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Coventry City 2 Leeds United 1: United surrender to late Sky Blues penalty
Richard Keogh holds onto Luciano Becchio. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Gary McSheffrey’s stoppage-time penalty against former club Leeds clinched Coventry’s first win in four matches to haul them off the foot of the npower Championship table.
Sky Blues striker McSheffrey, who had already converted a 21st-minute penalty, slammed home his second spot kick in the 92nd minute after Aidan White’s foul on Alex Nimely to inflict on managerless Leeds a second straight defeat.
Leeds, for whom caretaker-manager Neil Redfearn was taking charge for the third time since the sacking of Simon Grayson, had earlier equalised before half-time through Ross McCormack, but after a third defeat in four games their play-off chances are fading fast.
Coventry created enough chances to have sealed the points inside 90 minutes, but were let down by wayward finishing and remain six points from safety.
Injury-hit Coventry recalled midfielder Carl Baker and defender Jordan Clarke in place of latest casualties Sammy Clingan and Richard Wood, while Leeds were unchanged from the side which started in the weekend defeat to Brighton.
Neither side had created a chance of note before referee Pat Miller deemed visiting midfielder Pugh’s challenge on Coventry striker Nimely in the penalty area to be a foul.
McSheffrey, on loan at Leeds for the second half of the 2009/10 season, stepped up to place the subsequent spot-kick into visiting goalkeeper Andy Lonergan’s bottom right-hand corner in the 21st minute.
Leeds forward McCormack had pulled a chance for the visitors wide from 20 yards in only the third minute, but he was on target for his 16th goal of the season 11 minutes later to haul his side level with a smart finish from inside the area.
Coventry then enjoyed their best spell.
Nimely dragged his effort wide from the edge of the area, Clive Platt’s goalbound header was cleared by Luciano Becchio and McSheffrey’s 20-yard effort was well saved by Lonergan.
McSheffrey was then inches wide with a blistering volley just before half-time.
Leeds enjoyed more possession after the break. Midfielder Adam Clayton’s rising shot cleared the crossbar and after Baker fluffed a gilt-edged chance from six yards soon after, Leeds defender Aidy White forced Coventry goalkeeper Joe Murphy into a fine save with a shot from 12 yards.
The visitors were dealt a blow just after the hour-mark when midfielder Fabian Delph, on loan at his former club from Aston Villa, was withdrawn through injury and replaced by Michael Brown.
Chances dried up midway through the second period, but Coventry still looked the more likely side to break the deadlock.
Midfielder Gary Deegan lashed a 25-yard shot over the crossbar, Nimely’s effort was blocked by Pugh and Oliver Norwood failed to get enough curl on his 30-yard free-kick.
Leeds sent on Ramon Nunez for McCormack in the 82nd minute before defender Darren O’Dea threatened to snatch the points for the visitors from close range.
But in the second minute of time added on White brought down Nimely in the area and McSheffrey took no chances with his power penalty as Leeds went down to a stoppage-time goal for the second time in four days.
Coventry City: Murphy, Christie, Keogh, Cranie, Clarke, Norwood, Deegan, Baker, McSheffrey, Nimely, Platt. Unused substitutes: Dunn, Eastwood, Bigirimana, Ruffels, Willis.
Leeds United: Lonergan, Smith (O’Brien 74), Lees, O’Dea, White, Snodgrass, Delph (Brown 62), Clayton, Pugh, Becchio, McCormack (Nunez 83). Unused substitutes: Taylor, Townsend.
Referee: P Miller (Bedfordshire).
Southampton came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at 10-man West Ham and prevent Sam Allardyce’s side pulling clear at the top of the Championship last night.
Jos Hooiveld scored a 75th-minute equaliser at Upton Park to keep the visitors just one point behind their opponents.
West Ham played with 10 men from the 18th minute after Matt Taylor was dismissed for a clash with former Doncaster Rovers forward Billy Sharp after the Saints player had conceded a penalty with a foul on Mark Noble.
Noble himself then dispatched the spot-kick low into the net, but the Hammers could not held on as the visitors eventually made the extra man count.
Cardiff beat Peterborough 3-1 in the Welsh capital to go third and move to within three points of Southampton.
They scored three times in seven first-half minutes to kill off Posh before the break.
Reading replaced Hull City in the final play-off place with a 1-0 win at Derby, Noel Hunt on target just after the hour mark.
David Nugent scored twice, but Leicester still went down 3-2 at Watford.
Cash-strapped Portsmouth had little relief from their off-field problems as they were beaten 1-0 by Ipswich at Fratton Park.
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
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1leeds_lad
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:18 PMThe ONLY ISSUE THAT MATTERS within our club is REMOVING BATES, no buying more time, no more lies, no negotiations, no "borderline" legal administrations, no secrecy, no more broken promises. The season is now effectively over, and Bates must be ousted at any sacrifice. The appointment of the most successful manager in the world would not change anything, as they will not be given the resources that even reflect the clubs turnover. OUR CLUB MUST BE IN DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP with someone interested in a successful team and not simply a successful business. A TOTAL BOYCOTT OF ALL REVENUE STREAMS IS VITAL...... REMOVE BATES' INCOME TO REMOVE THIS PARASITE !!!!!
kingbilly
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:15 PMthis is the result when amateurs run a company. Another season wasted , when will they learn. You cant teach an old dog......
des1mond
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:01 PMThe season's effectively over now, the delay by the board to appoint a replacement for Simon Grayson to see if they could get the 'cheap' option by appiointing Neal Redfearn has again proved to be appauling leadership by the board (i.e. Ken Bates). Consistent in their incompetent approach, Bates has become obsessed with cost managment to the extent that it's undermining the club's future and any prospect of the first team returrning to the Premiership any time soon. He's lost sight of the fact that, first and foremost, it's a football club. The team needs to be the priority, without success on the field, everything else becomes insignificant. His priorties are completely warped. I have little faith in the board making the right appointment for team manager, it will be a yes man who will put up with Bates' draconian methods.
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