Key events
57 min My wife messages commanding me to turn the volume down and while I’m trying to, Rushworth makes a mess of coming for a cross but claims at the second attempt.
55 min Coventry are flying now, Thomas-Asante crossing well from the right and Botman making a bottix of his clearance, diverting the ball directly to Cherif! But where, just a few minutes ago, his composure and connection were perfect, this time, he swings with one foot against the other, a terrible shot squirting wide.
53 min Wissa, wuo was a little slow to try and charge down Cherif’s shot, tries a curler of his own, but it’s easily saved by Rushworth.
51 min I can’t get enough of these replays. The first touch actually takes Cherif away from goal and into the D, meaning he’s got further to twizzle his body to get around the ball. But it’s that further which helps him generate whip, his two touches perfect in the way he middles and cushions the ball, both gloriously natural.
ShareWHAT A GOAL! Coventry City 2-0 Newcastle United (Cherif 49)
Oh, this is brilliant, a joyous, beautiful moment for the 19-year-old making his first Premier League start. The long throw is cleared to the edge by Botman but even when Cherif takes a touch to control, on the half-turn, there looks to be no danger. But then he spins to flow a shot – the kind that he’ll have barely felt, the connection is so pure, like the way boxers talk about a knockout punch – and it somehow rinses low through a crowd of defenders and in! The ground explodes and rightly so.
48 min A ball into the box, a dummy from, I think, Rudoni, and Cherif doesn’t read it. Still, from the clearance, Coventry have another chance to hurl a ball into the box, something they tried a few times in the first half.
46 min This is the kind of game that, if Coventry are to stay up, they need to win – a probable mid-table side at home. They might need another goal, though, because at some point you have to think Newcastle will create something unmissable. But, in the meantime, Willock and Van Ewijk leap together for a high ball and neither enjoys the landing … but both should be fine.
46 min We go again, no changes to either side.
Half-time email: “Tremendous credit to the Coventry pair of Grimes and Yirenski,” returns AnhTuan Nguyen Huynh. “Newcastle have got a proper fight on their hands in the second half.”
I keep saying similar, but I look at their XI and think who will Coventry fear? No one.
Half-time entertainment:
ShareHALF-TIME: Coventry City 1-0 Newcastle United
Coventry started the faster, earning a penalty Hornicek ought never to have conceded. Newcastle then took over, but rarely looked like scoring, their lack of invention and quality limiting their ability to threaten. Work for Matthias Jaissle to do.
45 min Now Coventry attack, Rudoni going down the left and finding Mason-Clark, who crosses low, Thomas-Asante loitering with intent, but Hall does really well to clear, half-facing his own net. Suddenly, this is end to end; we’ll have two additional minutes.
Updated at 15.47 EDT
43 min Gonzalez, who’s gone quiet, clips a fine pass through the middle that I think Thomas should cut out. But he doesn’t and Fernandez-Pardo hares through the middle; he’s in! He might shoot, but opts instead to go around Rushworth then, when Thomas runs in behind the keeper, doesn’t lift his finish, instead shooting into the defender’s legs. allowing the clearance. That should’ve been the equaliser, but that was, for the third time tonight, tremendous box-defending from Bobby Thomas, whop thoroughly enjoys the crowd hollering his name and why not? What a feeling that must be.
Bobby Thomas earns his corn, again. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 15.51 EDT
42 min Coventry have been better these last 10 minutes; so far, Newcastle are a study in abjectivity.
41 min Thomas-Asante wins a free-kick on the right, which Rudoni takes … and butchers to no one.
39 min He’s yet to score an own-goal derby winner, but so far Fernandez-Pardo, flagged offside again, has been less impressive than was Woltemade.
38 min Barnes drives forward again, finding Willock, whose attempted curler is blocked behind, then Pinnock heads the corner away, Rudoni carries forward, and Thomas-Asante looks to thread a crossfield pass into Mason-Clark’s stride … but it’s intercepted.
