Coventry City F.C - The Sky Is Blue [Football Manager 2010]

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So i'ver recently developed a love for FM10. I have a game with Fulham which is running along smoothly on another forum, but I love the Championship [Preston being my team] and I have decided to start a game as Coventry City. I like their manager Chris Coleman, some of their players are good, and this season they have made a shock charge for the play-offs. This story will start in January 2010, as the Sky Blues are in the play-off places having just beaten Plymouth Argyle 4-1.

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COV PUSH ASIDE NON-LEAGUE DIAMONDS


|| Sammy Clingan celebrates his effort in the first half. ||

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RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 2-3 COVENTRY CITY
Clingan (7)
Morrison (17)
Eastwood (24)
Louis (45+1, 79)

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NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, England - Coventry coasted past Blue Square Premier side Rushden & Diamonds today at Nene Park, brushing off any chances of a shock which happened to Coventry in the 80's against Sutton United.

It didn't take long for Cov to take the lead. Gary Deegan collected a Stephen Wright throw-in, the Irishman played a pass to Sammy Clingan, the Northern-Irish midfielder turned Diamonds defender Downer before slamming the ball in the top corner.

Chris Coleman's men were cruising, and a bullet throw into the box on 17 minutes by Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson caused havoc. Another Irishman, Clinton Morrison chested the ball down, turned and volleyed into the top corner.

And on the counter attack, Coventry netted a 3rd. Marcus Hall's long ball over the top found Freddy Eastwood, and the former Southend striker who netted a hat-trick against Plymouth last week, made it a comfortable lead for the Sky Blues.

Rushden went on their first attack on the stroke of half-time. It was Paul Terry on the ball, through to Arron O'Connor, who played through Jefferson Louis. His shot from a narrow angle took a nick off Martin Crnie, diverting it out of Kieren Westwood's reach and into the back of the net.

10 minutes from time, and Rushden had a glimmer of hope, Jefferson Louis netted his 2nd of the game to make it 3-2. Young Coventry striker Robert Oglegby lost the ball on the attack, Max Porter punted the ball downfield, and Louis let rip on the half-volley, shocking Westwood with a great looping finish. The Sky Blues hung on for the win though and progressed into the 4th round.

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RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
Roberts
---- Osano ---- Downer ---- Stuart *C* ---- Robinson ----
---- Pattison ---- Terry ---- Porter ---- Tomlin ----
---- Louis ---- O'Connor ----



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COVENTRY CITY
Westwood
---- Wright *C* ---- Cranie ---- Turner ---- Hall ----
---- Gunnarsson ---- Clingan ---- Deegan ---- Baker ----
---- Morrison ---- Eastwood ----

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MORRISON HAT-TRICK KILLS OFF TYKES



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COVENTRY CITY 4-0 BARNSLEY
Morrison (3, 16, 90)
Ward (45+1)

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COVENTRY, England - A squad of just 14 was picked by Chris Coleman for the welcoming of Barnsley to the Ricoh Arena. Injuries have swept through the squad, and with Aron Gunnarsson in an unfavoured right-wing position that really showed the depth of the squad, looking like Coventry had to make the most signings with the resources they have this month.

It took just 3 minutes for Coventry to get into the lead. It was initially Barnsley on the attack, but Carl Baker's clearance avoided everyone, Morrison ran onto the ball, and slammed it beyond Luke Steele in the Barnsley goal.

An injured Freddy Eastwood played a part in the 2nd goal. Morrison and Eastwood have become a permanent fixture up-front as Leon Best was sold to Newcastle United, and the through ball by Eastwood was perfectly timed for Morrison to smash past Steele. That was Eastwood's last piece of action, as he was replaced by Isiah Osbourne in just the 17th minute.

And a rampant Cov made it 3-0 just before half-time. Gunnarsson was preparing for a long-throw, but he played it to the edge of the box for Leon Barnett. The defender on-loan from West Brom teed the ball up on the edge of the box for Carl Baker, his shot was blocked by his own player - Elliott Ward. The ball was moving about everywhere int eh 6 yard box, the ball fell to Ward, and squeezed the ball into the bottom corner, between Steele and the post.

Barnsley offered little going forward, and with a few minutes to go, Morrison broke the offside trap, and slammed in the 4th goal for the Sky Blues, and his hat-trick.

