Sky Blues Mark Homecoming With Victory

Coventry City marked their first match back at the Ricoh Arena for 503 days with a hard earned victory over Gillingham. Over 27,000 fans turned up to watch this historic occasion and one that will live long in Sky Blue memory. Finally the fans have something to cheer about after a year of utter misery.

Coventry started the brighter of the two sides enjoying plenty of possession. As a result, they took the lead after 10 minutes as Frank Nouble struck home on his City debut much to the joy of the tens of thousands of Coventry supporters. This goal was mainly down to the hard work of 18 year old defender Ryan Haynes, who had to beat 2 Gillingham defenders before cutting the ball back to Nouble. John Fleck nearly added a second soon after but his header went just wide of the target. Coventry dominated much of the opening half an hour but their failure to add a second gave Gillingham a sniff. Gillingham then enjoyed a period before half time of keeping the ball well but failed to created any clear cut opportunities.

 The second half started in much of the same way as the first. Coventry kept the ball well at times and despite the hold up play by Nouble, no one else could support his efforts. Soon after the hour mark, Gillingham's Hause headed wide for the visitors from a corner before keeper Allsop produced a scrappy save to deny defender John Egan. John Fleck did however, nearly add a second for the hosts but his audacious 45 yard strike was saved by Bywater after he had to back pedal as he was some way off his line.

Coventry didn't look comfortable at all at the back and when they did go forward, they didn't get bodies to support Nouble which could have been down to a lack of urgency. Former Sky Blue Cody McDonald went close for Gillingham near the end and there was still time for City fans to be nervous as Allsop failed to stop a ball from going across the 6 yard line but luckily for the Sky Blues, the ball was somehow cleared of danger. City managed to see off the 4 minutes of stoppage time to edge the match 1-0, much to the sheer delight of all the Coventry fans who had waited one hell of a long time to see their side play at home and even longer for a home win.