37 min “Not at all impressed by this showing at all from Jaissle’s Boiz, says Chris Paraskevas. “It’s been yet another slow, passive start to a game, giving ourselves a mountain to climb before a ball has barely even been kicked. We need focal points to our attack and midfield – Osula and Joelinton mgfht have critical roles to play, regardless of their fitness levels…”
Joelinton brings bite, but what I think Newcastle are missing here is class. I’d like to see Steur and Toure.
35 min Coventry need to find themselves an out-ball, because they’ve been pinned back for far too long. In the meantime, though, their defending has been fairly good.
33 min “Am I the only person who finds the outrage at Man City’s behaviour a little synthetic, at least as it relates to the onfield impact?” wonders Richard Hirst. “Yes, if they are guilty they should be punished severely, but do we really think that, for example, if Mancini had not, allegedly, had two contracts City’s results would have been any different?
Given my team are bottom of the league I will clearly be delighted if City are placed below us, but let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and given that we had al Fayed, it certainly shouldn’t be Fulham.”
You’re certainly the only person i’ve met who finds it synthetic. In the first instance, it matters not what the effect was but that the rules were signed up to then, in the opinion of an independent tribunal, broken. But perhaps Mancini only goes to them because the money is good, and perhaps players then sign to play for him?
Updated at 15.35 EDT
31 min Barnes steps inside on his right foot and curls a delectable ball to the back stick, which Murphy knocks back … but again, Thomas makes a brilliant clearance with Fernandez-paro prowling behind him. The flag then goes up, but still, that was exceptional defending.
28 min Newcastle attack down the right and Murphy cuts back for Fernandez-Pardo to sweep home a shot except he … dummies … to, er … no one? Maybe he got a shout from a defender, but even so. And then Coventry counter, Cherif, quiet so far, racing away at inside-right. He might pick a pass but instead shoots, and Hornicek saves. Poor decisions from both.
Coventry City’s Sidiki Cherif has an unsuccessful pop at goal. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PAShare
Updated at 15.36 EDT
27 min Willock bundles through a challenge and Hall takes over, sliding down the left for Fernandez-Pardo, who nashes to the line and crosses as Van Ewijk slides in. The ball ricochets on to him, Fernandez-Pardo and back on to him … then the ref gives a goalkick.
25 min Gonzalez, who is starting to control the game, sends a free-kick short to Willock, who sweeps a high ball into the box … and Rushworth comes to claim. Coventry aren’t under heavy pressure in that Newcastle aren’t creating chances, but if they have to spend the next hour defending, you’d expect a crucial error at some point.
Updated at 15.26 EDT
23 min Willock looks to find a space to cross, beating Thomas-Asante twice before firing into the middle, but Barnes, extending a foot, can’t control his finish and the ball flashes wide of the near post.
21 min Newcastle probe, but they’re lacking players able to beat men or pick passes. No matter, as I type, Murphy swings over a delicious cross, Wissa and Fernandez-Pardo looking to attack it … so Thomas’ header to take it away is a crucial one. Excellent d-fence.
Updated at 15.23 EDT
19 min Since the scored, Coventry have barely had a touch in the Newcastle half. Their defensive shape, though, is pretty good, two lines of four nice and narrow, allowing Newcastle free men on the touchline but not inside.
17 min Fernandez-Pardo is allowed to carry the ball unmolested from halfway to the edge of the Coventry box and you can see he really wants to get a shot away. Thing is, he has Barnes beseeching him for a pass, so when he ignores him, can’t find a lane and loses control of the ball, remonstration is immediate.
15 min “Well after some thought I am prepared to believe you are not Frank Lampard,” offers Steve Taylor. “After all, he’s got a football team to manage…”
Yeah, but what’s his liveblogging like?
13 min Newcastle have realised there’s a game going on and they’re there to participate in it. Hall curves a low pass in behind for Barnes, this time he’s onside, and though Willock can’t collect his cut-back, he gathers possession at the second attempt, holds up and sets Barnes … whose low shot is straight at Rushworth. Either side of him and that’s probably 1-1.