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COVENTRY CITY
Westwood
Cranie -- Ward -- Barnett -- Hall
Gunnarsson -- Deegan -- Clingan *C* -- Baker
Morrison -- Eastwood



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BARNSLEY
Steele
Foster *C* -- Moore -- Shotton -- Doyle
Colace
Anderson
Hammill ------------------------------ Hallfredsson
Hume -- Bogdanovic

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WARD BAGS BRACE AS COV RUN RIOT



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IPSWICH TOWN 1-4 COVENTRY CITY
Clingan (40)
Eastwood (56)
Healy (78)
Ward (pen 85, pen 88)
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IPSWICH, England - Roy Keane's Ipswich hosted a Coventry side well on form at the moment. With Freddy Eastwood and Clinton Morrison's 26 goals between them, it's not hard to see why the Sky Blues are up their, but Chris Coleman needs to make transfers quickly; he only has two strikers available.

The two most effective men on the field in the first half an hour were Coventry midfielder. Every move started with a Sammy Clingan pass, and ended with a chance for David Bell. Sadly, the right-winger took none of them.

And then Coventry had the chance to take the upper hand. Eastwood went through the middle alone, but the boot of Gareth Mcauley stretched out to bring him down. The big centre-half was sent off by referee Steve Molloy.

And 5 minutes before the end of the first half, Clingan struck a free-kick, 35 yards away from goal. Everyone thought he would cross, but he dipped it over the one-man wall and beyond the reach of Ipswich 'keeper Brian Murphy. A wonderful goal to cap off a dull first half.

And when Gary Deegan put a ball over the top of the Ipswich defence on 55 minutes, they were wary of a run on goal by Eastwood or Morrison. They didn't pick up the run of the former though, as the striker netted his 14th goal of the season.

Ipswich did have their chances though. Healy was denied by a fantastic one-handed Westwood save in the second half, which summed up Ipswich's day in front of goal. Their fans were becoming equally frustrated in the concourses.

But Keane did have a glimmer of hope. Healy finally found a way past Westwood with his low drilled shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1, and now it was squeaky bum time for Coventry.

But all hopes went to shreds 8 minutes from time. Liam Rosenior pulled down Eastwood in the box - Molloy pointed for a Sky Blues penalty; which centre-back Elliott Ward dispatched, not with ease though; Murphy stayed rooted to the spot but parried the ball into the corner of the net.

Pim Balkestein was just as clumsy. 3 minutes later, Eastwood was yet again bundled over in the box by the Dutchman this time, and Ward placed this in the corner of the goal this time, no chance for the 'keeper.

It could of been 5-1 to Coventry in stoppage time, Clingan put the ball in the back of the net but the linesman flagged. Still a great win for Coventry, who maintain their position in the play-offs.

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IPSWICH TOWN
Murphy
Rosenior -- McAuley *C* -- Delaney -- Wright
Walters -- Leadbitter -- Garvan -- Martin
Healy -- Murphy



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COVENTRY CITY
Westwood
Cranie -- Ward -- Barnett -- Hall
Bell -- Deegan -- Clingan -- Baker
Morrison -- Eastwood

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FOXES GIVEN DERBY DAY BLUES BY EASTWOOD



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LEICESTER CITY 1-3 COVENTRY CITY (FA CUP 4TH ROUND)Eastwood (36, 40)
Fryatt (pen 45)
Baker (49)
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LEICESTER, England - A local derby is always special, and it's even more special in the cup. The FA Cup 4th Round brought us a tie between Leicester City and Coventry City, two Championship rivals who have a chance in the League to be promoted via the play-offs, and go through to the 5th round of the FA Cup.

The in-form Cov thought they had the lead on 20 minutes. Irish midfielder Gary Deegan threaded a ball through the middle, Freddy Eastwood got away from Bruno Berner, rounded Chris Weale and passed the ball into the back of the net. He didn't see that the linesman raised his flag though. Coleman and the players were absolutely incensed at the decision, but the linesman did get it right.

The Sky Blues did take the lead though, after an age of pressing on the Leicester defence. A few of Clingan's free-kick's came close, but this chance capped off a great move. Aron Gunnarsson cut in from the right, Clinton Morrison turned Jack Hobbs and played the ball through to Eastwood, who drilled the ball through the legs of Weale, sending the 3,500 Coventry fans wild.

And Eastwood was on the way to make himself a Coventry hero 5 minutes later. Alex Bruce was caught out of position, letting Clingan thread the ball through to Eastwood, who smashed the ball in off the post. If Coventry kept this up for the rest of the match, they would run riot over their rivals.

Clingan was the villain at the other end though. He pushed Paul Gallagher in the area, resulting in a penalty for Leicester. The Foxes' top scorer Matty Fryatt sent Keiren Westwood the wrong way, giving them a way back into the game.

Four minutes into the second half, and Eastwood turned provider, setting up ex-Stockport winger Carl Baker to net a 3rd for Coventry, which almost probably would kill the game off.

And with half an hour to go, Leicester's right-back Robbie Neilson was given a straight red for a two-footed lunge at Clinton Morrison. Morrison may be cocky sometimes, but their is no need for foolish tackles like tha.

