Coventry City

Page calls time on Wales career
Wales and Coventry defender Robert Page has announced his retirement from international football. Page was recalled to the Wales squad this week for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Cyprus and Slovakia. But the 32-year-old spoke to Wales manager John Toshack on Wednesday to explain he felt he could no longer give his full commitment to the cause. \"I've given it a lot of thought but I feel I can't be away from the family for 10 days,\" said 41-cap man Page. \"If I knew I was going to play at the end of it then maybe I would carry on because there is no greater honour than playing for your country. \"But with having such a young family and being away for 10 days, it's not only hard on yourself but also on the children and the wife. \"Nobody in the squad is going to have a guarantee they are going to play, but this is a decision I've been thinking about for the last couple of months.\" Page last played for Wales nearly a year ago in the 1-0 friendly defeat away to Cyprus. He captained the side to victory against Hungary in February 2005 in Toshack's first game back in charge of Wales. The former Cardiff and Sheffield United centre back has since fallen down the pecking order, but a solid and start to the season after overcoming injury problems prompted a shock recall. \"When I got the phone call last Friday it was pleasing in a way that I'd been playing well enough at club level to get back into it,\" added Page, who made his debut against Turkey 10 years ago. \"I took a while to make my decision and then I phoned him (Toshack) to tell him I wanted to retire.\" In a short statement, Toshack said he \"reluctantly\" accepted Page's decision, adding: \"We do, of course, thank him for his efforts over the years and wish him every success in the future.\" And Page was keen to stress his decision to retire was no reflection on Toshack's managerial style \"There's no animosity whatsoever,\" he said. \"I've got nothing but praise for the team, the set-up and the coaching staff. \"I think it's something deep-down he understands. I've had a fantastic few years playing for Wales and there's no greater honour - I want to emphasise that. \"The memories I've got will stay with me forever and something I can share with my kids when they're growing up.\"

Coventry v Plymouth
Plymouth defender Hasney Aljofree is fit again after a head injury but his replacement Marcel Seip is expected to retain his place. Argyle hope skipper Paul Wotton (back) will be fit to take his midfield berth while striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is an injury doubt (muscle strain). Coventry defender David McNamee is out as he serves a one-match ban. Andrew Whing will deputise with his sights set on impressing and securing a more permanent first-team place.

Southend 2-3 Coventry
Dele Adebola capped his first start in two months with Coventry's winner. Southend started well before Freddy Eastwood scored from the spot after Matt Heath's foul on Steven Hammell. A deflected Stephen Hughes shot pulled City level and they took the lead when Colin Cameron stroked in a penalty when Simon Francis fouled Leon McKenzie. Eastwood scored his eighth goal of the season to level with a neat finish after out-pacing the away defence only for Adebola to strike on 80 minutes. # Southend manager Steve Tilson \"When you are down at the bottom you do not get the luck and that has happened again. \"I'm disappointed not to have got anything, I think we deserved a point. \"We gave away two goals at bad times, either side of the break, but for me the team showed great spirit to get us back into the game.\" # Coventry boss Micky Adams \"We were fortunate to get the points because we were under severe pressure. \"We've struggled away - our last win away was at Hull where we adopted the same system we played tonight. \"Some of the comments people have levelled at us have hurt and we have responded and tonight kept going, that's the pleasing thing.\" Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Prior, Barrett, Hammell, Hunt (Campbell-Ryce 86), Guttridge, Maher, Gower, Harrold (Hooper 80), Eastwood. Subs Not Used: Collis, Clarke, Paynter. Booked: Guttridge, Maher. Goals: Eastwood 30 pen, 73. Coventry: Marshall, Heath, Page, Ward, McNamee, Hughes, Cameron, Doyle, Hall, Adebola, McKenzie. Subs Not Used: Osbourne, Thornton, Kyle, Tabb, Hutchison. Booked: Hall, Doyle. Goals: Hughes 42, Cameron 47 pen, Adebola 80. Att: 9,821 Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Southend 2-3 Coventry
Dele Adebola capped his first start in two months with Coventry's winner. Southend started well before Freddy Eastwood scored from the spot after Matt Heath's foul on Steven Hammell. A deflected Stephen Hughes shot pulled City level and they took the lead when Colin Cameron stroked in a penalty when Simon Francis fouled Leon McKenzie. Eastwood scored his eighth goal of the season to level with a neat finish after out-pacing the away defence only for Adebola to strike on 80 minutes. # Southend manager Steve Tilson: \"When you are down at the bottom you do not get the luck and that has happened again. \"I'm disappointed not to have got anything, I think we deserved a point. \"We gave away two goals at bad times, either side of the break, but for me the team showed great spirit to get us back into the game.\" # Coventry boss Micky Adams: \"We were fortunate to get the points because we were under severe pressure. \"We've struggled away - our last win away was at Hull where we adopted the same system we played tonight. \"Some of the comments people have levelled at us have hurt and we have responded and tonight kept going, that's the pleasing thing.\" Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Prior, Barrett, Hammell, Hunt (Campbell-Ryce 86), Guttridge, Maher, Gower, Harrold (Hooper 80), Eastwood. Subs Not Used: Collis, Clarke, Paynter. Booked: Guttridge, Maher. Goals: Eastwood 30 pen, 73. Coventry: Marshall, Heath, Page, Ward, McNamee, Hughes, Cameron, Doyle, Hall, Adebola, McKenzie. Subs Not Used: Osbourne, Thornton, Kyle, Tabb, Hutchison. Booked: Hall, Doyle. Goals: Hughes 42, Cameron 47 pen, Adebola 80. Att: 9,821 Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Wolverhampton v Coventry
Wolves defender Charlie Mulgrew (hamstring) and Carl Cort (groin and hamstring) are doubtful for the home tie with Coventry. But Jackie McNamara has recovered from a hip problem and Denes Rosa is back from groin and knee complaints Coventry's Marcus Hall is doubtful with a knee injury so Jay Tabb could step in to replace him at left wingback. Stern John, Chris Birchall and Kevin Kyle are all vying for a recall if Micky Adams wants to change his team.

