By CovSid67
September 29 2007

A superb following of 11,000+ Coventry supporters witnessed Coventry City's best result since dropping out of the top flight - an away victory at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup. Only the biggest optimist would have predicted this, though, despite thinking we would take a pasting, the odds were too good to miss, and the only reason I didn't win at the bookies was because they ran out of forms!

Recent Coventry City defensive displays had me fearing the worst, and, while this might only have been MU's second team, there was still more top flight experience amongst just about all of them then any player in the Coventry side had. That said, we had a fair few reserves in our starting XI too!

Worth noting too that their team also cost more than those representing Coventry City have and will ever cost in their careers, and was still crammed with internationals! Coventry City, by comparison, had roughly one - a Maltese international. 

Whether Iain Dowie dropped De Zeeuw (As guilty as anybody for our recent poor displays), or whether he would have played Ben Turner in the centre of defence only he knows, but it proved to be an inspired choice. Turner barely put a foot wrong.

There was also a surprise start for Robbie Simpson, who must surely be wondering if he's dreaming, having been playing non-league football only a matter of months ago. Marshall was also re-called, and, with the scoreline at 1-0, pulled off an absolutely top quality save to deny United an equaliser. Seconds later it was 2-0 to Coventry City!

Sadly, our biggest secret, Michael Mifsud, has now announced himself on the biggest stage, and it can only be a matter of time before the vultures start hovering around with a view to taking him off our hands. He scored two, and could have scored five! Late on in the game he missed the easiest of his chances on the night, denying himself a hat-trick. It mattered not....

This was a truly famous victory, and while he was obviously disappointed at his potential future sides display (Which has included telling Jonny Evans, Chris Eagles and Dong Fangzhuo they can leave if somebody is willing to pay out for them), Alex Ferguson was extremely generous in defeat, heaping praise on Coventry City.

The only slight dampner on the evening was the pathetic coverage on ITV. While other matches might have been signed up to be the main feature, surely such a victory was worthy of more than 30 seconds, and four highlights? Maybe the programme controller was a MU supporter....

Short of any player being injured, it would be nice if this side were given a start against Charlton, as the balance looked right, and the confidence must be sky high (Hopefully we won't be suffering another reality check come 4.50 today!).

"For some reason, the technique and ability we know these young players have just wasn't there, which was a big disappointment. Even if we had clawed [the deficit] back, it would have been unfair on Coventry. They were better than us and they deserved to win." - John O'Shea.

Teams:

Manchester United: Kusczak, Anderson, Nani, Pique, Fanguzho, O'Shea, Evans (Carrick 55), Simpson, Bardsley (Brown 46), Martin (Campbell 46), Eagles. SNU: Heaton, Eckersley.

Marshall, Osbourne (McNamee 88), Borrowdale, Ward, Turner, Tabb, Doyle, S. Hughes, Simpson, Mifsud, Best (Adebola 92). SNU: Konstantopolous, De Zeeuw, Thornton.