? and his seemingly dislike of Mullin.

I thought Banks had been spraying long passes most of the game and has done OK.

either that's not come across on camera or it was Iandolo

From iFollow watching it from higher angle it looked a blatant push in the back, couldn't see who but Iandolo or Preston I think. Flattened the bloke when clean through.

We need to do a lot better from dead ball situations definately.

I don't get Dunne at all.

Banks never found a red shirt for the first 20 mins but has got more into the game like he did last week, Iandolo has hit a few good passes but his crossing has been pretty poor too so far.

Contrasts of opinion on the Coventry forum.


I must have missed them causing panic in our defence  ::)

Turn this game around and win and as it stands, with Accrington, Wycombe & Lincoln losing, we will go 4th with a game in hand...come on Town, won't be the end of the world but this result could spur us on to an automatic push.

BBC Sport quote Preston as the perpetrator. However we do know they can be inaccurate with their reporting...

Have a feeling Dunne is going to get sent off this afternoon.

Yeah couldnt see for certain but it looked like Preston. The camer work is making me feel sick...its awful.

The pitch is like something from the 1970s...scratch that...its like the Somme!

Hopefully Flitcroft will take him off before that happens.  Honestly don't know why he seems to be an ever present.  Absolute rubbish imo.

I agree totally, get Taylor on.

Not related but just heard James McCarthy has gone off to a serious leg injury (one of those horrible lower leg snappers). Also Jermaine "Taxi" Hylton scores for Solihull Moors. Wish McCarthy a recovery. He may never play again.

missed a handball there.

How the fuck that stayed out when we had  so many bites of the cherry I dont know!

Iandolos deliveries have been very poor today.

And again! saved when we had 3 more bits!

We must have had 7 shots or headers on target in 30 seconds there in 2 seperate attempts!

Ollie Banks is a nasty niggly bastard.

Has Richards replaced Norris? We definitely deserve to get at least a point. Lets keep pressing. Taylor on for Dunne please.

Yes was just going to say Richards on for Norris, hes been quiet other than the one great effort.

Teams above us all winning or drawing now. Flitcroft needs to change it.

Double leg break for McCarthy.  :(

We arent hitting the balls into the channels for Gordon and Woolery this half.

Iandolos set pieces really poor.

Mullin on for Woolery. Harsh.

Good to hear  :nod:

Why not take Norris off and bring Taylor on for Iandolo or Dunne?

Brophy on for Gordon.

8,643 attendance.

Not sure Richards has touched the ball since he has come on.

Richards came on for Norris. I'd have taken Dunne off for Mullin.

Should've been Taylor instead of Brophy. Considering all the pressure and chances we've been able to apply. Brophy will no doubt score now!

Brophy playing right wng...well thats only going to go one way isnt it! pull back onto his left!

I agree Taylor is a far better option.

A la Matt Ritchie....if only  :doh:

fucking hell. that was utter bollocks

3-1 fucking awful defending

I hate football.

Anderson I think tried to dribble out of defence and gave it away just outside our box, fired into the corner, undeserved on the amount of play we have had.

We have been far better than them but they have scored the goals, thats football.

Ohhh fuck! Well that's game over then. Shit subs today. Totally wrong calls when we could easily have taken the game to them.

Coventry 3 shots of target 3 goals. Shame we have fucked off our best keeper!

Game over. Blown our previous good record against Coventry this season haven’t we. Shit subs again from Flitcroft.  Really wonder what he’s watching sometimes.

Not sure you can honestly say we fucked him off, it is just as much he fucked us  off.

RCC has looked nervy all game today.

RCC is way below the standard of Vigs. Not denying Vigs is a bit of a twat but thats where a good manager blends these personalities together.

Anyway not the reason we lose today but we need a better keeper to move forward with. Hopefully they have something lined up if we sell Vigs

Richards first shot for us, skyed high and wide.

This has made the gap a bit bigger.  Everyone above us winning now.  Disappointing that every time we look like we’re putting a run together, we blow it.

Richards build and style is very similar to Mullin, hes not a Norris replacement and certainly not a target man.

The wide open spaces of the Ricoh.

(https://s17.postimg.org/iz3cd4n1b/Untitled.jpg)

Not really sure what he’ll offer us then?  We need a target man.

We should have won that.

All over.

Couple of gifts with the 2nd and 3rd goals but I still can't quite believe we've lost that.