Coventry's Osbourne joins Crewe
Crewe have signed Coventry midfielder Isaac Osbourne on a month's loan. He progressed through the youth ranks of the Championship club and will go straight into the Alex squad for Saturday's game against Blackpool. Osbourne, 20, has made 22 appearances for the Sky Blues but was out for most of last season with a knee injury. He has struggled to get into the Coventry side this campaign and has played only once for Micky Adams' team since August.

Duffy's Coventry return now off
Portsmouth and Wales defender Richard Duffy's planned loan move to Coventry has fallen through. The 20-year-old full-back, who saw a possible loan deal to QPR collapse last week, was injured playing for Portsmouth reserves on Wednesday night. Duffy, who has made just one appearance for Pompey this season, spent a season on loan at the Ricoh Arena last term. Coventry manager Micky Adams wants cover for the loss of Marcus Hall and David McNamee to injury.

Coventry v Colchester
Long-term absentees Stuart Giddings, Mikael Bischoff and Wayne Andrews could at last be available for Coventry. Youth product Giddings (hamstring) and summer signings Bishoff (ankle) and Andrews (knee) are yet to play for City this season. Defender Pat Baldwin will play with stitches in a head wound to allow Colchester boss Geraint Williams to name an unchanged team. Williams has named the same 10 outfield players for eight successive games.

Coventry v Colchester
Long-term absentees Stuart Giddings, Mikael Bischoff and Wayne Andrews could at last be available for Coventry. Youth product Giddings (hamstring) and summer signings Bishoff (ankle) and Andrews (knee) are yet to play for City this season. Colchester defender Pat Baldwin plays despite stitches in his head so the same 10 outfield players start for the eighth game in a row. Richard Garcia's one-game ban for five bookings comes into effect next week.

Coventry 2-1 Colchester
Coventry's Stern John scored one and made the other as they beat Colchester to move into the top half of the table. John blew an early chance after good work by Leon McKenzie but in first-half injury time his low strike beat Aidan Davison for his fourth of the season. Michael Doyle sidefooted home Coventry's second after he was sent in on goal by the influential John. Colchester hardly threatened a goal until Jamie Guy pulled one back on 85 minutes but the home side held out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coventry manager Micky Adams: \"We did not play well, both teams looked very, very nervous but we got two good goals. \"We expected them to come out for the second half and throw everything at us and they did but we got a good second goal and that was eough. \"I'm disappointed we didn?t get a clean sheet. We did not defend properly for their goal and you're never comfortable at 2-1. \"It was not the best of games but we'll take it.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coventry: Marshall, Duffy, Page, Ward, Clarke, Cameron (Birchall 89), Hughes, Doyle, Kyle, John (Hutchison 89), McKenzie (Tabb 86). Subs Not Used: Adebola, Heath. Goals: John 45, Doyle 69. Colchester: Davison, Halford, Brown, Watson (Jackson 29), Barker, Garcia (McLeod 41), Izzet, Baldwin, Duguid, Cureton, Iwelumo (Guy 80). Subs Not Used: Gerken, White. Booked: Halford, Barker, Duguid. Goals: Guy 85. Att: 16,178. Ref: M Pike (Cumbria).