11 min Barnes, Newcastle’s most likely creator – not the greatest state of affairs – carries it forward and opens the angle for a curler, only for his shot to be blocked at source. Then, seconds, later, he dashes in behind and the pass arrives, but he’s fractionally offside. It’s a bit more like it, though, someone attacking the last line.
9 min Coventry win a throw maybe two-thirds of the way inside the Newcastle half and the visitors pull all 11 players back. Arsenal used to do that in 2001-02, but because they had Henry, Pires and Ljungberg on the counter; Newcastle do not.
Updated at 15.22 EDT
8 min Newcastle have started so slowly. They’ll have expected Coventry to come at them, yet did almost nothing to prevent it.
ShareGOAL! Coventry City 1-0 Newcastle United (Rudoni pen 6)
Hornicek dives right, Rudoni sweeps left, and runs off to celebrate, pulling up his top to reveal a t-shirt reading “Get well Nan”. Coventry have their first home goal in the Prem since 2001.
Coventry City’s Jack Rudoni steps up … Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/ReutersAnd send’s Lukas Hornicek the wrong way. Photograph: Chris Radburn/ReutersAnd has a message for his nan. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PAShare
Updated at 15.19 EDT
PENALTY TO COVENTRY!
5 min Hornicek makes a total mess of this, too slow to gather a ball when Mason-Clark chases a loose one, before hurling himself in front of Sidiki Cherif, who gratefully flings himself over his body. Silly, impetuous behaviour.
Oh keeps, what are you doing? Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 15.15 EDT
3 min Dasilva looks long for Mason-Clark and, though Miley sees him away, Coventry lock on well to pin Newcastle back again. So far, they’re dominating territory.
2 min …which he does, but without requisite pace and/or whip and/or flatness, so it’s easily headed away.
2 min Nice from Rudoni in midfield, clever footwork taking him away from Gonzalez and Wissa, who fouls him Chance for grimes to stick a ball into the box…
1 min Newcastle, wearing Germolene pink, set us away.
Our teams are tunnelled … and here they come!
The home fans cheer their team. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 15.04 EDT
Jaissle gets his guns out for the cameras.
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This Coventry kit is one of my favourites.
A bit of news:
I doubt we’ve heard the last of this.
Lampard says the win over Forest was huge for the fans and also important for the players, but he thinks the team can get better. The break gave him a chance to get players fit and have look at others then, on tonight, he says that it’s not so much about shape as principles, then explains that Cherif has adapted in training and got himself fitter; they’re excited about what he can bring to the team.
Though i’ve groused about newcastle’s midfield, I’m looking forward to seeing how Nico Gonzalez pulls up tonight. He’d started the season really well and has the chops to control this game; Lampard might instruct Cherif or Rudoni to get around him so he can’t.
“Newcastle’s starting XI shows that they are determined to get a satisfactory result today,” reckons AnhTuan Nguyen Huynh. “They just need to go out there and play their natural game with the shackles off.”
I’m a little disappointed with the team Jaissle has picked. This is the kind of game he should feel able to go with a little more flair, whether it’s Steur in midfield, Touré out wide, or both. If I was Frank Lampard – which, for avoidance of doubt, I’m not – I’d be heartened by the XI that’s been picked because the class differential isn’t as wide as it might’ve been.
As for Newcastle, they’ve gone for solidity in midfield and a centre-forward in the no 10 position. That makes me think they’ll be relying on their full-backs and wingers for creativity and, good players though Miley and Hall are, I’d like a bit more quality in attacking areas. I can see Coventry being able to frustrate them, unless Barnes has a good night or Fernandez-Pardo is now acclimatised to the league.
