Coventry win on Stern's goal
Coventry City FC
The Sky Blues maintain their unbeaten home record with a positive performance earning them a 1-0 win over Leeds thanks to Stern John's first half goal.
Micky Adams made two changes to the side which lost at Ipswich in midweek with David McNamee and Jay Tabb both returning to the side following injuries.
McNamee came in at right back for Andrew Whing who picked up a calf injury this week while Tabb replaced Kevin Thornton on the left side of midfield after recovering from a hernia operation for his full debut.
City started brightly with last week's opening scorer Chris Birchall making a darting run down the right but his shot was blocked by Matthew Kilgallon.
More excellent work by Birchall - who took on two Leeds defenders down the right flank before putting an excellent ball into the box - led to Kevin Kyle getting a header but he could not direct it on target and his effort flew harmlessly over.
On eight minutes the big target man got another header, this time from a Hughes header, which he directed downwards but straight at Leeds keeper Tony Warner.
The visitors then broke straight up field and David Healy's header beat Andy Marshall but thankfully came back off the crossbar, giving the Sky Blues a stark warning that they could not take their opponents lightly. Leeds may have come into the game on the back of only one win in their last five outings but they were backed by a sizeable and vociferous travelling support, and their side had its fair share of talented players.
In the 19th minute Kevin Kyle was shown a yellow card - his fourth of the season - for dissent following a bad challenge on Michael Doyle which led to the referee giving Leeds a free-kick.
With 22 on the clock a weaving run from Stern John - not too dissimilar to the one which saw him score against Norwich last week - presented Tabb with a half chance but his shot from 10 yards was gathered by Warner. Moments later Tabb received a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Sebastien Carole.
More excellent interplay from the same duo gave the Sky Blues the opening goal in the 25th minute. Tabb was played through by Doyle and while he had a chance to shoot on his preferred left foot he unselfishly centred for Stern John who sidefooted the ball past Warner for his third of the season.
City continued to control the first half until the interval without creating any real opportunities but it was Leeds who were in need of a pick-me-up and at half time Kevin Blackwell made one substitution, bringing on Jonathon Douglas for Sean Gregan.
Apart from Healy's first half header off the woodwork, Leeds had offered very little as an attacking outfit but Ian Westlake did force Andy Marshall into his first real save in the 55th minute with a decent curling effort that the City shot stopper fisted clear.
Leeds were coming into the game more and by the hour mark, Geoff Horsfield had gone close three times. He was inches away from connecting with a Westlake cross before his touch let him down as he was one-on-one with Marshall and finally he sent a header narrowly wide of the upright.
With 20 minutes left, Stern John was brought off to rapturous applause form the Sky Blue Army. City's goalscorer had once again been a star performer and he was replaced by Leon McKenzie who got half a chance soon after coming on as he just failed to connect with a Kyle centre.
Five minutes later Tabb - who had too been in excellent form in his home debut - was replaced by Cameron. City had done the hard work and now needed to remain tight at the back and on 77 Healy volleyed over as Leeds looked to turn up the pressure.
McKenzie then had a shot saved by Warner as City started to play effectively on the counter-attack with Leeds pushing more and more men forward.
With five minutes left Robbie Blake came on in Leeds' last throw of the dice but he placed the visitor's last chance wide of goal as City stayed firm.
Don Hutchison replaced the superb Kevin Kyle in the dying stages and City were well worth their third win in four home matches this season.
Coventry: Marshall; Hall; Page; Ward; Hughes; Doyle; Kyle (Hutchison; Birchall; John (McKenzie 70); McNamee; Tabb (Cameron 75).
Subs (not used): Adebola; Thornton
Booked: Kyle (19); Tabb (24)
Leeds: Warner; Kelly; Crainey; Butler; Westlake (Blake); Gregan (Douglas 46); Healy; Horsfield; Carole (Stone); Nicholls; Kilgallon.
Subs (not used): Lewis; Moore
Booked: Butler (36); Kigallon (45)
Referee: Mr I Williamson
Attendance: 22,146 (2,903)
