Dogged draw at The Ricoh

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Coventry were finally forced to accept SISU's financial offer to avoid suffering the indignity of administration, which rather suggests the same lifeline is not longer open to Southampton. I'm not sure I see the catch with SISU, other than wondering where you might go next if they give the investment up as a bad job two or three years down the line; you wouldn't want to put your own money into a hedge fund, even if you were allowed to, but they are in the business of gambling on high risk ventures, such as improving a club to get it into the Premiership, rather than realising all its (rather limited) assets.

Anyway, the main business at hand seemed to have given us a good start against the Sky Blues when John netted after Konstantopoulos had saved from Wright-Phillips. However, the flag went up for offside and the home side became more competitive after struggling to get out of first gear.

Indeed they took a 19th minute lead when a deflected shot fell for McKenzie: Davis did well to keep his effort out, but again the rebound favoured City, with Tabb the first to get to it as several of his teammates also closed in.

Already without Dyer, Southampton's attacking options were hampered by a heavy challenge on Hammill but they did manage to level after the break when Wright-Phillips headed home Euell's inviting cross.

It was a game that could have gone either way with a draw always looking the likely result, but Saints had a great chance to seal it as time began to run out. It was a through ball by Surman that put Wright-Phillips clear and his pace had taken him well clear of chasing defenders but his shot beat both Konstantopoulos and the post.

LSSC Man of the Match: Andrew Davies, by the narrowest of margins from Bennett. No other players drew any votes.

George Burley's reaction:

"We are looking to string a few results together. We have tightened up at the back which is key.

"I don't know if we were offside early in the match because their goalie was standing on the line.

"It is a long season and we have to keep working hard like we did last season when we won our last three games to finish in the top six. This season is going to be more difficult."

Coventry: Konstantopoulos, McNamee, Ward, Turner, Borrowdale, Tabb (Osbourne 79), Michael Hughes, Doyle, Mifsud, Best (Adebola 72), McKenzie (Gray 69).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Stephen Hughes.

Booked: Michael Hughes, McNamee.

Goals: Tabb 19.

Southampton: Davis, Wright, Bennett, Davies, Skacel, Surman, Safri, Euell, Wright-Phillips (Saganowski 83), John, Hammill (Viafara 68).
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Powell, Rasiak.

Goals: Wright-Phillips 59.

Att: 19,143

Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).