Barnsley v Coventry
Dale Tonge remains an injury doubt for Barnsley as he is struggling with a toe injury which has already seen him miss five games. Daniel Nardiello is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder but could make another appearance off the bench. Coventry have no fresh injury concerns but are still without injured defensive duo Marcus Hall and David McNamee. And fellow defenders Mikkel Bischoff and Stuart Giddings are closing in on their first appearances of the season.

Barnsley 0-1 Coventry
Substitute Wayne Andrews scored the only goal of the game just seconds after coming off the bench as Coventry nicked a late victory at Oakwell. Andrews turned his marker to send a low shot into the far right corner with just six minutes remaining. The home side dominated much of the second half in a game littered by missed chances. The Tykes were inches away from a late equaliser but Andy Marshall pushed Daniel Nardiello's effort wide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie: \"I've asked the lads if it's a fitness things but they say they felt good towards the end of the game,\" he said. \"Maybe it's a mental attitude but fitness goes hand in hand with that. \"We had chances in the second half which we should've put away but we haven't. Now we have to pull together and become stronger as a unit.\" Coventry boss Micky Adams said he was amazed at the fans' initial reaction at the substitution which led to the game's only goal. The supporters chanted \"You don't know what you're doing\" at Adams when Wayne Andrews replaced Leon McKenzie. \"We were playing like we wanted to but we lacked a bit of spark. I can understand a bit of the frustration,\" Adam said. \"They look at the league table and expect us to come here and turn Barnsley over, but it's not as simple as that.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barnsley: Colgan, Hassell, Reid, Kay, Williams, Devaney (Healy 72), Togwell, Howard, McIndoe, Richards (Wright 82), Hayes (Nardiello 63). Subs Not Used: Heckingbottom, Austin. Booked: Howard. Coventry: Marshall, Duffy, Page, Ward, Clarke (Hall 27), Cameron (Tabb 60), Hughes, Doyle, McKenzie (Andrews 83), Kyle, Adebola. Subs Not Used: Birchall, Heath. Booked: Doyle. Goals: Andrews 84. Att: 10,470. Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Coventry v Birmingham
Coventry have doubts over the fitness of Clive Clarke and Marcus Hall, while David McNamee definitely misses out. Chris Birchall could be recalled, while boss Micky Adams is likely to stick with a three-pronged attack of Leon McKenzie, Kevin Kyle and Dele Adebola. Captain Damien Johnson has been ruled out of Birmingham's tie with Coventry after suffering a broken jaw. Striker Mikael Forssell is out with a knee injury, and David Dunn (hamstring) and Neil Kilkenny (ankle) are also out.

Coventry 0-1 Birmingham
Birmingham's revival continued as Nicklas Bendtner's header gave them their fourth consecutive victory. He struck after 26 minutes when defender Mat Sadler raced down the left flank before supplying the perfect cross for the Dane. Coventry striker Leon McKenzie headed Colin Cameron's cross on to the post as the Sky Blues threatened an equaliser. But Birmingham had chances of their own and Cameron Jerome was off target when clean through late on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coventry manager Micky Adams: \"I don't think it was a fair outcome. We created the best chances in the first half and also in the second. \"If Leon McKenzie's header had gone in instead of hitting the post things could have been different. \"We were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline because it did not drop for us in front of goal and on another day it will do.\" Birmingham boss Steve Bruce reflects on the club's recent change of fortune: \"It was a very good result for us as few teams go to Coventry and win. \"We had a meeting, a few home truths were spoken and some could have gone under after not liking what was said. \"But they have responded in the right way and begun producing performances. I know for a fact the future for Birmingham City is a bright one.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coventry: Marshall, Duffy, Page, Ward, Hall, Cameron (Andrews 76), Hughes (Hutchison 46), Doyle, McKenzie, Kyle (Adebola 67), John. Subs Not Used: Tabb, Clarke. Booked: Page, Duffy. Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Sadler, Danns, Muamba, Clemence, McSheffrey (Campbell 90), Jerome (Larsson 87), Bendtner. Subs Not Used: Doyle, Gray, Nafti. Booked: Kelly, Clemence, McSheffrey. Goals: Bendtner 26. Att: 27,212. Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).

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