By Longsider
December 14 2003

A look back on the game with Coventry through the eyes of the media. Today we have just the one report and it comes from the Sunday Times. COVENTRY GLAD OF GIFTS
(Sunday Times)

THIS last game at Turf Moor before Christmas produced little cheer for the home faithful but plenty in the way of belated spirit as early errors presented Coventry with their first win since October.
On six minutes, Cameroon striker Patrick Suffo was given acres of space and time to turn and swivel on the edge of the area to send his shot past a startled Brian Jensen. With almost the last move of the first half, Paul Weller headed Andy Morrell’s cross into his own net.



In between, Burnley’s best chance was a long-range Robbie Blake drive tipped round the post by Ward.

But what a difference a goal makes. Blake tried again shortly after the interval. This time his marvellous curling shot found the target.

It was now game on and with incessant rain making it more like surf Moor, Burnley poured forward with wave after wave of attack.

Mo Camara should have grabbed a point almost on the final whistle, only to shoot wide with an open goal at his mercy. And there was still time for Arthur Gnohere to be sent off for a foul on Stephen Warnock, a second bookable offence, and Burnley’s frustration was complete.

All this on a day when Coventry were without their influential player manager, Gary McAllister, who was given compassionate leave.



Burnley: Jensen, Roche (West 45min), McGregor (May 45min), Gnohere, Camara, Little, Grant, Weller, Chadwick (McEveley 73min), Blake, Moore

Coventry City Ward, Whing, Staunton, Konjic (Shaw 43min), Davenport, Mansouri, Jackson, Doyle, Warnock, Suffo (Pead 78min), Morrell (Adebola 72min)

Scorers: Burnley: Blake 53

Coventry: Suffo 8, Weller og 40

Referee: M Fletcher

Attendance: 10,358