Key events<\/p>\n
Righto, Peter Lansley\u2019s report is with us. <\/p>\n
That means we\u2019re done here, so thanks for your company and comments; peace out.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another manager undermining himself with undue caution.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jack Rudoni says it\u2019s a big night for the team and massive for the fans. He thinks the intensity was good, and it got them the win; now they\u2019ve got two in a row.<\/p>\n He carries on to say the first two home games didn\u2019t go as planned, but he thinks Coventry can be good and again praises the intensity. He\u2019s had to adapt his game as his team have less of the ball \u2013 he likes to operate in pockets, so is now looking for second balls and such.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not taken a penalty before, but there were a couple who might\u2019ve been ahead of him who weren\u2019t on the pitch, so he grabbed the ball and thinks he\u2019s taking the job now.<\/p>\n He then explains that his nan had a heart attack last week, but she\u2019s stable and watching in hospital.<\/p>\n Otherwise, it\u2019s taken him a while to get to this point, but he\u2019s the kind of person who believes in himself and has levels yet to hit. If the team keep bringing the intensity, they can get to where they want this season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n After a promising start, Newcastle are in trouble. Jaissle doesn\u2019t seem to understand the attacking quality and balance you need against every team in the league; as soon as I saw the XI he picked, I thought his team would struggle, because there was no one in his attack likely to do the undefendable. I\u2019m afraid he got what he deserved \u2013 and will continue to if he\u2019s not bolder in his selections.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Feel free to read more about that, here, in Joy of Six: joy. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.01 EDT<\/p>\n We cut back to the pitch to see Mfumi watching his goal on the big screen, his face a study in concentration then the definition of elation. It reminds me a bit of this:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The Premier Leaguer table Oh man, I enjoyed that. Van Ewijk and Mfumi run towards the crowd, their every fist-pump cheered, and Lampard, eating his own face with satisfaction, can\u2019t resist the opportunity to do likewise. My days, these supporters have earned this.<\/p>\n Coventry City manager Frank Lampard enjoys his side\u2019s emphatic victory. Photograph: Chris Radburn\/ReutersStephen Mfuni (rear) celebrates Coventry\u2019s victory with Milan van Ewijk. Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.04 EDT<\/p>\n FULL TIME: Coventry City 4-1 Newcastle United<\/p>\n Brilliant goals, telling substitutions and the joyful freedom of youth; a sorely needed night of affirming uplift for the neutral, a legendary one of release and catharsis for Coventry, and a brutal disaster for Newcastle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90+3 min Alan Smith gives Bobby Thomas player of the match, and he deserves it for his last-ditch defending. I might\u2019ve gone for Rudoni, who composed himself to score the penalty and offered Coventry the invention they needed to defend their narrow lead, but I can\u2019t argue with Thomas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90 min Toure is hurt so the sub is subbed, Burn coming on for his first appearance of the season; we\u2019ll have four additional minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 min Simms\u2019 goal was with his first touch, Mfuni\u2019s with his first, er action, which is to say Lampard has played a blinder here. Less than 10 minutes ago, Newcastle will have felt an equaliser was coming; now, they\u2019re on the arse-end of a tousing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 min Er, yes and no. He was in an offside positon, but was he blocking the keeper\u2019s view? Not for me, Clive, and the ref agrees.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 87 min But was Thomas-Asante offside?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WHAT A GOAL! Coventry City 4-1 Newcastle United (Mfuni 86)<\/p>\n We\u2019ve had a 19-year-old score, now an 18-year-old! Mfuni who, remember, is a centre-back, takes possession 22 yards out, shimmies outside Thiaw, then spins into a rasping low shot which screeches across Hornicek and into the far corner! Another amazing moment, and all the years of dreadfulness, relegations, ground closures and Sisu, are converted into an explosion of collective ecstasy. What a night this is!<\/p>\n Coventry City\u2019s Stephen Mfuni scores their fourth goal. Photograph: Chris Radburn\/ReutersMfuni celebrates. Photograph: Nick Potts\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.17 EDT<\/p>\n 84 min Thomas-Asante rides a challenge and, from the edge of the box, right of centre, swivels into a low shot that clatters the foot of the far post and bounces clear! Another fantastic effort in a night of them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 83 min Two more changes for Coventry, Mfuni and Torp on for Grimes and Rudoni.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 83 min Man, Coventry needed that. Joelinton was booked during the celebrations for the tackle on Thomas-Asante.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Coventry City 3-1 Newcastle United (Simms 81)<\/p>\n But he can also do that! Sakamotot burrows into the box off the right but is robbed by Joelinton, who tries to bring the ball away only for a poor touch to force him to barrel through Thomas-Asante, on the edge, an ill man unable to help himself. The ref, though, plays a decent advantage because he can see Simms has the ball inside the box, and his shot deflects off Thiaw and past Horniceck!<\/p>\n Coventry City’s Ellis Simms scores their third goal. Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/Action Images\/ReutersAnd celebrates. Photograph: Chris Radburn\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.46 EDT<\/p>\n 81 min Coventry have had a better few minutes, and I imagine Lampard wants them to play into Simms, who can hold it up and take some heat out of the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80 min Wissa felt like a panic buy when Isak left \u2013 he wasn\u2019t someone I watched at Brentford and thought would get a big move. But playing him as a no 10, not a no 9, makes absolutely no sense; he\u2019s a poacher, not a creator.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78 min Further changes: Coventry send on Onyeka and Simms for Yirenkyi and Cherif, while Newcastle try Osula for Wissa.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77 min Back to Craig\u2019s email, Jaissle\u2019s biggest problem, I think, is not trusting his new signings. Without the departed Tonali and Guimaraes, his side lacks class, and though the new arrivals are inexperienced, he\u2019s got to try them because without them, it\u2019s stodgy and dull.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 75 min Wissa robs Dasilva and feeds Toure, whose square-pass is intercepted, just. It\u2019s getting frantic for Coventry, far too early; if they\u2019re to see this out, they\u2019ll need more composure than they\u2019re currently showing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.34 EDT<\/p>\n 74 min \u201cAt the end of the Leeds debacle, I sent you a somewhat hysterical email nailing us on for relegation, which I\u2019m grateful you didn\u2019t publish,\u201d says Craig Scott. \u201cBut seeing this I certainly think we\u2019re in for a grim season. No credible goalscorer, real lack of creativity, shaky defence and a systems manager who doesn\u2019t seem to have the players for his system or to trust our more incisive ones. Early days and we need to stay behind team and manager, but it\u2019s not looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 72 min This a proper test for Coventry now. Will they have the courage and quality to take the ball and attack, rather than sit in to protect what they have? I think they\u2019ll have to, because 20-odd minutes is too long to defend the box.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WHAT A GOAL! Coventry City 2-1 Newcastle United (Botman 70)<\/p>\n Botman takes possession 25 yards out and Coventry sit off because what\u2019s he going to do with it from there? Er, this: move the ball forward and left, creating an angle before, from the edge, flinging all of his not insubstantial corporeality into a sensational donkey kick, which burns into the roof at the near post. Lampard will be raging at the defending, but that finish is an absolute outrage.<\/p>\n Sven Botman thumps the Magpies back into the game. Photograph: Dan Istitene\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.33 EDT<\/p>\n 69 min I\u2019ve really enjoyed Rudoni\u2019s performance tonight \u2013 he\u2019s trying things and, though they haven\u2019t all come off, it\u2019s essential Coventry have a player who does the unexpected.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 min Someone on the Newcastle bench is booked, presumably for mouth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 min Coventry win a corner down the left and take it short, playing with much more confidence than before. Before the game, Lampard said they were used to controlling games last season and this one was different, but they\u2019re starting to play like then, when they lose possession Van Ewijk running back to win a confident challenge. Before sneakily kicking the ball away, for which he\u2019s booked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 64 min It takes four minutes for Joelinton to plough into a challenge. Welcome back, old mate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 min I was about to chastise him for so doing, but then a lovey touch from Sakamoto sends Rudoni grooving towards the box, a lovely sway and feet, with stepover, taking him past Hall, before he opts to pass when he should shoot, the effort intercepted.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.26 EDT<\/p>\n 62 min Nice touch from Rudoni to send Thomas-Asante away down the left. He can\u2019t see any good options, though, so he turns back and Coventry keep the ball, before Rushworth hammer it long.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61 min Coventry send Sakamoto on for Mason-Clark.<\/p>\n
Photograph: The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n