The Lads went to Coventry and brought back a point that may well turn out to be crucial, although on the day it was a bit frustrating. Neither keeper was called into much shot-stopping action, but there was a moment with about five to go for Pritchard to have a penk- but he chose to pass to the right. Ha'way man, Al - just let fly!
After an early start, we were off down the country to Hinckley and some enjoyable quaffs, marching through the pride parade, and getting soaked. Last time I saw Ellis Simms he was wearing a blue Sunderland away shirt, but, to the sounds of our fans and their pathetic drums, we lined up attacking the far end and Cov kicked off.
Patterson
Hume Ballard O'Nien Cirkin
Ekwah Neil
Ba Jobe Clarke
Dack
..and a bench of Huggins, Batth, Pritchard, Hemir, Rigg, Enbleton, Seelt, Triantis (I think that's all of them).
The home side set things away as we attacked the far end, and there was an unfortunate booking for Cirkin when he came across to the right. A tad harsh, ref, but there were no real arguments when O9 followed him into the notebook for a rugby tackle as Cov threatened to break.
After a spell of home dominance which didn't produce much to bother Patto, we began to get a few passes together and with Ba offering a more direct option down the right, we should really have caused the Sky Blues more bother in the box. As it was, former Lad Ben Wilson (half a game in the Peace Cup) in the home goal wasn't really troubled. Back at our end, Patto did well a couple of times to drop on shots and Cov blazed one way over when our stopper was expecting more work.
I'm sorry if this seems a bit brief, but the first 45 were in reality a bit bereft of any real cutting edge from either side. The single added minute brought nothing new or exciting, and we then had 15 minutes to debate the possibilities from the bench. Personally, I couldn't see an obvious replacement that would have made a big change, although Embo's propensity to have a penk from distance might have been useful.
No changes for the second half, and Neil and Cirkin had shots in quick succession but Wilson was on his toes to keep both our, then Jobe took a touch rather than hit it first time from the edge, allowing McFadzean (remember his brother? Thought not) to fling himself in the way of the shot. Pritch replaced Dack, as you'd expect, on 72 as Huggins came on for Ba and Hemir for Ekwah. Hume showed his versatility by moving into midfield - but I'd have rather seen Luke (he shoots, he scores, he saves your Labrador) up there and Hume forming part of a three at the back - but what do I know?
Clarke was getting more pesky as the game wore on, but when he cut into the box there was never a real chance to set up a chance. A nice passing movement got Neil into the box through the inside right channel and he looked to have been tripped as he collected the return - but ITV's highlights will have to decide whether it's me or the ref who needs their eyes chalking.
Another decent move got the ball to Hemir on the edge, near where Neil had been felled, but instead of turning in onto his left he flicked it out to our right - but with Ba already off the field there was nobody to run in to it. Then came the Pritch moment after Clarke had jinked down the left again and played it to wee Alex - but with the home defence obligingly opening a path to goal, he elected to roll it to the right rather than shoot.
The five added minutes were sponsored by a local builder, according to the scoreboard, and we had a handful of corners that we didn't take advantage of.
There you go. 0-0, and while I'll normally say any point away from home is a good point - well, today was no different. Neither side really deserved to win, and Cov only really deserved to lose because they're....well, Coventry. Never forget, never forgive.
Once again, our lack of a proper, experienced, forward was the difference between winning and not winning. Possession was about 50/50, chances about the same, and it was only in the last ten than we really looked up for getting into them in their box.
Man of the Match? Probably 09, as he scuttled across our back line and made sure Simms never got a real look in. ..and probably saved a child from the nearby canal rather than jump straight onto the team coach.