So where is our game? Coventry will want to use their wide attackers to get them up the pitch. Down their left in particular, I’d expect to see Dasilva and Mason-Clark ganging up on Miley, who isn’t a full-back, with Rudoni and Yirkenkyi making late runs to give them presence in the box. I also wonder if Cherif will look to run off Botman, who isn’t the quickest, with Thomas-Asante and Van Ewijk looking to supply him with crosses.
Email! “I say this is a perfect fixture,” writes Mary Waltz. “To get back to semi normal football. We have had a week to focus on the City problem but let’s get real. Whatever happens to them it will probably months before the lawyers get all their billable hours in and we don’t know what the final outcome will be. I for one am tired of speculating when it is pointless until the powers that be make up their minds. Let’s play ball.”
I actually wonder if the events of yesterday will have persuaded the suits that they need to act sooner rather than later. I can’t see that, given how long process can take, they’ll wait for the appeal to be heard to administer any punishment, should there be one.
Back to our game, I’m a little surprised Coventry have changed back to a formation that saw them lose five in a row. Not just because they won, but because three at the back and a packed midfield is a good way for a team to make things difficult for those better than them. Opponents are forced go around the outside to create, and there are men up front to cause problems.
On the other hand, if you match formations against a superior team, usually you lose.
Now we know where V for Vendetta got their idea.
Photograph: Felix ClayShare
Here he is!
Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianShare
Given Coventry have gone back to the blue and white stripes, here’s some reading to get you in the mood for a game some old folk are calling the Killer Kilcline derby.
As for Newcastle, Gonzalez returns from the bang on the head he sustained at Leeds, with Steur dropping out; Miley is at right-back. Otherwise, it’s as you were from the win against Hull but, on the bench, can be foundDan Burn and Joelinton, neither of whom has played this season.
Updated at 14.59 EDT
Er yeah, about that midfield battle I trailed. Coventry bin the 3-4-2-1 that worked at Forest to restore the 4-2-3-1, and bring in Van Ewijk at right-back for Mfuni at right centre-back, while up front, Onyeka drops out of midfield, with Cherif, a summer signing, making his first start up front.
ShareTeams
Coventry City (4-2-3-1): Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Pinnock, Thomas, Dasilva; Yirenkyi, Grimes; Thomas-Asante, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Cherif. Subs: Bentley, Sakamoto, Simms, Mfuni, Onyeka, Latibeaudiere, Torp, Gboho, Hamer.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Gonzalez, Willock; Murphy, Wissa, Barnes; Fernandez-Pardo. Subs: Pope, Schar, Joelinton, Bamba, Osula, Steur, Toure, Burn, Dedic.
SharePreamble
I don’t know, it kind of feels like a fight to focus on this game, doesn’t it? Yet, at the same time, there’s loads to look forward to about this game because why shouldn’t there be? Such is the current state of the Premier League, Coventry reaching it after toiling through some of the worst mismanagement and neglect ever endured by a football club … for this?
But here we are so here we are; let’s dive in. Coventry won’t have relished the timing of the international break having snapped a run of five straight defeats with a win at Forest. I’m especially excited to see how Caleb Yirenkyi performs tonight – he’s a proper talent and a brilliant get, his game perfectly suited to competition it now feels much more comfortable to snark at as “this league” rather than “oor league”.
Opposite him – and Matt Grimes, playing in the top division for the first time aged 31, one of those lovely stories you get with promoted clubs – will presumably be Lewis Miley and Sean Steur, two terrific talents of complementary qualities. Their battle will go a long way towards deciding the outcome of this game.
However it won’t be lost on Mathias Jaissle that Coventry’s winner in Nottingham was their first league goal of the season, which is to say Frank Lampard must find a way of offering greater threat while maintaining some semblance of defensive security. Easier said than done, of course but, similarly, it won’t have escaped him how comprehensively Newcastle were outmuscled by Leeds and, if his side can use their similar formation to lean on them in similar fashion, they might just find similar joy – even if they lack similar goal-threat.
Or, in other words, though the overall picture isn’t good, there’s every chance this is.
Kick-off: 8pm BST