Rout Shatters Ternent

Coventry 4 Burnley 0

Sporting Life

Gary McSheffrey's first-half double put Coventry on the way to a fully deserved victory which kept them well in touch in the race for the play-offs.

Julian Joachim and Muhamed Konjic grabbed the other goals in a thoroughly one-sided contest which left Burnley still seeking their first away league win since early September and looking over their shoulder at the bottom of the table.

Coventry created a chance as early as the fourth minute, Stephen Warnock floating a corner to the far post where Eric Deloumeaux failed to make a proper connection, but from their next attack the hosts went ahead.

McSheffrey collected the ball down the left and his first-time cross found Joachim unmarked. The former Aston Villa striker had a simple task to poke the ball home for his ninth goal of the season.

Warnock and McSheffrey had a couple of speculative attempts to extend Coventry's lead and it took 21 minutes for Burnley to threaten their opponents' goal with Paul Weller, back after suspension, missing a fine close-range opportunity from Glen Little's cross.

McSheffrey was outshining strike partner Joachim and drew a save from Brian Jensen after 32 minutes, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny him soon afterwards.

This time the ball came in from the right, Bjarni Gudjonsson providing the cross, and McSheffrey headed home.

Burnley had barely recovered when they found themselves three goals down. Joachim raced on to a long ball forward and as he went to round Jensen, the Dane pulled him back to concede a penalty and earn himself a booking.

McSheffrey converted from the spot for his 17th goal of the season and nearly completed a hat-trick as the half drew to a close but his shot was held by Jensen.

David May, outpaced by Joachim in the incident which resulted in the penalty award, was booked five minutes into the second period for a foul on Warnock and it continued to be one-way traffic.

Jensen did superbly to block a fierce Gudjonsson shot, then did similar when McSheffrey had his latest attempt to ensure the match ball went home with him and also from Joachim, who hit the woodwork seconds later.

More heroics from the goalkeeper were required to keep out another Gudjonsson strike but it was hardly a surprise when substitute Konjic, who had replaced veteran Steve Staunton, notched the fourth goal 12 minutes from time.

It came from a Gudjonsson corner which the Bosnian defender met with a powerful header to end his personal scoring drought that stretched back two years.

Teams

Coventry Shearer, Clarke, Davenport, Staunton (Konjic 76), Grainger, Gudjonsson, Deloumeaux (Barrett 80), Doyle, Warnock, McSheffrey, Joachim (Adebola 73).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Shaw.

Goals: Joachim 10, McSheffrey 33, 39 pen, Konjic 78.

Burnley Jensen, West (Townsend 80), May (Wood 59), McGregor, Weller, Little, Grant, Chaplow, Alan Moore (Scott 77), Blake, Ian Moore.

Subs Not Used: Abbey, Chadwick.

Booked: Jensen, May.

Att: 12,953

ROUT SHATTERS TERNENT

Sunday Times


SIFTING through the rubble, there was little comfort for Burnley manager Stan Ternent.
After such an awful display from his team, which saw them gift Coventry three first-half goals, they are only two points above the relegation zone. They travel to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Wednesday with a season to save.


“It was the worst defeat for as long as I can remember,” said Ternent. “You cannot take anything from that game. It was embarrassing.”

Last week Ternent took his squad to a training camp in Spain, but the warm weather exercise did nothing to eradicate their defensive problems. Barely 10 minutes gone when Gary McSheffrey ran to the byline and crossed for Julian Joachim to beat Brian Jensen, at his near post.

Then, on 33 minutes — just after Burnley’s Paul Weller somehow sent the ball wide of an open goal — McSheffrey outjumped his marker to head Bjarni Gudjonsson’s cross past the stranded Jensen. Any confidence the visitors had of getting back into the match quickly disappeared when Joachim was brought down by Jensen in the area and McSheffrey blasted the ball to his right.  Substitute Muhamed Konjic headed Peter Clarke’s cross at the near post with 12 minutes left to complete a miserable day for a miserable Ternent.

 

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