Sent from my SM-G930F

Coventry were certainly there for the taking, we had the better play for probably 80% of the game, a stunning strike, a penalty and some awful defending cost us the game.

We are a better side than them by a fair margin but if you don't score with most of the chances you have combined with letting in poor goals means you won't win.

Thats the end of our 55 year record up there :(

Still loads to play for, I looked back on FVR Matchday Thread and actually had us down to lose this. Accrington to Win. That has gone as predicted. So our game in hand with them is still a crunch tie. Predicted a win for us next I think and a draw for them. We can't win them all but today with the amount of pressure and attack we should've gained a point least not a win. Wrong personnel in the substitutions. In so much, the wrong players brought off. Should've been Richards for Norris but much later. Mullin for Dunne and earlier, maybe at HT. Taylor for Gordon or Anderson, also at HT.

Well.  I think we can learn a few things from this game:

a) Gordon is not a wing back, he has no idea where he is supposed to be, but he is a half decent player
b) Bringing on a shit left winger to replace him is sheer madness
c) The general standard of our players is poor, and means we are open to defensive melt downs
d) Norris is not a centre forward.  He somehow has the opposite of a centr forwards instincts.  Maybe try him in defence.
e) Flitcroft brings nothing to the table.  His only real imprint on this game was two awful substitutions that brought about the surety of our defeat.  First Woollery, who regardless of ability was enabling the game to remain stretched with Coventry fearing his pace down the sides.  He was the sole reason we were getting space.  Taking him off enabled Coventry to squeeze us, which leads to his second awful sub, Brophy.  We lost all threat and created a defensive panic as even defending he tried coming back in.

Oh, and what was going on with letting Banks take corners?  He just floated every one of them.  Landalo takes a few which are all threatening, then we let Banks take another.  Another moment that shows Flitcroft brings little benefit, he should have seen the issue and adjusted, or to be honest, never let it happen in the first place.

My final point, after giving him a good amount of benefit of the doubt, but a Sloth would be a better bet to take our number eight shirt.

A game we could have taken something from unravelled in the second half thanks to Manager input by and large, bringing pressure on our teams lack of abilities.

Oddly, for about 30 mins or so we seemed to have stumbled on something that looked almost effective.

didn't really deserve to lose on chances.  it was only around the goals or just after they looked better.

how we didn't  equaliser is a mixture of bad luck, bad finishing and I'm convinced a handball

I cannot agree more with pretty much all of that, spot on exactly as I see/saw it today.

on Woolery I can only assume it was because he was knackered. Didn't look it from my seat but he had run a lot.

taking away the mistake, still not getting Anderson Seems to be involved a lot but do very little. but I am in a minority, so must just not see it

I agree with all of that except the Gordon comment. I think Gordon is a CAM/No.10/False 9 and would flourish there, especially since Elsnik has been out injured. Yes he's definitely not a full wing back. I think the accuracy should be; Flitcroft doesn't know where Gordon's is supposed to be.

Such an annoying result. We’ve all said all season there’s nothing between the top 10, Luton aside. Cov weren’t any better than us in the same way we weren’t any better than Notts or Wycombe when we beat them.

That aside today is a little galling. The ref was abysmal for both sides. Gave everything, including the pen (which looked soft but on video maybe right?).

Back 3 bad. Everyone else ok. Good day. Bad result. It means nothing. We might go up, we might not. Everyone in this league plays percentage football, and it might go for us. Won’t be making plans for the third Saturday in May...

I think Flitcorft doesn't think Woolery is ready for 90 mins he always takes him off and he worked his socks off today so that can be the only reason.

I don't really get Anderson either mate its not just you, he runs around a lot, gets a lot of the ball, gives the ball away a lot and can't shoot.

My point was that Gordon isn’t  a wing back, he was exposed as a defender.  He was still much better though than bringing Brophy on in that position.  The switch ceased our threat and made the defensive cover worse, because Brophy kept coming back in.

Gordon is a right winger, in the old fashioned sense, which probably means he will not go on to great things as nobody plays with them anymore.

You are right, there is nothing between almost any side in this league its wide open.

The pen did look like a pen to me from the side view but will have to see the replay to be sure but on first instict it looked like Preston fell on top of him as he ran past.

I would agree on 2 of the 3 centre back, Robertson and Lancashire both don't look good enough but barring the penalty Preston was vying for MoM along with Woolery, he made a few great timed tackles and interceptions today.

