Season 2008-9 Revisited .... A Little Bit More

Part 3 - Still OK: December and January....

DECEMBER: Two wins, two defeats, three draws.

Dan Fox scores at both ends as Coventry collapse to a disappointing - though not totally unexpected - defeat away to Reading, with Chris Coleman (As so many managers before him have said) stating we 'lacked mental strength'. 'We' were also lacking one of our first choice central defenders after half-time, as Scott Dann knacked his shoulder, and failed to re-appear. The defeat meant Coventry City only managed to take nine of the 15 points from 10 games Chris Coleman wants (Twenty-one needed from the next 30 on offer then!). Livingstone captain James McPake agrees to sign for Coventry City, either in January if the two clubs can agree a fee, or in the summer of 2009 if they can't. Described as a 'no-nonsense, whole-hearted defender', and with Coventry City defenders falling victim to one injury or another every week, 'sooner' seemed like the better option (Though in hindsight, later would now seem to have suited Coventry City!). There's dismay as Coventry City announce they're moving the last home game of the season to the Friday before, before an out-cry, the likes of which haven't been since the theme tune to 'Emmerdale Farm' (Now simply known as 'Emmerdale', before the pedants start whining) was changed. Who knows what Coventry supporters might do if the club suggested something even more nutso, like taking the green out of the club badge?! Coventry twice throw away a lead against a poor Notts Forest side, in a match that saw the return of Ben Turner, who looks a vastly improved player compared to his last few displays (Not a criticism of previous, more a compliment on his improvement!). Dan Fox scores his third top quality free-kick in three games (That he's taken part in!), as he helps Coventry defeat Charlton at The Valley (With Morrison adding to his collection of disallowed goals). The defeat means Charlton have failed to win in twelve games, as they fail to end a poor run of form against the team most people seem to end a poor sequence of results against! Watford beat Coventry City 2-1, thanks to two Elliott Ward errors, in a game more suited to flippers and a snorkel than football boots. In hindsight, it's a shame the referee didn't say 'no' to the game going ahead when the 1.30pm pitch inspection was made. Ipswich visit the Arena, and, like Forest, leave having drawn 2-2. They're helped by at least one goal that should have been chalked off, while Freddie Eastwood scores his first goal in almost two months for Coventry. Swansea, who started a run of six draws when they visited the Arena, make it seven draws in seven as heroic defending from Coventry City keep the scoreline to 0-0. Michael Doyle ends the fixture slightly better off, with home supporters 'donating' coins to him as he attempted to take a corner. Coventry do the double over Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to finally learning how to win at home! With every Coventry player linked with a move away mysteriously not being available for selection, a makeshift back four puts in a superb display to earn a clean sheet, and three very valuable points in the quest for the Premiership/mid-table obscurity. Academy player Adam Walker was given a few minutes at the end of the game, and impressed despite having little time to shine.

JANUARY: Three wins, one draw, two defeats.

Coventry dispose of non-league Kidderminster with ease at the Ricoh, as goals from McKenzie and Best put the home side through to the next round. Kevin Thornton is included in the side (As a substitute) for the cup match, by default, rather than because he has impressed on loan at Brighton. As Thornton returns from his spell with the Seagulls (Claiming he is 'going to change his ways' .... yawn), Chris Birchall goes there on trial, having been released by Chris Coleman. Coventry earn a creditable draw away at moneybags QPR, though it could and should have been another three points on the road, and would have been had there not been another embarrassing lapse in defence again (Allowing Blackstock a simple equaliser). Beuzelin scores his first and only goal in a Sky Blue shirt, with the Maltese mis-fire Michael Mifsud also finding the net, as Coventry City defeat Blackpool 2-1 at the Ricoh, with Coventry's display described as 'awful' by Chris Coleman. Following Mifsud's second goal of the season, Chris Coleman states the blindingly bleeding obvious by saying MM needs to score more goals (Well deduced, Sherlock!). Jay Tabb finally sods off to Reading, where he goes from one of the first names on the Coventry team-sheet, to a bit-part player with Steve Coppell's side. Non-league Torquay are by far the better side in the fourth round F.A. Cup match at Plainmoor, but are sunk by a late sucker-punch from Elliott Ward (Welcome to our world, TU!). Coventry are so poor that Torquay's keeper barely touched the ball throughout this match, and Chris Coleman stated that he would have been happy with a draw. This is Coventry's first win against permanently lowly Torquay in seven attempts away from home (Since 1954!). Cardiff leave the Ricoh with all three points, with ex-Coventry striker Jay Bothroyd opening the scoring for the away side. Lee Sawyer, on loan from Chelsea, makes his debut in this match, but disappoints most of the crowd .... and himself! He vows he 'will get better', but it doesn't happen in a Coventry City shirt, as he manages only a further four minutes for Coventry City. Despite the introduction of new signing David Bell and loan signing Jordan Henderson, a dismal display away to relegation threatened Derby sees Chris Coleman questioning his sides desire. Again. The chance to get the Indian community interested in Coventry City disappears as Sunil Chhetri's trial at the club comes to an end, though there is a massive improvement made to the side with the news Kevin Kyle has finally, properly, left the club! In other possible transfer news, the long chase for Icelandic youngster Johan Berg Gudmundsson ends in failure, while Coventry City still have Westwood and Fox on their books, despite rumours of interest from seemingly every club outside the 'Big Four', and Michael Mifsud's greed looks to have ended Barnsley's interest in him.