By CovSid67
August 1 2007

Having cheated their way through Serie A over a number of seasons (Minimum), Juventus also cheated Coventry City out of a potential full-house at the Arena, on July 31st (I don't think I have to use the word 'allegedly' here, as their drop down a division would suggest they were guilty). Their place was taken by UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol, and the seats that would have been filled, weren't.

The typical stereotype is that Spanish football is littered with dirty cheats. Well, if last nights 'friendly' was anything to go by, said tag is still justified.

In between bouts of niggly football, there was the odd moment of half-decent play, though there was further defensive woe for Coventry City, with McNamee starting this season as he spent most of the last one - injured (Limping off with less than half-an-hour played). He joins De Zeeuw on the 'not going to make the kick-off' list of my first choice back four.

Soon after McNamee's departure, Espanyol took the lead, doing something they didn't try in the UEFA Cup Final - crossing the half-way line. They were aided by the home side putting the smallest player in world football, Jay Tabb, on the goal-line.

Tabb atoned for said ridiculous decision (Not his, I'm sure!) by equalising just before half-time.

The second half became the usual ridiculous catalogue of substitutions, as is usually the way in such matches, with both sides also reduced to 10-men, following a spot of 'hand-bags'. Michael Doyle received a second yellow card for reacting to provocation from Perez. The Michael Doyle-Michael Hughes partnership, which Iain Dowie seems to have hinted might be his first choice, may still be available for the opening match of the season, with Doyle's ban likely to be the reseerve game versus Stoke.

Most notable moments from the second 45 minutes were: a Coventry City set piece which almost worked; a contender for - or possibly even the winner of - 'Miss Of The Season 2007/8' (From an Espanyol player), and proof that Coventry City's players are up for a fight if anybody 'wants some....'

None of it was particularly inspiring, but, as those in charge repeatedly tell us, 'it's all about fitness'....

The biggest worry for the start of the season is: where are the Usual Suspects going for breakfast now somebody has tried to set fire to our usual place?

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

Coventry City 1-1 Espanyol

Goals: Torrejon, 27; Tabb, 44.

Team: Konstantopoulos, McNamee (Tabb 27), Borrowdale, Osbourne, Ward (Page 79), Hall, Birchall, Doyle (S.O. 59), Kyle (M. Hughes 65), McKenzie (Mifsud 79), Gray (Best 65). SNU Adebola, Marshall, Hawkins, Thornton, S. Hughes.

Ballymena United 0-6 Coventry City

Goals: Mifsud, 13; Doyle, 45; Gray, 49 & 54; Adebola, 61; Simpson, 85. Team: Marshall, Birchall (McNamee 76), Borrowdale (Davis 57), M. Hughes (Hildreth 68), Ward, Hall, Thornton (Cairo 68), Doyle, Kyle (Simpson 63), Mifsud (Adebola 57), Gray (Simmonds 70). SNU: Konstantopoulos, Best, Hawkins, S. Hughes.

Glentoran 1-2 Coventry City

Goals: Hawkins, 47; McKenzie, 52; Nixon, 85.

Team: Konstantopolous, McNamee (Hildreth 46), Borrowdale (Hall 75), Osbourne, Hawkins, Page (Giddings 69), Andrews (Cairo 60), S. Hughes (Doyle 70), Best (Adebola 54), McKenzie (Simpson 63),Tabb. SNU: Kyle, Marshall.

Northampton Town 1-1 Coventry City

Goals: Best, 21; Kirk (pen), 73.

Team: Konstantopolous, McNamee (Hildreth 46), Borrowdale (Giddings 62), S. Hughes (Osbourne 67), Page (Hall 75), Ward (Sent Off 73), Birchall (Andrews 62), Thornton (Doyle 67), Kyle (Mifsud 62), Best (Hawkins 73), Gray (Davis 46, Simpson 77).

Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Coventry City

Goals: Kempson, 5; Tabb, 20; Giddings, 47; Langmead, 88.

Team: Marshall, McNamee (Birchall 54), Giddings (Borrowdale 64), Osbourne (S. Hughes 77), Hall (Page 77), Hawkins (Ward 69), Cairo (Simmonds 79), Doyle (Thornton 77), McKenzie (Best 71), Adebola (Mifsud 46), Tabb (Davis 64). SNU Konstantopoulus,Gooding.

Nuneaton Boro 2-2 Coventry City Reserves

Goals: Marmol, 13; Simpson, 33; Koo-Booth, OG's 44 & 58.

Team: Collett, Angel, Robinson, Marmol, Koo-Booth (Francis 63), Giovanni, Barrett (Richie 77), Hildreth (Gooding 46), Simpson (Simmonds 46), Andrews (Ashraf 71), Branco (Burtoft 63).