Relief for Adams in cup tie thriller
FA Cup: Third Round
Bristol City 3 Coventry City 3
Brooker 14, Showunmi 18, Jevons 21 Cameron 13, McKenzie 33, John 81
Ashton Gate
6/1/2007
When it rains it pours. At least that was what Coventry manager Micky Adams must have been thinking when his side were 3-1 down after 21 minutes against League One side Bristol City in inclement conditions. Floundering in 16th in the Championship, the Sky Blues remain without a victory in nine games. But a late Stern John goal earned them a draw in a thrilling match, and Adams retained his position by the slenderest of threads.
It is now 20 years since Coventry - traditionally a top-table team, equipped with a £60m stadium and wealthy support - won this trophy, their one and only piece of silverware, when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at Wembley. Also inked into their record book is their highest scoring victory - a 9-0 defeat of, you've guessed it, Bristol City. That was way back in the 1933/4 Division 3 South, and certainly a world away from happening at Ashton Gate on Saturday. As it stands, there are currently only 11 places between Coventry and Bristol City, and the way things are going there is every chance these two teams could swap leagues come May.
With the rain falling, and the banks of the nearby River Avon ready to burst, Coventry kicked off expecting a tough battle with Bristol City, currently occupying the second play-off berth in their division.
It was the visitors who claimed first blood after 13 minutes, after a frenetic start to the game. Midfielder Colin Cameron found space in the middle of the pitch, and after a neat give-and-go with Dele Adebola fired past Adriano Basso.
Bristol equalised immediately through forward Steve Brooker. His shot, from outside the area, skidded past Luke Steele’s groping right hand. Four minutes later Brooker turned provider as he crossed to Enoch Showunmi, who managed to nod the ball over the line, despite the efforts of Coventry’s veteran skipper, Robert Page.
The Reds scored their third goal in seven minutes - “A fantastic spell”, manager Gary Johnson gushed - when Showunmi’s deep cross found Phil Jevons’s head. Jevons, the former Everton forward, capitalised on Coventry’s woeful defending. Adams confessed: “We’re disappointed with the goals we conceded, I think they were soft and could have been avoided.”
That goal should have clinched it, but when Coventry pulled one back through Leon McKenzie’s 32nd minute strike the remainder of the game was played with true adrenaline-pumping cup tie to-and-fro.
Stern John replaced Adebola at half-time, and after failing to convert a number of chances, including a shot from Cameron which almost snapped the bar, Coventry did draw level eventually. The substitute John finished the lively McKenzie’s cutback with ten minutes remaining.
The draw was a fair result in the end, and Adams, relieved to still have a job, praised his team's battling mentality: “We’re delighted with the spirit that we showed, it was a terrific fight back.”
The replay, due to be played on 16th January, will be eagerly anticipated by both players and fans. Johnson, the Bristol City manager, commented: “I was just happy that we were involved in a fantastic cup tie. We‘ll enjoy going to the Ricoh Arena, and of course we‘re not out of it.” While the Bristol faithful will be happy for the adventure - they haven’t reached the fourth round for six years - they will be conscious that their blue rivals, Bristol Rovers, have already secured their place in the next round after a 1-0 victory over Hereford on Friday. Micky Adams meanwhile will be crossing his fingers for a win to re-ignite his team’s season, that is, if he is still in charge.
Man of the Match: Enoch Showunmi
The Bristol City midfielder, was lively from the outset, and scored his team’s second goal and laid on the third. In the second half he showed his defensive grit. An all round impressive performance.
Match rating: 8 out of 10
Attendance: 13,336
Teams:
Bristol City:
Basso; Orr, McCombe, Keogh, McAllister (booked 45); Murray, Russell, Johnson (booked 24), Showunmi; Jevons (substituted for Skuse, 60), Brooker
Unused substitutes: Fontaine, Noble, Weale and Myrie-Williams
Coventry City:
Steele; Virgo (booked 44), Page, Turner, Whing; Cameron, Osbourne, Doyle (booked 24), McKenzie; Adebola (substituted for John, h-t), Kyle (booked 39, substituted for Andrews, 52))
Unused substitutes: Birchill, Tabb and Marshall
Referee: P. Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
FA Cup: Third Round
Bristol City 3 Coventry City 3
Brooker 14, Showunmi 18, Jevons 21 Cameron 13, McKenzie 33, John 81
Ashton Gate
6/1/2007
When it rains it pours. At least that was what Coventry manager Micky Adams must have been thinking when his side were 3-1 down after 21 minutes against League One side Bristol City in inclement conditions. Floundering in 16th in the Championship, the Sky Blues remain without a victory in nine games. But a late Stern John goal earned them a draw in a thrilling match, and Adams retained his position by the slenderest of threads.
