Reserves make it 4 in a row.

Last updated : 09 February 2005 By The Rambler

Coventry 0 1Rams

Cov: - Shearer, Hill, Nicell, Osbourne, Cooney, Wall (Bains), Davis (O’Toole), Wood, Reid, Mackey, Thornton (Lynch)
Subs: - Tuffey, Gooding.

Derby County: - Grant, Doyle, Martin, Turner, Konjic Booth 45), Young, Ainsworth, Boertien Junior, Peschisolido, Meredith .
Subs: -Kirby), Nix, Llewellyn, Arnold.

While Derby County were as filled with pride as their stadium after a 33,000 plus crowd again saw attendance records broken for an Under 21 game, an event of arguably equal significance was taking place in front of 161 spectators as Mo Konjic made his much awaited return to action after 4 months on the treatment table. Ironically against his former club Coventry city.

Although he cam off at the end of what one assumes was a scheduled 45 minutes, it was an important stepping stone on the road to first team action.

After a poor first half to the campaign the Rams suddenly seem unbeatable with this result their fourth victory in a row,

The opening exchanges were scrappy with neither team creating much until Neil Wood, the Coventry skipper, made a half-chance for Craig Reid. Lee Grant dealt well with the low shot turning it around the post for a corner. Nathan Doyle then clearing a Liam Davis shot off the line from the resulting corner on 9 minutes.

The Rams too the lead with their first effort on goal on 21 minutes. Paul Peschisolido cleverly played a lofted through ball to 16 year old James Meredith. He dinked the ball over the advancing Scott Shearer and followed this up by heading home from a tight angle.

3 minutes later the Rams again had the ball in the net from a junior overhead kick. Only for the linesman’s’ flag to be raised after he judged the Brazilian offside from Lionel Ainsworths’ cross.

The home side had a goal disallowed on 36 minutes. A Chris Turner mistake allowed Neil Wood to thread a pass into the path of Chris Reid who slotted the ball under Lee Grant only to be given offside.

The Rams created another good chance with Junior flicking the ball over the top into Ainsworths path after 38 minutes. Unfortunately he dragged his shot wide of the left-hand up right.


The opening stages of the second half were scrappy with chances few and far between.

Three minutes shy of the hour mark Junior went round 6 Coventry players in the box but couldn't find space for a shot.

7 minutes later the experienced front man was unlucky to see his free kick hit the post after Paul Peschisolido was fouled on the edge of the area.

With 68 on the clock Paul Boertien had what proved to be the last on target shot for the Rams, but lacking power his effort was easily gathered by the keeper.

The Sky Blues dominated the closing stages of the game without being able to craft an equalizer, although they did go close.

Reid hit the post on 78 minutes, and 2 minutes later Hill saw a low drive well saved by Grant after he had worked a shooting position by beating two Derby defenders.

A further 2 minutes after that Reid was the first to react to a loose ball, but only managed to hit the side netting. And with time running out the same player was again denied by the excellent handling of the reliable Grant after attempting an overhead kick.

Although a realistic shot at the title is probably beyond the Rams the current run that has taken them further and further away from the lower reaches of the table with each result just as coach Steve Taylor had predicted before Christmas his side, which usually consists of youngsters is showing increasing signs that they are coming to grips with life at a higher level than that afforded them in Academy games.