By CovSid67
February 27 2006

19,641 braved the cold to watch Coventry City beat a 23-year-old record, by going 11 games unbeaten at home .... OK, it might not seem a lot to most, but it probably means we're staying in The Championship at a minimum! And if we can win a couple of games away, maybe it's look out Sheffield United!* Both sides had early chances, with Adebola (Against the team he played on loan for almost two years ago) going close, and Fulop saving well from McCann.

Burnley had obviously done their home-work, and made sure Wise didn't take any quick free-kicks as he has done in recent matches, but an effort after 18 minutes almost brought rewards anyway, going inches wide of Jensen's right-hand post.

The referee missed a blatant hand-ball in the Burnley penalty area, though had Morrell did as he is expected to do (Though hasn't managed to do for 14 games), he would have scored anyway.

The referee then failed to award a penalty after a quality run from Whing took him into the penalty area where he was blatantly fouled. Watching 'The Championship' highlights this morning, it's a shame we didn't have the Hull-Wolves referee, as he had no hesitation in awarding a spot-kick for an identical incident.

Soon after, one of Andy Morrell's few positive contributions to the game saw him play a one-two of a Burnley defender, then send in a cracking cross which Stern John put just wide.

A Wise free-kick, flicked on by Scowcroft (Who won just about every header during this game), saw Whing go in bravely with a Burnley defender, a challenge that left both players injured. Minutes later, and another decent free-kick was headed goalwards by Whing.

Despite being selected as a full-back, Whing's best work was being done in the Burnley half of the pitch, and yet another excellent run and cross was deflected narrowly wide for a corner by a Burnley defender.

Seconds before half-time a powerful run from Adebola saw a cross into the box fired wide by Stern John from a few yards out.

The second half started much the same way as the first finished, with Coventry on the attack and the referee failing to give what seemed an obvious decision in the home sides favour, after Doyle got behind the away defence and appeared to be fouled as he threatened to get away.

It mattered not as minutes later good battling from John, and a couple of flick-ons in the penalty area, saw the ball land at Adebola's feet. He seemed to take an age to actually fire hime, but he eventually did, and over 19,000 people inside the ground celebrated!

Soon after John linked up well with Scowcroft, and the former Ipswich man cut back inside in the penalty area, and was unlucky to see his effort deflected for a corner.

According to one soccer website statistic Coventry City had 40 shots in this match, and I'm guessing that a fair few of them came in two school-yard style goal-mouth scrambles! Quite how the ball stayed out on either chance I doubt anybody knows, but desperate defending and some unbelievable keeping are two probable answers....

In between them, a piece of sublime skill from Stern John - more than likely never to be seen again with the disappointing highlights package that is 'The Championship' on a Sunday morning the only hope of a second viewing (Is it to much to expect that they show moments of skill that would grace any league in the world?) - saw him dance through the Burnley defence before firing in a dangerous cross that was cleared for a corner.

Soon after, a route one effort saw Fulop's long-kick taken down well by John, who trying to repeat his efforts of minutes ago, ended up falling over when tackled.

With 20 minutes left Steve Cotterill made his second and third changes of the game (Having brought on former Arsenal youngster Karbassiyoon for Branch early on), bringing on Lafferty and Noel-Williams, replacing O'Connor and Elliott.

Doyle was hacked down twice in as many minutes, with Wise getting involved and yet again earning a yellow card (One card away from being banned yet again). McCann, who committed the foul, also saw yellow, as did Sinclair.

Minutes before the end Adebola looked to have got away from his marker, and was set for a free run towards goal, before a harsh decision by the linesman saw a free-kick awarded against him.

A couple of Coventry City substitutions, in no way meant to run the clock down, saw John replaced after 88 minutes (By Hutchinson) and Morrell finally replaced after 90 minutes (By Impey).

* I'm joking....