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COVENTRY CITY 0 CITY 3
League Division 1
24th February 1979
attendance 20,115
scorers Channon(35 & 60), Kidd(63)
ref John Homewood
City Corrigan, Donachie, Power, Booth, P Futcher, Owen, Channon, Viljoen, Kidd, Hartford, Barnes – sub R Futcher(unused)
Coventry Blyth, Coop, McDonald, Blair, Holton, Hagan, Yorath, Wallace, Ferguson, Powell, Hutchison – sub Thompson(45)
TWO GOALS FOR MIKE CHANNON
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FROM THE PRESS BOX
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HARTFORD OPENS THE SAFE
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CYRIL CHAPMAN WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 26TH FEBRUARY 1979
Coventry made a fair contribution to their own second home disaster in as many weeks at Highfield Road, missing chances when they held the early ascendancy and then spoon-feeding their opponents with three simple goals. Manchester had bungled attempts to crack the Coventry defence in the first half but were not too surprised to help themselves to the loot when the safe door swung open of it’s own accord.
Hartford was always laying explosive charges under Coventry, but none went off until shortly before half-time.
Previously Coventry had swarmed to the attack as usual, relying on Ferguson to head down the centres which came in from the twin pronged left wing attack of Hutchison and McDonald. Corrigan should have been much more severely put upon at this stage.
Meanwhile Manchester had been kept back by the defensive work of Hagan, a young man from Larne, who seems certain to plant a famous name once more into football recognition.
But even his worst came to nought as Hartford caught Coventry out with a fast ball to the left, Barnes brought further confusion by holding back on an expected run and dispatching a hovering centre way over to the waiting Channon. A pointed volley did the rest.
Blyth prevented a second goal by stopping Channon in his tracks, but was less emphatic after half-time when Manchester stretched their advantage.
Channon was on the spot to touch the ball in after a shot from Hartford had been deflected on to a post by Hagan, and four minutes later when Channon scored a bullseye on Blyth, hitting the goalkeeper smack in the chest, the ball rebounded out invitingly. This time it was Kidd who was in the right place at the right time.
Coventry made a fair contribution to their own second home disaster in as many weeks at Highfield Road, missing chances when they held the early ascendancy and then spoon-feeding their opponents with three simple goals. Manchester had bungled attempts to crack the Coventry defence in the first half but were not too surprised to help themselves to the loot when the safe door swung open of it’s own accord.
Hartford was always laying explosive charges under Coventry, but none went off until shortly before half-time.
Previously Coventry had swarmed to the attack as usual, relying on Ferguson to head down the centres which came in from the twin pronged left wing attack of Hutchison and McDonald. Corrigan should have been much more severely put upon at this stage.
Meanwhile Manchester had been kept back by the defensive work of Hagan, a young man from Larne, who seems certain to plant a famous name once more into football recognition.
But even his worst came to nought as Hartford caught Coventry out with a fast ball to the left, Barnes brought further confusion by holding back on an expected run and dispatching a hovering centre way over to the waiting Channon. A pointed volley did the rest.
Blyth prevented a second goal by stopping Channon in his tracks, but was less emphatic after half-time when Manchester stretched their advantage.
Channon was on the spot to touch the ball in after a shot from Hartford had been deflected on to a post by Hagan, and four minutes later when Channon scored a bullseye on Blyth, hitting the goalkeeper smack in the chest, the ball rebounded out invitingly. This time it was Kidd who was in the right place at the right time.