It is now 20 years since Coventry - traditionally a top-table team, equipped with a £60m stadium and wealthy support - won this trophy, their one and only piece of silverware, when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at Wembley. Also inked into their record book is their highest scoring victory - a 9-0 defeat of, you've guessed it, Bristol City. That was way back in the 1933/4 Division 3 South, and certainly a world away from happening at Ashton Gate on Saturday. As it stands, there are currently only 11 places between Coventry and Bristol City, and the way things are going there is every chance these two teams could swap leagues come May.
With the rain falling, and the banks of the nearby River Avon ready to burst, Coventry kicked off expecting a tough battle with Bristol City, currently occupying the second play-off berth in their division.
It was the visitors who claimed first blood after 13 minutes, after a frenetic start to the game. Midfielder Colin Cameron found space in the middle of the pitch, and after a neat give-and-go with Dele Adebola fired past Adriano Basso.
Bristol equalised immediately through forward Steve Brooker. His shot, from outside the area, skidded past Luke Steele’s groping right hand. Four minutes later Brooker turned provider as he crossed to Enoch Showunmi, who managed to nod the ball over the line, despite the efforts of Coventry’s veteran skipper, Robert Page.
The Reds scored their third goal in seven minutes - “A fantastic spell”, manager Gary Johnson gushed - when Showunmi’s deep cross found Phil Jevons’s head. Jevons, the former Everton forward, capitalised on Coventry’s woeful defending. Adams confessed: “We’re disappointed with the goals we conceded, I think they were soft and could have been avoided.”
That goal should have clinched it, but when Coventry pulled one back through Leon McKenzie’s 32nd minute strike the remainder of the game was played with true adrenaline-pumping cup tie to-and-fro.
Stern John replaced Adebola at half-time, and after failing to convert a number of chances, including a shot from Cameron which almost snapped the bar, Coventry did draw level eventually. The substitute John finished the lively McKenzie’s cutback with ten minutes remaining.
The draw was a fair result in the end, and Adams, relieved to still have a job, praised his team's battling mentality: “We’re delighted with the spirit that we showed, it was a terrific fight back.”
The replay, due to be played on 16th January, will be eagerly anticipated by both players and fans. Johnson, the Bristol City manager, commented: “I was just happy that we were involved in a fantastic cup tie. We‘ll enjoy going to the Ricoh Arena, and of course we‘re not out of it.” While the Bristol faithful will be happy for the adventure - they haven’t reached the fourth round for six years - they will be conscious that their blue rivals, Bristol Rovers, have already secured their place in the next round after a 1-0 victory over Hereford on Friday. Micky Adams meanwhile will be crossing his fingers for a win to re-ignite his team’s season, that is, if he is still in charge.
Man of the Match: Enoch Showunmi
The Bristol City midfielder, was lively from the outset, and scored his team’s second goal and laid on the third. In the second half he showed his defensive grit. An all round impressive performance.
Match rating: 8 out of 10
Attendance: 13,336
Teams:
Bristol City:
Basso; Orr, McCombe, Keogh, McAllister (booked 45); Murray, Russell, Johnson (booked 24), Showunmi; Jevons (substituted for Skuse, 60), Brooker
Unused substitutes: Fontaine, Noble, Weale and Myrie-Williams
Coventry City:
Steele; Virgo (booked 44), Page, Turner, Whing; Cameron, Osbourne, Doyle (booked 24), McKenzie; Adebola (substituted for John, h-t), Kyle (booked 39, substituted for Andrews, 52))
Unused substitutes: Birchill, Tabb and Marshall
Referee: P. Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
Labels: Bristol City, Championship, Coventry, FA Cup, League One, Micky Adams