Lancashire slightly better than Rboertson but Robertson is like a centre back from the 70s.....hoof.

Even a dead Woollery was worth keeping on, just his presence caused Coventry to defend deeper.  Once he was off we had very little controlled posession in their half, it was all scraps.  Even when he didn’t get control of the ball it left big spaces in the middle, that enabled us to get Banks and Anderson on the ball.

Yet he continually leaves players on the pitch who offer zero. How can he not see what the rest of us do?  I find the Taylor situation a bit odd as well. He went from being a first team regular to now not even getting on the pitch as a sub.

Also agree on the Anderson comments.  Shows some flashes occasionally, but that’s it.

 First time Cov have done the double over us since 1936.  Possibly a damaging thing, depends if we can bounce back v Crewe. Then a three game run which will decide the season, all is not yet lost.

Far far from it, performance wise we outplayed the home team for 80% of the game, a bit of tweaking and signings mixed with better use of substitutes and then its all very much game on still.

The other side of today. It was my first trip to the Ricoh and it’s everything football shouldn’t be. Ground in a retail park, cab from town, Pints in a casino, canned crowd noise, no home fans or fan culture. No community. No pride. Zero. Welcome to the home of Wasps indeed.

Can’t think of anything worse to happen to our club.

The battle for the soul of our club, is just starting to warm up.

Preston pushed him blatant penalty no need to do it he’s a fucking idiot

Haven't read back.

Played well for 80 minutes.

Basic errors went punished and we were chasing the game...the missed goal mouth scrambles were the turning point, especially the second ...just leather the fucking thing!

Played worse and won...FGR home and away the examples.

What was Anderson thinking!?!

Onwards...

So does Flitcroft by the looks of it

Cannot believe our keeper is getting stick?!

He had fuck all to do but pick out two shots he could never get close to and a pen ...

Is he, who from? The only mistake he made was not getting a cross cleanly in the opening minutes. It was cleared.

Odd.

Bit harsh, they had more than we did at the County Ground. Just looks silly in a 32K arena!

Are they actively boycotting? Are are they really down to 7000 odd home fans.

No way did we deserve to lose that on balance of play, but the errors we made both offensively and defensively cost us massively. Preston stupid to foul, Anderson will learn not to piss around with it there and Norris is well Norris - nearly scored a worldy and then missed a chance that he should have scored.
Thought we passed it a bit more today than we have done, maybe influence of Banks who showed flashes of quality, along with flashes of dross.
Quite liked the look of Richards when he came on, won some clever fouls which gives us opportunity to whip the ball in with Iandolo's good delivery.
If we play like that rest of the season we'll win more than we lose, Iandolo MOTM by a country mile.

This, topped off by the fact their fans had a drum. Awful.

Just seen the highlights/goals on CH5. Whoever was bashing RCC is a bit, well  :doh: ...One worldie, one pen and one thronker.

How we didn't score in that melee about one yard away, i'll never know. I counted at least five bites of the old cherry in that moment.

Anderson has to hang his head for the creation of Coventry's goal three. Even if the player shaped himself well to execute the goal. Well took but should never have had the chance.

Think we're pretty harsh on ourselves today. Indeed, play that way in most games and I'm certain we'll win more than lose.

On a side note though, Mullin and Taylor should be being utilised as impact subs and are both worth 45 mins min. Taylor offers consistency in corners, free kicks and crosses. Today that could have been the difference. Mullin offers grit and determination in a more controlled manner than Dunne. He seems like he's hell bent on getting sent off. Does not justify a start let alone 90 mins. In fact has Taylor's contribution been on the pitch, we could have been talking about a Mullin headed winner. Flitcroft needs to utilise his squad efficiently. Do that and we could easily turn into the team to beat.

I hope I'm not going to embarrass myself too much here but what on earth is a thronker  :zipped:

Agreed up until here. They were a bigger threat down our left and Taylor would have got skinned at full back. Iandolo’s deliveries were mostly up there with Taylor’s today, think he’s learnt a thing or two off him.
As for Mullin in midfield which I presume you are suggesting if replacing Dunne, that is just so wrong in every way

Aha-haha. It's whatever you want it to be  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: Only joking, it's basically a beast of a goal, a corker if you like. It's the brainchild of BBC Sport's Dan Walker, in reference to any goal scored that has similarity to that of a Tony Yeboah-esque finish.

