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Got to do better – Coventry Match Reflections
Here are my reflections on the match against Coventry City at the Ricoh Stadium
1) The right result…
…but not a good enough one for Blues. In honesty, I think a draw was about fair; both teams were pretty poor first half and whilst Blues definitely kicked on in the second half Cov also stepped up a gear. It’s the same story we’ve been hearing all year – had the possession, made some chances, didn’t make enough count. At times Blues seemed reticent to shoot too; some great movement around the 18 yard box but not enough people taking a pot-shot and having a go – even Burke who’s into double figures goals-wise this year was playing the ball rather than letting fly.
2) The return to form of Keith Fahey…
I thought the Irishman was brilliant. Some great passing, some great tackling, really going for the ball and winning it when he had no right to – everything you can ask of a midfielder. When he’s in the zone Fahey has great vision, and he showed that today playing deft little passes into good areas and launching a couple of Hollywood balls that lived up to their billing. More of the same please, Keith.
3) Not as N’Dawesome as we’ve come to expect
I was disappointed with our Senegalese man-mountain. Whilst he made his usual solid tackles and tried to get things going, he seemed slow and off the pace at times; almost costing us a goal in the first half with a particularly lacklustre pass that allowed Coventry to break into acres of space in front of the Blues goal. There was talk that N’Daw had come back from the Africa Cup of Nations without the high level of fitness Blues had worked so hard to get him too; it seems now he’s got some work to get back to the awesome levels he played at prior to going to Equatorial Guinea.
4) Jordon Mutch
I felt a bit for Jordon today; it’s obvious it’s not quite going for him at the moment and I thought Hughton was right to play him from the bench. However, when he got his chance he seemed low in confidence, and I think it showed with his red card. I can believe it wasn’t malicious but as soon as it happened I knew Mutch had to go. Whilst it’s not great Mutch is now out of the next three games due to suspension, maybe the break will help him re-focus and come back firing again. He’s not become poor overnight – he’s still only 20, in his second full season and it’s a lot to ask of him to be continually good in a demanding position like central midfield.
I’d have liked Blues to have won this game, but we didn’t and it’s time to move on. Blues have a tricky trip to the King Power Stadium and Leicester in midweek and they have to pick themselves up now and once again show the form that won us all the plaudits in January. There is the essence of a top Championship side there, it just needs to start firing on all cylinders again.
Tags: Coventry City, Guirane N'Daw, Jordon Mutch, Keith Fahey
15 Responses to “Got to do better – Coventry Match Reflections”
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I think there’s a staleness and tiredness cause by too many games. The Brian Clough way would be to take his team on the raz but maybe a four of five days in the sun would revitalise, but is the money there to do that?
I didn’t go, but I think our lack of final ball / killer instinct is potentially gonna cost us now. As you rightly say its been a consistent theme all season and with the number of games catching up with the squad right now my money’s on us missing out on the play offs. A massive shame, but wed all have taken top half in august. In c.h. we trust. Kro.
I thought that there wasn’t enough energy in the side yesterday, Huseklepp tired very quickly in the 2nd half and N’dawe was below par. The positive side was Andros Townsend was very lively and Ramage looked strong again at right back. Blues never really looked like losing and on another day Zigic could have put at least one header away. I would have brought on Elliott for N’dawe and maybe given Redmond a run out for the last 10 mins and given Burke a rest. So..on to Leicester next.
Any point away from home is a good point but at Coventry Birmingham needed to win because of 2 poor home results on the bounce, those games have cost us a play off place. Blues have had a charmed life in there recently with Cardiff threatening on 2 occasions to overhaul Blues and they finally achieved it yesterday at the third attempt. With 5 home games remaining i believe we have to win them all to make the play offs.
A set back but alls not lost.As you wrote 75 points will see teams in the play offs most years.I still think theres plenty of twists and turns yet that will affect the top 8.A spill here and there and its all change.Keep the faith.KRO
Since Murphy has been injured we have been poor. This has also coincided with Mutch’s loss of form. All the new players coming in also seems to have affected the balance. While Townsend has been great going forward we are being left exposed at LB. Huseklepp doesn’t have the understanding with his strike partner yet. He was making runs into the same area as King yesterday as opposed to the other side. Ramage has looked good at RB but there is no cut and thrust or forward runs like Carr.
I think CH got the team wrong yesterday I would have played 4-5-1 with Redmond supporting King or Zigic. I don’t think we have a strong enough midfield to play 442. I would love to see Townsend, Redmond and Burke in the same side.
Question – Obviously depending what happens this season ie going up or not, Will this be Stephen Carrs last season as injury has hampered him an awful lot, Would we like Ramage and Spector vying for the right back slot and would Ramage be a good acquisition for the club going forward. I think he is strong and setttling in well, but settling in takes time.
I like Ramage, I would sign him (he is out of contract at the end of the season). I do suspect Carr may well be finished.
The goal was the fault of the fullbacks – Spector allowed the initial cross in and Ramage let his man escape for an unchallenged header. Spector is not as effective at left back and Ramage had a poor game. We need Murphy back asap and hopefully Carr soon although Spector is better at right back.
Didn’t realise Fahey had been out of form unless you count matches missed through injury. Voted by the fans as February player of month with a third of the votes and praised by the manager for his performances.
Dont know why people think we look tired when we have three new signings, players back from being rested/injured . convenient thing to say in hindsight. just a typical game from this season where we had lots of possession and chances and didn’t take them.
The only thing missing from saturday was an early goal. Coventry didn’t offer anything really and I thought there was only going to be one winner. IMO, they scored against the run of play, and blues showed great team spirit and togetherness to get back level so quickly after they scored. I thought we battered them for the last 15 mins and did everything but score. If we can find form now until the end of the season, we could be the ‘form’ team in the play offs as i think Reading will go Automatically and West Ham will fall away. KRO In Hughton we Trust HAVE FAITH
We are badly missing Murphy and Carr. They both aid our attacks more than Saturday’s full bcaks. Spector looks uncomfortable at left back but either he or Ramage would be good at right back should we be in the Championship next season. That looks likely. Something tells me we won’t keep Hughton if we are.
I thought a 4-5-1 formation may have worked better on Saturday as our wide men would have stretched their their defence on the Ricoh’s wide pitch. It was a shame Redmond wasn’t selected, he might have changed things.
As for Mutch, taking a rest for 3 games may help him recover some zest. He’s been looking a tad jaded of late.
Not sure why Zigic didn’t try and head the excellent late cross from Burke?
Time to keep our nerve. Jittery fans only too easily become a wobbly team. The lads need confidence, the confidence that we ARE going to make the play-offs, ARE going to win them. KRO
I agree the main problem with Blues at present is the fact that the two wide players are not getting the support of two full backs who are prepared to bomb on and give support. This is a recognition of how valuable Carr and Murphy can be rather than a criticism of Ramage and Spector who are not natural full backs. Spector has done an excellent job filling in at right back and when Murph also plays then there is a balance to the back four but its clear that we need Murph back from injury asap. My own view on saturday was that apart from his goal saturday, King contributed little again. Massive game tomorrow. Live or die for Leicester which worries me in our current slight blip in form.