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Mifsud magic lifts Coventry
Last updated at 21:52pm on 02.10.07Maltese marvel Michael Mifsud struck for the fourth time in three games to bring Coventry victory against Blackpool. The little striker, who sent Manchester United crashing out of the Carling Cup with a double at Old Trafford a week ago, pounced in the 69th minute to bring Iain Dowie's side their first victory in three home games.
Former Coventry striker Andy Morrell had opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when he headed home a free-kick from David Fox.
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Spot on: midfielder Michael Doyle thumps in a penalty for Coventry's first-half equaliser
Morrell's fourth goal of the season was cancelled out by Irishman Michael Doyle, who crashed home a 43rd-minute penalty after Mifsud had been brought down.
Morrell, who scored 17 goals in three years with Coventry, had looked lively throughout the first half, probing the home central defence with his non-stop work.
But all that effort had come to precious little until he was given space to nod home the simplest of goals.
Coventry midfielder Stephen Hughes gave away a free-kick on the corner of his own area and, when Fox curled the ball in, Morrell was on hand to glance it subtly past flatfooted goalkeeper Andy Marshall.
It was the first effort on target for the visitors, who came into this match having lost just one of their last 21 games.
They did, however, look just as enterprising as Iain Dowie's men, who were without a victory at the Ricoh in their last two appearances.
Man in form Mifsud looked their best hope of bagging an early goal. He turned and fired in a useful shot in the seventh minute and also set up Hughes for an effort.
Coventry's best early chance came through visiting defender Shaun Barker, who headed a Doyle corner just over his own bar.
Coventry continued to press and Jay Tabb and Robbie Simpson tried their luck from long range.
Once Morrell had put the visitors in front, Coventry's attacking threat diminished — until two minutes from the interval when Mifsud's magic gave Doyle his chance.
The striker used his pace to get around the back of the Blackpool defence and, just as he was about to cross, defender Danny Coid brought him down.
It was a clear penalty and Coventry skipper Doyle dispatched it with a powerful left-foot finish.
Coventry looked much brighter after the interval and Mifsud got the goal his performance deserved when Dele Adebola played him through and he finished neatly past Paul Rachubka.
It got worse for Blackpool when defender Kaspars Gorkss was shown a straight red card for upending Adebola on 81 minutes — and Robbie Simpson's header moments later sealed Coventry's win.
