By CovSid67
July 31 2006

A defeat, more injury problems, and another possible suspended player! All-in-all - Boavista, compete with their cheating Portugese ways - doesn't seem like such a good choice of opponent now. With only two away fans visible, there is always the possibility that Boavista were chosen because (Almost) no away fans meant no bill for policing. Sadly, such opposition also meant very little enthusiasm from Coventry supporters too.....

A disappointing 3,406 (Later altered to 5,645) bothered to turn up for this game (Rather than the expected 10,000), which failed to give the new smartcard system a proper run-out before the season gets properly under-way. Next week could be fun!

The late kick-off baffled most, but pleased me, as it gave me plenty of time to recover from yet another works leaving party in Coventry City centre the night before.

As for trying to write a decent match report from the notes taken during the game, well, I seem to have mis-laid the postage stamp I wrote them on. So, from memory....

The display was fairly dis-jointed, though there were impressive displays from McAnamee, Ward, and Tabb, while Adebola and John were fairly anonymous. Another striker before the big kick-off is a necessity.

The football on show was of a decent enough standard for the first 20+ minutes, until, proving some things never change, the referee decided to wreck the game with his abysmal decision to send off two players.

With a Boavista player getting his backside in his hand because of a free kick awarded against his side, McSheffrey's attempts at peacemaker were viewed as violent conduct by match officials who are clearly due an eye test.

Coventry City have said they will appeal against McSheffrey's sending off, but, with Dion Dublin once having video evidence to completely clear his name, plus the player he was alleged to have struck (Colin Hendry) offering to fight his corner too, it is more likely that McSheffrey's ban will be doubled rather than over-turned.

Despite the game supposedly being about gaining fitness, the entire starting XI were replaced by the time an hour had gone (Though this might have been to avoid possible injuries and/or suspensions!), and the game ended with a defensive foursome hopefully never to be seen again by Coventry City: Jorgensen, at right-back, Whing and Osbourne in the centre of defence, and Marcus Hall at left-back!

Linz opened the scoring for the visitors with just over 20 minutes of the match left, but a fine effort from Andrews levelled the scores. Linz made it 2-1 minutes later, with the two celebrating Portugese fans, having sufficeintly wound up the home fans, opting to leave soon after. A wise move.

In-between Boavista's goals, Andrews was caught late by a Boavista player, and it later turned out he had broken his ankle. To add to that injury worry was the site of Page hobbling off, with a back injury.

Team: Marshall (Ward 75), McNamee (Jorgensen 60), Hall (Osbourne 60), Heath (Page HT), Ward (Whing 60), Thornton (Morrell HT), Hughes (Cameron HT), Doyle (Hutchison 60), McSheffrey (SO 25), Adebola (Tabb HT), John (Andrews 61).