[17
MAR 01] COVENTRY CITY MATCH
REPORT - PREMIERSHIP
Tottenham Hotspur (2) 3
Coventry City (0) 0
So, does anyone
know the way to Rotherham? Sky Blues fans had better think about
rubbing shoulders with Nationwide sides after another defeat.
Managerless
Spurs came out roaring and brushed the Sky Blues aside just 24
hours after George Graham was kicked out of White Hart Lane.
Depending on
who you believe, Coventry’s new stadium could be hanging by a
thread after this 3-0 defeat.
This season
might not be over, but a glance a the fixture list for April
suggests that Gordon Strachan’s men will have to pull several
rabbits out of the hat to escape the
drop this time.
Anyone with a
keen eye for a bet might be well-placed to go and get odds on
Roland Nilsson taking the helm if Coventry City finally leave
the top flight.
Norwegian
Steffen Iversen was the latest nemesis of the Sky Blue Army. He
scored after 28 minutes with a header from a corner and repeated
the move five minutes later.
Chris Kirkland,
in the England under-21 squad and making a name for himself,
stopped this second header but spilled the ball, and Les
Ferdinand put it over the line to give Spurs a two-goal lead.
With Rebrov
adding a third in the second-half, Coventry were undone. They
could find no way back and began to lose their rag.
Hartson, an
early season target for the hosts, was involved in several
chances, but the Sky Blues curse in front of goal continued.
There are
quality players in the Coventry outfit, but a collective jitter
has made them nervous in front of goal
Gordon Strachan
admitted the drop is looking ominously close as Manchester City
and Middlesborough both picked up points.
He said:
"It is
looking a big job for us now. This performance encapsulated
our season.
"We
played some good football but failed to take chances and
couldn't defend set-pieces.
"I've
told the players their destiny is still in their own hands.
They'll all be players until at least their mid-thirties but
where they play and what level is entirely down to them."
KEY EVENTS
| 1
min |
Hadji
heads wide after a far post header by Hartson. |
| 2
min |
Hartson just fails to
connect with Bellamy's left wing cross. |
| 14
min |
Sullivan pushes Bellamy's
shot around the post. |
| 23
min |
Kirkland saves well from
Clemence's 25-yard shot. |
| 26
min |
Thompson
heads narrowly wide from Hall's near post cross. |
| 28
min |
Iversen heads home from a
right wing corner. |
| 33
min |
Ferdinand scores with a
close range header after Iversen's header from a
controversial free kick. |
| 46
min |
Graham Poll replaced as referee after being
injured. |
| 58
min |
Rebrov sneaks in behind the
City defence and scores from a narrow angle. |
| 61
min |
Freund
is clear through but pushes his shot inches wide of the
far post. |
 MATCH
FACTS by Jim Brown
COVENTRY:
Chris Kirkland: Barry Quinn, Marcus Hall, Lee Carsley, Gary
Breen, Richard Shaw, David Thompson (Paul Telfer 63), John
Eustace (Youssef Chippo 63 (Marc Edworthy 77)), John Hartson,
Moustapha Hadji, Craig Bellamy
Subs not used: Magnus Hedman,
John Aloisi
TOTTENHAM:
Neil Sullivan: Chris Perry, Sol Campbell, Gary Doherty, Stefan
Iversen, Stefan Freund, Stephen Clemence, Ledley King, Luke
Young, Les Ferdinand, Sergei Rebrov
Subs not used: Ian Walker,
Anthony Gardner, Willem Korsten , Simon Davies, Matthew
Etherington
GOALS:
Tottenham - Iversen (28),
Ferdinand (33), Rebrov (58)
REFEREE: G
Poll (Tring) - replaced at half time by P Taylor
BOOKINGS: [CHECK
CITY BOOKINGS FOR THE SEASON TO DATE]
Coventry - Carsley
(20 for foul on Rebrov), Breen (80 foul on Rebrov)
Tottenham - none
ATTENDANCE: 35,606
LEAGUE POSITIONS AFTER THIS
MATCH:
Coventry - 19th
Tottenham - 11th
INTERESTING
FACT:
City seven points adrift of safety. Chippo is only the third
City substitute to be subsequently taken off.
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