Coventry dominated with the extra man on the field. Eastwood was almost acting as another winger, supplying the crosses for Bell and Morrison. From Gunnarsson's bullet long throw, Morrison flicked the ball against the bar, showing the importance of the Icelandic's beastly throw.

But at the end, it was Coventry who put their name into the hat for the 5th Round, while Leicester and Nigel Pearson had the derby day blues.

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LEICESTER CITY
Weale
Neilson -- Bruce -- Hobbs -- Berner
Oakley -- King -- Wellens -- Dyer
Fryatt -- Gallagher



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COVENTRY CITY
Westwood
Cranie -- Ward -- Barnett -- Hall
Gunnarsson -- Deegan -- Clingan -- Baker
Morrison -- Eastwood

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SKY BLUES STUMBLE AT SWANSEA



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SWANSEA CITY 2-0 COVENTRY CITYCotterill (30, 52)
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SWANSEA, Wales - 1st place seems to have gone to Newcastle already with 3 months to go of the season, but any team could get 2nd. Bristol City occupy that position at this moment in time on 51 points, but behind them are Cardiff, Preston and finally Coventry on 50, 45 and 44 points, so the auto's are still possible for an in-form Sky Blues side. Today they faced an away game against Swansea City, who have built on a strong defence.

The game looked to swing Swansea's way at first, but Coventry soon got on the attack, and Michael McIndoe struck the bar from 25 yards out, signalling signs that they were coming into the game.

Most of Swansea's attacks were coming from the wing, from Cedric van der Gun, who normally crossed to Shefki Kuqi, but his header's were off target. The Swans though counter attacked on the half hour mark, and David Cotterill netted into the top corner to make it 1-0.

Cotterill now took over from Kuqi as the dangerman, and on 52 minutes, he cut inside Marcus Hall, and the £600k signing from Sheffield United scored again, drilling the ball between Westwood and the near post. Swansea took the 2-0 lead, Coventry lost for the first time in a month.

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SWANSEA CITY
De Vries
Rangel -- Doherty -- Monk *C* -- Bessone
Tate
Bodde -- Pratley
Cotterill -------------------------------- van der Gun
Kuqi



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COVENTRY CITY
Westwood
Osbourne -- Ward -- Craine -- Hall *C*
Bell -- Deegan -- Clingan -- McIndoe
Eastwood -- Morrison

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SEASIDERS HOLD COV TO A POINT



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COVENTRY CITY 1-1 BLACKPOOL
Eastwood (34)
Euell (52)
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COVENTRY, England - Blackpool came to the Midlands, hoping to beat an in-form Coventry side, who lost to Swansea last week. Chris Coleman selected the same side for a 4th straight game, with Carl Baker yet again preferred over Michael McIndoe on the left.

Coventry were in total control of the first half possession wise, but failed to make their chances count, however on 34 minutes, after Ian Evatt's poor pass, Freddy Eastwood capitalised on the defender's mistake, and drove the ball low into the corner, beyond Michael Gilks.

The Sky Blues were expected to control the second half in the manner they did in the first 45, as Blackpool had an injured defender in the form of Rob Edwards, but the Seasiders levelled the game on 52 minutes. Charlie Adam's cross was met by the head of Jason Euell, who looped it over the head of Keiren Westwood.

With 20 minutes to go, Cov centre-half Leon Barnett was shown a straight red for what looked a seemingly normal aerial challenge with Ben Burgess, but the man on-loan from West Brom led with his elbows and caught the striker in the face. Coleman sacrificed Easwtood and brought on Elliott Ward to retain their four-man defence.

Sadly though no more goals were scored as both sides had to take the draw, which Blackpool were happier with.

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COVENTRY CITY
Westwood
Cranie -- McPake -- Barnett -- Hall *C*
Gunnarsson -- Deegan -- Clingan -- Baker
Morrison -- Eastwood



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BLACKPOOL
Gilks
Coleman -- Evatt -- Edwards -- Martin
Southern -- Adam *C*
Bannan ---------------- Bouazza ------ Taylor-Fletcher
Burgess--

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TURNER IS A SKY BLUE

COVENTRY, England - Coventry had no back-up to Keiren Westwood before today, but they now have some with the arrival of Everton 'keeper Iain Turner.

The Scottish 'keeper was miffed over having no playing time at Goodison Park, even Carlo Nash getting on the bench ahead of him, and when Coventry came calling, there was no going back.

"I've always known Chris Coleman as an excellent player, and his achievements at Coventry so far have been good. I have to challenge Keieren Westwood for that starting place. He's an excellent 'keeper as I know of, but I just have to try my best."