Pre-match preamble
The last time I watched Town play Coventry was in the FA Cup 4th Round in February this year at the CBS Arena, a game we won by four goals to one, and with what actually felt at the time like our 'second eleven'.
Jack Clarke played a big part in that game, with two goals and a perfect unselfish assist for Jaden Philogene. There was a penalty for a bad tackle on Sam Szmodics, which led to him limping off the field on 35 minutes – due to, it was thought, 'an exacerbation of a previous ankle injury' (Official Town news). Today, after ongoing injury issues, he is back as a sub on the team sheet. Welcome back, Sammie.
Brief history – Coventry City Football Club's nickname is 'The Sky Blues', allegedly coined by manager Jimmy Hill in the sixties for the colour of their shirts (I remember him well). Originally known as Singers FC, the club was founded in 1883 by a group of cycle workers at one George Singer's factory. I ask the same question now as I did then: will the result today make them sing? I am strangely optimistic that it won't.
The old saying, about being 'sent to Coventry', is said to have stemmed from large numbers of Cavaliers being imprisoned within the city by the Roundheads of the Civil War in the seventeenth century. Because of their known social status, the townsfolk proceeded to roundly ignore these 'prisoners'.
The stats
The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have met 90 times in all competitions. Ipswich have the upper hand in these meetings with 40 wins. Coventry have 25 wins and 25 games have ended in draws.
They last met in the Championship two seasons ago, when Town scooped a league double, with a 2-1 home win and a 1-2 away win.
I very nearly missed the last train that would get me there on time due to traffic and road closures in my town on the way to the station, so I was relieved to fling myself on it. There were very few fans in evidence, most going earlier, so I chatted to Pete (from Outer Manchester, now living in Bristol) on his way to a party in Ipswich. He had never been to this neck of the woods, so that was my cue to tell him about the wonders of Suffolk and ITFC. He wished us luck, and I managed to reach my seat in the stadium just as the whistle blew.
First half
The 'Sky Blues' were playing in bright orange, which felt a little threatening somehow. Let's hope they don't dazzle us out of a win.
The opening of this half saw both teams start brightly, Coventry perhaps edging the chances, with shots that were brilliantly saved by Walton. Their first attempt came from a header by Mason-Clark that was pitched too high, but their second was a decent strike that Walton deflected with his fingertips to bounce off the post. Almost immediately, the ball was pushed over the bar, again by Walton from a flyer of a shot by Eccles. The battle went on, from end to end. An attempted shot from Egeli was without the power to beat Rushworth, and Eccles fired a shot into the side netting.
More of the same, with lots of pressure from Coventry, until just before half-time. A free kick by Nunez led to a corner, then another, and in an amazing front of goal area scramble, the ball went from Philogene to Kipre to Davis – back to Philogene – who then provided Egeli with a great ball. He pulled off an excellent shot through a bunch of defenders and past the goalkeeper into the right-hand corner. It raised the roof.
Second half
In the second half, this pace carried on, initially with Coventry often looking the most likely. Their pressing hard to level and playing high led to two breakaways from Hirst and clear one-on-one chances for him with their goalkeeper. The first one was unsuccessful with Rushworth easily gathering the shot, but the second led to our second goal, a crucial cushion.
Before long, this cushion was threatened by Rudoni whose sharp shot from the edge of the box was through on goal, but Walton was again at hand for a great diving save.
Walton was given a yellow card in this half, for straying out of his area to gather the ball (which didn't please some), but I think it was deemed a handball offence as there were other defenders close by and no immediate threat on goal. The free kick consequently taken went dangerously across the goalmouth.
With bated breath and fingers crossed, we sat out the next 30 minutes knowing Coventry have become renowned for their comebacks. We were rewarded with a surprising finish. Cajuste was unlucky not to score near the 90-minute mark, but Rushworth made a good save, pushing it over the crossbar.
Five minutes added time! Clarke sent a beautiful ball sliding through to Azon, whose first instinct was to pass it across to Szmodics in the centre. However, it rebounded to him for a second attempt. This time, he curled a perfect ball into the right-hand corner of the net across the goal and Rushworth's reaching hands. What a fantastic ending to an extremely enjoyable game for Town fans.
Final Score: Town 3-0 Coventry
Men of the match
Very definitely this week – all of them!
Shout out to Matusiwa, Nunez, Philogene, and Cajuste for that extra edge they brought to the game.
Furlong was excellent as always. You don't always notice him, but he is always there. Right there. One of our most steadfast players, in my opinion.
Congratulations to Hirst for his sixth goal this season, and to Azon and Walle Egeli for their second goals for the club, in the Championship and in England and in Wales (Azon's first was at Swansea).
Supreme Men of the match – Christian Walton and Cedric Kipre. The goals were great, but the scoreline would have looked very different without several amazing saves and epic defending from these two.
Post-match pondering
The Sky Blues arrived in Suffolk with just one league defeat to their name in 2025/26. Town managed to put a stop to that run.
Many will be surprised, especially considering Town's rather erratic progress this year, but I believe and have often maintained – teams and individuals so often play better against better quality opponents. Bad players/teams seem to disrupt rhythm and style to everyone's detriment.
A little surprised Luke Woolfenden was booed when he appeared on the sideline. As a local boy, he was very popular when he was with us, and many regretted his exit. Then I recalled he had publicly announced a few months ago that he thought 'politics' at ITFC were hindering his career there (football speak for 'I spent too much time on the bench?'). Ironically, he still appears to be spending his time on the bench.
Moral of the story? When you go to a new club, don't criticise your previous one if you want a good welcome when you go back there – e.g. the still popular Nathan Broadhead we recently cheered when we played Wrexham.
Finally, I guess I must address the elephant in the room, although there's no point picking it all apart after the event (though we do when it's against us, of course).
Around 20 minutes in, Eccles booted the ball over the bar after the whistle was blown and was given a yellow card. Ten minutes later, Hirst was caught just offside and kicked the ball goalwards after the whistle was blown. Already on a yellow card, it was a sticky situation, but the referee let it go. Coventry were not happy with the decision.
Should we have been down to ten men? I'm really pleased Hirst found the confidence to score in that second one-on-one situation today, but slightly concerned with him picking up yellow cards – the fifth to date, which led to this latest controversy. Would he really have kicked the ball away whilst carrying a yellow card, with the knowledge that one had already been given to Eccles for the same offence? Or was he just passing it to the goalkeeper for the free kick? I don't know the answer to that.
I admired the way Lampard dealt with the question about it after the match, brushing over it, not wailing like some I could mention. "I have a list"… if you know, you know.
Coventry played well and played with the same spirit right through the game, never giving up or looking beaten. Hats off to them, this is, I'm sure, one of their keys to success this season.
Overall, without debating decisions, I believe we were the better side on the day. Our defence was excellent, Walton was a wizard, and our shooting was on point. At last. Town looked like a unit, a team that plays together, and they played with that combined capability to produce an exciting and, eventually, oh so satisfying match and result. They had Portman Road rocking. Thanks, guys, that was such a treat!
It was quiet going home, but in a good way – it was a contented quiet with an underlying hum of happiness. And no singing Sky Blues.
