By CovSid67
January 1 2007

Boxing Day saw the arrival of dirty, dirty Ipswich (61 yellow cards this season tells its own story!) to the Arena. And our poor run of results against the Tractor Boys continued.... Former Ipswich keeper Marshall replaced the injured Steele in goal for Coventry, while Bischoff replaced Page, who was away witnessing the miracle that is child birth - though a Coventry win would have run said event close for miracle value....

McKenzie ran the Ipswich right-back ragged in the early stages of this match, so Mickey Adams, in his infinite wisdom, moved him to a different position later in the game.

It was McKenzie who set Colin Cameron up three times in the first half, and, while two of those assists the ball just would not come down for him, for the other opportunity, it really was easier to score.

McKenzie also set up Stern John in the opening 10 minutes, having robbed the Ipswich defence of the ball as they dallied, but he was tackled as he lined up a shot.

Legwinski was involved in three incidents with Doyle before he was deservedly booked, and gave the referee a fair few other opportunities to brandish a second yellow card. But the referee didn't.

The first of two penalty appeals (One for each side) was waved away in the 18th minute, with Ward challenging Lee, and the Ipswich striker being booked for his dive! For the Ipswich fans some 100 yards away from the incident, they clearly saw it as a foul....

A poor Ipswich clearance almost fell to Stern John (But didn't), while Stephen Hughes actually managed two efforts at the opposition goal (His path to passing back to Marshall was obviously blocked!), while McKenzie was unlucky with an attempt to lob Price just before the break.

A dull first half, most notable for the linesman constantly flagging McKenzie for offside, despite the fact he wasn't, and not flagging him on a couple of occasions when he clearly was!

A couple of early Coventry City chances went begging, before a cracking save from Marshall denied the visitors the lead. From the resulting corner, another soft goal was conceded.

Mickey Adams' response was to take off Adebola and Cameron, and bring on Kyle and Birchall - not exactly as intimidating as seeing Robben and Wright-Phillips come on, is it? Minutes later Hall replaced Clarke.

A McKenzie shot brought a fine save from Price, and, from the resultant corner, a Hughes effort through a crowd of players was also saved by Price.

A decent cross from Birchall saw brave keeping from Price, and a loose ball that Kyle somehow failed to connect with. Well, he wasn't brought here for his goalscoring talents, but for the other parts to his game....

Another decent cross saw Kyle head wide when unchallenged, and two minutes later the miss was to prove costly, as Ipswich made it 2-0, and game over (Having missed another decent chance a minute after Kyle's miss).

A Marshall tip over soon after again kept the score down, and gave Coventry City the slightest chance of grabbing anything from this game. And, with chants of 'You're Not Fit To Wear The Shirt' ringing round the stadium, the home side pulled a goal back.

The Ipswich defence tried to prevent the ball going for a corner, and ended up passing to Doyle. His cracking drive reduced the arrears, at which point Coventry finally showed some urgency.

Only a fine save by Price from McKenzie with seconds remaining prevented Coventry City snatching an unlikely draw, with the home side booed off by the few supporters that stayed 'til the end.

Ipswich weren't any better than Coventry City, and certainly didn't deserve the win. But, when you bring in players that can actually score goals (Whether it be on loan or signed permanently), you've always got a chance of snatching a win. Why not try it Mr. Adams?

Attendance: 22,154.

This defeat came only 48 hours after another disappointing result and display, with a 3-1 defeat away to Luton. Had the fog failed to lift, this match could have been put back a while, hopefully 'til we found some form (Sometime in 2008?).

Luke Steele replaced the injured Marshall in goal, while Robert Page was suspended (Couldn't his wife have given birth the week he was missing a match anyway?). In goal for Luton was former Coventry youngster Dean Kiely - a player we should have considered bringing in a long time ago!

Brkovic had given the home side the lead (After a poor mistake by Cameron), before giving the away side an equaliser! Rowan Vine, who probably enjoyed one of the best days of his career so far against Coventry a few years back, gave the home side the lead again, before Morgan put the result beyond doubt a minute later.

A triple substitution by Adams failed to make any difference, as Cameron, Adebola, and John were replaced by Currie, Virgo, Kyle.