Points over performance? Coventry game afterthoughts…
Posted on February 18th, 2010 | 27 Comments |
Coventry City came to St James’ in some decent form but in all honesty never looked like they had much belief of getting anything out of the game. With Hughton reverting to the 4-4-2 formation that was so successful against Cardiff, but pairing Carroll with Lovenkrands instead of Best, there was a lot of promise of a repeat performance.
However, thirty minutes later and it looked like it might be a frustrating night with Guthrie’s blocked free kick from the edge being the closest we came to breaking the deadlock. Coventry set up stall and defended well and didn’t give us much of a sniff, although mercurial wing wizards Gutierrez and Routledge were just warming up their wands, so to speak. So it was slightly against the run of play when they fashioned a half chance that veteran Clinton Morrison hooked into the bottom corner for his first Toon goal. Probably the only instance last night when we didn’t look solid and we should have cleared the ball initially or certainly defended better when we didn’t.
Fortunately, we didn’t take long to respond and when a short corner was headed out to the edge of the box, Routledge fired a superb volley into the bottom of the net. Coventry weathered a bit of a storm until the break and probably would have been hopeful of trying to see out the draw and take home a point. But Newcastle were in no mood for any favours and when Guthrie’s superb reversed pass found Nolan in the box, the skipper turned a cross back to Carroll who couldn’t miss and powered a header in for his sixth goal in eight games.
The game was soon over as a contest when Routledge latched onto a sloppy pass and set off through the heart of the Sky Blues defence. Routledge was felled by Barnett in the box, and my feeling at the time was that he could probably feel a little hard done by as the penalty was awarded and the defender shown his second yellow. Video footage doesn’t suggest I was far wrong but you can probably see why the decision was made. Lovenkrands despatched the penalty with aplomb to make it 3-1.
With Ryan Taylor, Pancrate and Best brought on for Gutierrez, Routledge and Lovenkrands, the three substitutes combined to make it 4-1. Pancrate helped to start the move in our half and when Simpson’s long ball was nodded down by Carroll, the Frenchman crossed well. Leon Best dummied brilliantly (see footage to confirm sarcasm) and Ryan Taylor was on hand to finish, though to a strangely subdued celebration.
Last night’s game proved several things. The first thing it proved is that we can’t take our defensive strengths for granted and that by switching off you can be punished, because Cov’s goal literally came out of nowhere. Their passing was sloppy and they rarely looked like troubling us until we weren’t on our toes. It also proved that with the right players deployed in a 4-4-2 and perhaps arguably in the right games (i.e. certainly at home), it gives us the platform to really punish teams with the quality that most people concede we have. The defence were solid apart from that one lapse and Stevie Harper only really picked the ball out the back of the net, otherwise he didn’t do much. The forwards put in a good shift and the ‘big man/little man’ combination worked well.
Ultimately however, what it also showed was the we have been crying for our wingers to provide us with that sort of ammunition all season. Now it’s here, we’re reaping the rewards. And though it will be countered by some, Danny Guthrie proved what a great asset he is with a combative performance full of invention and incisive passing. Played in the middle of the park, he really makes a difference. And Kevin Nolan was as energetic and impressive as he was sluggish and awful against Swansea.
Some supporters are happy to forego the performance as long as we get the points. I see the logic in getting back up to the Premiership and then worrying about how well we play but personally I’m also holding out for some decent viewing as well and don’t agree with sacrificing the means for the ends. Last night’s game provided something for everyone and long may it continue.
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
Good match report bowburn (at last) :lol: