To be honest, I really haven’t the heart to do this match report, so don’t be too harsh on the content and lateness of this piece of prose, as I am just completing the full season’s set.
I have to say that before the match, most people that I spoke to in the Sparrow Hawk were quite cynical about our prospects of getting through to the play-offs. This was an amalgam of the Clarets usually failing to perform at home in the big matches, and the inevitability of events elsewhere. The fixture computer had thrown up a whole series of home games for the more favoured teams in the play-off equation for the last day of the season. Indeed, the Clarets game could realistically have been easily the most competitive of the day, had not Coventry spectacularly failed to launch a play-off bid. Would Birmingham mess it up, or would ‘The Unprofessionals’ miraculously do the business at Carrow Road?
Coventry had recently lost their management team, unsurprisingly, and were set to lose most of their best players following the inevitable end of season cut price clear out. So how would they play? They had a mixture of international class players (Hedman and Chippo), Lee Hughes on the bench, and bozos of the calibre of Shaw and Edworthy at the back. The Clarets sent out the team little different from that which finished the shambles at Grimbo, with no place for the top scorer Taylor. Not sure that partnering Moore with Johnson is a classic combination, and I for one thought that was a serious mistake. I realise that exhibiting a clear preference for Taylor instead of Moore is not de riguer at the Turf these days, but then the goal-scoring chart doesn’t lie does it? Gascoigne was warming the bench for the inevitable cameo, should things not go well.
It was a fairly tense start to the game, not unexpectedly, with no substantive cohesive play or any remote semblance of a chance in the first ten minutes. The first real piece of action came when a typical piece of centre back chasing by Ian Moore left him on his backside (just for a change), courtesy of the horrendous, dread-locked, bumbling Richard Shaw. A man with all the character of a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. The subsequent Glen Little free kick gave the excellent Hedman in the Coventry goal easy catching practice. This scenario was to be repeated throughout the match, as the Clarets unleashed many and varied crosses into the box to test Hedman’s safe hands. Hmmmm.
Coventry responded almost immediately with a Healey header from a corner, which was cleared off the line by Weller. Johnson and Weller then missed chances before Mitchell Thomas dismissed a golden opportunity to score his first Claret goal in his last game, by missing an open goal. Rumours abounded around the Upper Hargreaves at this point that the keeper belonging to the lamentably crap, relegated, County team had taken an early bath, and they were one down. There was no panic on the field, however, as the Claret attacks continued, with Thomas again coming close from a Johnson long throw. Wrong man, right time, right place. I think he deserved a slap! Coventry were panicking somewhat, and were ranting at each other in a scene that could have been plucked straight from a Samuel Beckett play.
Half time, and all was not well score-wise for the Clarets in the other games. Despite the pressure against a none too bright Coventry, there was no real confidence or belief in the team in the first half, and the banter across the Bovril was strictly down beat. Little seemed to be all over the place, and lax with the ball at his feet instead of murdering the moribund Shaw.
The attacks continued in the second half, when Gnohere and Briscoe went close. Stan then made a substitution which changed everything by bringing on Taylor for Thomas. Given Coventry’s concern in the air, despite their huge centre back, this seemed to me to be not a moment too soon. He immediately popped up with a fine, far post headed goal (right man right time right place) from a West cross, with his first touch. Twenty minutes to go, and the play-offs were once more on the horizon. It couldn’t have been more exciting if Elvis Presley had come on as a sub. Chippo responded with a fine piece of play as slick as Minestrone soup, culminating in a bottom corner drive, which brought an equally fine finger-tip save from NTG. In this particular match, this piece of action was out of character for both of them.
As Norwich unsurprisingly took a two-goal lead, Payton came on for West, and immediately forced a save from Hedman with an overhead kick. The attacking substitution almost led to the Coventry equaliser, however, when the one-time prolific Lee Hughes missed a great chance from ten yards with NTG stranded, the Greek having lost his marbles.
Little continued to probe with effect, creating chances for Payton and Taylor as the pressure mounted. However, aside from two excellent curling free kicks from Gascoigne at the end, which brought fine saves from Hedman, that was it!
A standing ovation for the boys (despite the idiots on the pitch) was well deserved at the end of a spirited, if not totally convincing, performance against a Coventry team going through the motions. The boys looked about as happy as penguins in a microwave, but that was none too surprising. Weller had an excellent game, and seems to have recovered his touch. Johnson played to great effect and is finally exhibiting his great talent. If we’d had him at the Battle of Hastings against the Normans the Frenchies would have gone home. Arthur was, well, Arthur, and Little showed glimpses of his 2001 form.
Sickening to think, however, that having led the table for so long, the play-off pot of gold had disappeared into the abyss. Unsurprising in some ways, given the relatively poor form shown since Maine Road.
It could be worse, I suppose, as we are officially the 27th best team in England, and of course you should never take life too seriously as nobody gets out alive anyway. It didn’t, though, quite stop the tears on the long trek home back to the smoke.
Scorer: Taylor (67).
Referee: S W Dunn of Brissle.
Crowd: 18,751.
It’s officially Summer