By CovSid67
February 14 2009

The XI Coventry City had planned to start this fixture with had to be altered twice before a ball had been kicked, with Turner pulling out of the squad last night, and Westwood forced to do the same just before kick-off.

Manager Chris Coleman said a lot of the squad were suffering from a stomach virus, which included Ward and Eastwood, though both declared themselves well enough to play.

Marshall replaced Westwood, Osbourne replaced the suspended Wright, Ward replaced Turner, Gunnarsson returned from suspension, replacing Bell, while Eastwood came in for McKenzie (Coventry City later denied they were not taking the competition seriouly, by making so many changes from the side that defeated Wolves!). Osbourne's return meant McPake stayed at centre back, rather than playing at right-back as expected.

On his return to the club he signed for as a player, choosing Blackburn over Coventry City, Coleman also revealed the game-plan was not to concede early, though Santa Cruz's goal within 90 seconds, from a very acute angle, severly knacked that idea! The goal would never have happened though had Samba's foul resulted in a free-kick for Coventry City instead of against.

Despite the early set-back, Coventry did well enough during the opening 20 minutes, with Marshall's goal not seeing much action, and one Fox free-kick seeing Gunnarsson's free header around the six yard box somehow not hit the target. Blackburn enjoyed the better of the first-half, but only took a slender one-goal lead into the half-time break.

McPake was replaced by Dann at half-time, and seven minutes into the second half, Beuzelin was replaced by Best. It was the latters introduction that seemed to take Coventry City's display up a few gears, and he was instrumental in what should have been Coventry City's second F.A. Cup victory at Ewood Park in two years.

Gunnarsson scored his first goal for the club after 61 minutes, and he probably won't score many better. Having seen him explode with rage when going fairly close, the only surprise was how toned down his celebrations were! Givet thought he had given the home side the lead again on 67 minutes, though the referee correctly disallowed the goal for shirt pulling.

Soon after the appearance of a semi-streaker, carrying roses and a bow and arrow (For reasons that will know doubt be revealed later!), Doyle scored via a slight deflection from the corner of the Blackburn penalty area, sending the away supporters into ecstacy. Doyle has only scored 19 goals in his entire Coventry City career (256 starts, plus eight as a substitute), but has managed three in his last three games!

Further chances were created and wasted by the away side, with one Eastwood attempt just missing the goal, with Morrison screaming for a cross. TV replays showed that had Morrison touched the ball, he probably would have been offside anyway. Coventry also won a few corners with only minutes left to play, opting for short corners and attempting to keep the ball in the corner. Said tactic failed, as the referee gave the home side a free-kick for obstruction.

With Coventry supporters wondering who they might draw in the last eight, the fourth official raised his board to show five extra minutes were to be played, and it was in the second of those that Blackburn equalised.

Marshall had made a decent save one minute into injury time, but was badly at fault with the equaliser, allowing Samba to score a goal that would have been nothing more than consolation had Coventry City taken their chances. A not particularly decent shot from Santa Cruz deflected off Eastwood, Marshall failed to gather, and Samba, whose deflected from Doyle's shot gave Coventry the lead, equalised.

It wasn't particularly deserved, with Coventry earning the plaudits from ITV's panel of experts, while Sky Sports commentator John Gwynne praised the travelling masses that were the Sky Blue Army, crediting them as being 'the twelth man', and calling their support 'nothing short of brilliant'.

The replay is on Tuesday 24th February.

TEAM: Marshall, Osbourne, Fox, Ward, McPake (Dann 46), Henderson, Beuzelin (Best 52), Doyle, Gunnarsson, Eastwood, Morrison. SNU: Hall, Simpson, Thornton, Cain.