AFC COVENTRY RANGERS 2-1 BIRMINGHAM UNITED: THE MOWDOG'S REPORT & 15 IMAGES...

 Blinders Contrive To Secure Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory…

AFC Coventry Rangers 2-1 Birmingham United…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Even the Rangers’ contingent near where I was attempting to battle the screaming wind during commentary seemed rather surprised at the outcome of this match. In truth, despite the often strong wind and also being without a number of unavailable players, Rangers struggled to contain their progressive guests for long stretches of the game. However, the introduction of Curtis Cutthroat Cutts during the second period, along with left-sided forward Sam Dunkley, changed the contest entirely. Dunkley claimed two assists, Cutts netted an equaliser and Jordan The Captain Powell soared into an updraft and glanced a fine header into the United net to claim three rather undeserving points for his troops.

The first period had been a real drudge for the hosts, as the Blinders peaked as an attacking force. After an early angled Powell effort had slapped into the side netting, Birmingham caused the home defence some frightful problems.

The robust Andy Matthews lobbed too high and was denied by home gloveman Jack Hartopp’s feet, both Jay Higgins-Pugsley and the irrepressible Amechi Kingsley Eze-Sunday saw efforts deflected, two downward headers by powerful central defender Ryan Froggatt were saved by Hartopp, Eze-Sunday and Oli Parsons were denied in a goalmouth scramble, Eze-Sunday drove too high and an audacious attempt by the typically effective Kieran Fitzgerald from way downtown was caught by Hartopp.

All that the hosts had managed by the time the visitors finally found the net were a clearance by United which bounced wide off Powell from all of 22 yards and some slight threat from home defender James Ritson from the eager Rory Turnbull’s free-kick.

It seemed only right then that the wily Fitzgerald should send the pacy Eze-Sunday clear to beat Hartopp with a lob from distance to at least send his team into the interval leading, which was the least the Blinders had deserved for their persistent attacking.     

0-1...

After the recess & how the game changed…

There was no sign of the transformation to come as Higgins-Pugsley had a shot blocked, Eze-Sunday saw Hartopp fall left to turn a low drive for a corner, Matthews was stopped by the ‘keeper’s feet and twice Parsons had shots blocked by the massed AFC defence.

Credit must go to those Rangers defenders however, where Ali Hassan, Phil Chesters and Ritson threw themselves at shots and subsequently turned away deliveries with a number of good headers. 

And then the hosts struck…

Both teams had made substitutions and by jove, how the changes began to affect the match. All five replacement Blinders were introduced, Jerson Ladila, Ben Sanogo, Rabeeb Ali, Kyle Stenson and Luke Edwards, over a short period of time, during which Rangers managed several attacks. Mostly those stemmed from Powell’s refusal to be defeated, Callum Regan’s stubborn midfield play, the constant work put in by Taylor Blyth and Owen Wassall but most of all by Cutthroat and Dunkley, who basically won the game for the Coventry crew.

A rush along the left flank to the byeline by Dunkley led to a simple, short pass inside to Cutts, lurking like a Chieftain Tank at the near post and he turned the ball with confidence. Check the expression on the image as he returns to the centre-circle: he’s surely thinking, “See? Told you I should be starting games…”

1-1...

The previously underworked Dan Rushe between the Brum posts saved a low Dunkley shot easily, Powell rose to head over the crossbar and Jacob Dumbleton lashed a wild angled volley over the target. 

Fair play to Brum though, for they rallied and in a goalmouth melee, Eze-Sunday, Callum Cook and Froggatt were all denied by brave Rangers blocks and then the unthinkable happened…

Rangers won a corner on the left and despite having a slight aerial advantage but whilst waiting for the set-piece to happen, Ali grabbed hold of Regan like a young bull was escaping from a farmer’s field. Dunkley’s delivery was far too short though and was headed away easily by the visiting defence. Groans were heard but immediately, Dunkley latched onto the ball out on the left-flank, switched it onto his right boot and sent a superb centre towards the edge of the 6-yard box, where the skipper, rising vertically like a lark, glanced a fine header into the right corner of the net.

2-1...

It was all quite unbelievable and looking at the Brum players was like looking at Villa’s players later that evening as Newcastle’s fifth goal flew past ‘keeper Martinez…

It remained only for visiting skipper Reece Mills to drive a long shot over the target and Rangers were suddenly top of the league with maximum points from three games…

The final words…

Liked the physical performance of United’s Matthews as a ‘centre-forward’ and Eze-Sunday was often a lively attacker for his team, whilst both full-backs, Jordan Kondo and Adam Lewis looked supportive on the flanks. Higgins-Pugsley was often involved in attacking moves but Fitzgerald ran the offense and he was sorely missed when he was replaced.

Home winger Jack Archer has ability on the ball but he was so infrequently fed the ball that United's Kondo often felt it was safe to leave him isolated on the wing and get involved in Birmingham’s attacking moves.

Powell struck a frustrated figure until his chaps regained parity but it was clear that players like Wurie, Alexander, Gardner, Farrell, who were all unavailable and Swain (on the bench) were perhaps missed in a variety of ways…  

A good welcome as always from Rangers and it was interesting chatting to one of the United officials too…

Images...

IS POWELL JUMPING OR DROPPING IN MINUS A PARACHUTE?

A WORD FOR KONDO...

A BRUM PLAYER IS SHAKEN UP & REGAN IS THERE TOO. UNUSUAL...

TWO LAUNCHED HUMANS...

CAUTIONED...

WARNED...

"IF YOU BOW TO ME, THERE'LL BE NO CARD..."

REMINDS ME OF CHOOSING A PARTNER FOR COUNTRY DANCING...

CUTTHROAT APPEARS (17)...

SPLENDID LEAP BY EZE-SUNDAY, ON A SATURDAY...

THE KIND OF TUSSLE YOU LIKE TO WATCH: RITSON v MATTHEWS...

GAME OVER...