Yeah, it's fine. You won't embarrass yourself  :D

Nahh the suggestion would've been bringing Taylor in an advanced role as a winger on for Gordon/Anderson. It would've enhanced our attack and i'm certain we would've seen a goal assisted by him. No not suggesting it as a positional replacement. A good manager can change the shape within a match. Dunne off put Banks into a holding role and go to something like 4-3-3;

Iandolo LB, Lancs & Preston CB, Robbo RB; Taylor LW, Banks CM, Anderson/Woolery RW; Woolery/Anderson LF, Richards CF, Mullin RF

That would be an adaptable formation to change to, whilst in play for say the last 30 mins.

Oh :D cheers, I thought it might be something like that.

Haha, no problem :)

Means nothing, but a few comments from Coventry fans today:-

Was impressed with Swindon today. One of the best teams we have faced this season.
Should definitely be in the top 7 come May if they keep playing like that.

Agree with this, at 2-0 up you would think we would be on top but they stuck at it and moved the ball around well on a sticky pitch, they were a yard quicker for a good portion of the game and if they had scored in that goal mouth scramble they might well have gone on to win.

Impressed by Swindon’s forward play today. They could easily have won the game.

spot on... the looked a decent side.

Maybe a plonker with a throttle! ,  Anyway watched the highlights late last night and no one else has mentioned it so maybe the cider has soaked in but have re-run the goal mouth melee several times and surely that was a handball on the line ?.

I thought so, looked clear from behind the goal. But hardly anyone appealed for it, so it was either shielded from those on the pitch it my eyes very much deceived me

On the game now the beer haze has gone. We actually played quite well yesterday. The difference was a worldy goal, a stupid penalty given away by Preston and a good finish after Keshi Anderson tried to dribble outside the area. I thought Iandolo was good when in advanced areas and his deliveries were excellent. Olly Banks has a good range of passing, not always on the button but picked out the wingers with 50 yard balls a couple of times and at least tried to pick out a red shirt. Norris hit the bar just after we made it 2-1 and we should have scored in the second half with 2 crazy goal mouth scrambles. Think Flitcroft taking off Woollery was a mistake as his pace was stretching them. Hopefully back to winning ways at home to Crewe on Saturday.

As usual I enjoyed my day out, good chat with some Cov fans in the casino after the game who are always friendly. They said our defence was shit, which I think is fair although Preston is much better than Lancashire and Robertson who are extremely limited defenders. At least Preston has the ability to do more than just whack the ball out of play. With Conroy back we should be a bit better in this respect.

RCC did little wrong yesterday at all, even the wonderful Vigs couldn't have stopped either goal and a penalty is always a keeper lottery. He failed to catch cleanly a couple of times but other than that his kicking is better than Vigs and he has little to do.

Interesting how we all see different things in a game, I thought Richards offered nothing and that Iandolos deliveries other than for the goal were very poor.

Met some Cov fans back in the pub....they said if we had got a second we would of won....I agree..

The ref wasnt exactly shit but didn't stamp out the cynical stuff for both sides. The example was the Cov handball to prevent a scoring opportunity through ball...no booking and then a yellow for a Cov player for a wanky challenge.

Yeah think it was a common consensus that had we scored in that spell we would have won.

Agree about the ref some of the bookings were a bit random. The one where Marc Richards threw himself on the floor was just bizarre. (Unless that player had been fouling persistently I guess)

Could have been the turning point in the game,  suppose it's just one of those games - dominate and lose, need to get back on track next Saturday,  we're far from out of it yet.  There's always at least one team that comes with a late run, player's coming back -  let's hope its us.

I see people are getting their knickers in a twist because Norris decided to have a drink or 5 on Saturday night.

Apparently you aren’t allowed a social life unless you have a good day at work 🤔

That winds me up as well people moaning about players having a few beers. It’s not unusual for a bloke in his 20’s to have a few beers on a Saturday night after a week of work. Apparently you aren’t allowed to do that if you are a footballer though.

as long as we don't have a game on the Tuesday who gives a fuck

To be fair it was only really one guy on twitter who I saw going mental. A guy who's twitter bio even said "I'm a fucking moron"

I don't begrudge him that just more shocked he would want to after playing that shit.

Saying that i am more bothered with him night fishing before training but that is a different point

Lets hope he has more luck finding the net with that.