There were starts for Ireland (Who is unrecognisable from the keeper that couldn't catch a cold 15 months ago!), Turner, Simpson, and Mifsud, with Ward on the bench, Westwood rested as he's still carrying a slight injury (I am concerned about this!), McKenzie reportedly not fully fit so also on the bench, and Gray also injured (As was Kevin Thornton, who might have been given a start if available, and if stories about him earlier in the day are to be believed .... better not!).

Aldershot began the game much the same way Norwich did, with a blatant dive in the area being rightly ignored, though could still have been one-up after two minutes, but for Turner managing to head the ball over his own cross-bar while seemingly standing right under it!

Beuzelin saw a decent shot from distance turned round the post by keeper Bull on eight minutes, while a Morrison chase saw his cross mis-controlled by Eastwood in front of goal. Aldershot were the next to attack, with Ireland getting down smartly to stop an effort from the League Two new-boys.

An Eastwood effort from twenty yards saw the keeper fumble his effort, though get down to the loose ball just before Mifsud could attempt to shoot wide(!), with the keeper making a far better effort of getting down to an Eastwood run and shot minutes later. On twenty minutes Gunnarsson picked up a pointless booking.

More great work from Eastwood saw Simpson presented with a chance that Bull saved superbly well, pushing the ball out for a corner. From it, the ball ended up at the feet of Mifsud, who from twenty yards out blazed thirty yards wide, and thirty yards over! I wonder why there aren't a queue of clubs waiting to sign him....?

The returning Mifsud did little worthy of note for most of the night, so it's to be hoped any potential buyers weren't in the crowd to witness his display! His first two note-worthy efforts were blazed shots over the bar, one in each half, though he did manage two decent run and shots around the hour mark to test the Aldershot keeper. On the night he seemed to refuse to take on his full-back, nearly always opting to cut inside and pass to somebody else.

Freddie Eastwood, supposedly not quite up to ful fitness, supplied a quality cross on the half-hour mark, from which Clinton Morrison could not miss. He rushed over to the Coventry supporters in the Tesco Stand to celebrate, before picking out Eastwood to say 'thanks'!!

Four minutes later Aldershot almost equalised, as a cross fizzed across the Coventry City penalty area, with nobody able to get on the end of it, and two minutes later they equalised. An unnecessary free-kick was conceded, and from it, Donnelly's effort was deflected, leaving the unfortunate Ireland wrong-footed.

Morrison almost set Mifsud up for a second Coventry goal, but once again they were thwarted by Bull in the Aldershot goal.

Half-time: 1-1.

The first incident worthy of note in the second half was a hefty challenge on Fox leaving him needing treatment, though thankfully he was able to carry on. Son after, a fine effort from Eastwood flew just over the bar, while an effort from Gunnarsson was deflected over the bar for a corner (With the young Norwegian furious that he didn't do better - which seemed slightly harsh on himself, as it wasn't that good a chance!)

Then, in the space of seven minutes, the game was over! Robbie Simpson, who had had a poor game, and who Chris Coleman was considering replacing, popped up and scored two goals - so he's forgiven! The first came just before an hour had been played, and saw him smash home an effort from the corner of the six yard box, while the second came about after more great work from Eastwood. His pass to Simpson seemed to have been badly controlled, though not badly enough, and he still managed to send the ball past Bull in the Aldershot goal. 3-1.

Aldershot had a great chance to reduce the deficit on 67 minutes, but, after getting past the Coventry defence, they wasted a great chance by hammering the ball over the bar. Simpson was then denied the chance of a hat-trick when he was replaced by McKenzie.

A Gunnarsson cross just eluded Morrison, denying him the chance to add to the goal tally, before Wright became the second pointless booking of the match. Eastwood then saw two cracking efforts just roll wide of the post, while Gunnarsson was denied the chance of a breakaway after being cynically fouled. Gunnarsson was replaced by Doyle (Who is possibly rushing himself back from his injury as he might not get back into the side!), while the unselfish Eastwood could have had another effort at goal, but opted to pass to Mifsud, who wasted the opportunity.

Team: Ireland, Wright, Fox, Dann, Turner, Mifsud, Beuzelin, Gunnarsson (Doyle 90), Simpson (McKenzie 68), Eastwood, Morrison. SNU: Marshall, Birchall, Borrowdale, Ward, Walker.

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