Coventry City 1 Norwich City 0

Last updated : 08 March 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Coventry City secured a vital win in their battle for survival as Norwich City ended the day with just nine men on the field.

Manager Chris Coleman had called for a reaction from his players after a disappointing start to his reign - and they answered the call.

It was a much brighter start from Coventry, who were fielding the same starting line-up that had won a point at home against Queen's Park Rangers in midweek.

And Coleman's faith was rewarded inside just six minutes when Jay Tabb notched his fifth of the season to put them in front.

Michael Doyle did well to see the little winger in space down the left and found him with a well-flighted pass.

Tabb cut inside Juan Valesco and directed a low right-foot effort past David Marshall.

Norwich were struggling to get a foothold in the game and they could easily have conceded another.

Leon Best had one effort blocked and then saw a follow up shot saved by Marshall.

Then in the 11th minute, Doyle won possession outside the Norwich area and Kevin Thornton curled a shot just wide of goal.

Canaries boss Glenn Roeder responded by making two very early substitutions, taking off full-backs Mo Camara and Valesco which allowed Norwich to play two up front.

It did make a difference but not where it really mattered in the final third.

Skipper Mark Fotheringham sent a free-kick across the faced of the home goal just after half-time, while sub Jamie Cureton forced a save out of Andy Marshall.

The visitors' chances were not helped in the 53rd minute when veteran Gary Doherty was given a second yellow card for a clear foul on Tabb.

For a while the game threatened to boil over and certainly Darel Russell was treading a very fine line.

Elliott Ward could have stretched the lead and calmed the Coventry nerves when he managed to get on the end of a free-kick but hit his volley over the bar.

Norwich kept plugging away even after Russel finally managed to get his second yellow card of the game again for fouling Tabb.