Line up
Nigel Pearson made three changes from the team that got taken apart by Hull at the KC Stadium last week. Loan signing Richard Wright went straight into the team with Michael Poke still suffering after playing through the pain barrier last week. Suprisingly the injured Kelvin Davis make the bench.
The other changes saw Jermaine Wright in for Alexander Oslund at right back and upfront Vincent Pericard in for McGoldrick, who was dropped from the squad. Hammill, Surman and Wright-Phillips all returned to the bench after not featuring in the sixteen last Saturday.
Saints lined up with the same 4-4-2 formation but with a slightly shuffled pack in midfield. Euell switched back from the left to the middle, Licka switched from right to left and Viafara from the centre to the right.
The emphasis was to get the ball up to the big front two, let them hold it up to allow the others to get up with the play and build from there. Coventry started with a more defensive 4-5-1 formation with former Saint Leon Best in the lone striker's role and with pacey Maltese attacker Michael Misfud wide on the right as the main focal points of their attack.
First half nervy - must win
The first half was a very nervy affair in which neither side really got going. The conditions were not great, a strong wind blowing down the ground made it difficult for both sides.
The opening twenty minutes saw little created from either side, Euell fired wide and Schmeichel had to be off his line quick twice to thwart John and Pericard. The later had the first real chance of the game after twenty five minutes. Licka's through ball found the front man but he couldn't get the round the shot and it went high and wide of the near post.
The away side's only effort on target of the half came courtesy of a long range effort from Stephen Hughes, but this didn't trouble Wright. As we entered the first and only minute of stoppage time Saints looked to come to life and put together the best move of an uneventful first half resulting in Viafara's cross being met on the volley by John but the effort lacked power and was straight at Schmeichel.
Second half nervy - musn't lose
There were no changes made at half time but Coventry lined up slightly differently, moving Misfud upfront and switching to a 4-4-2 formation in the search of more attacking play. Both sides started the half brighter, firstly Licka had an effort saved one-handed down low to his left by Schmeichel and then Wright had to save down low to his right from a Misfud shot from eighteen yards.
Stern John had a glorious chance to take the lead when Viafara's cross from the right found him at the far post but he got little on the header and it was straight at Schmeichel who scrambled it away. On sixty nine minutes Wright had to be very alert to save from Misfud who was beginning to cause the Saints back line problems with his pace.
Nigel Pearson saw fit to make a change on seventy minutes as Bradley Wright-Phillips replaced Vincent Pericard to make his first appearance since the shameful nightclub CCTV footage had come to light and he was duly greeted with a mixed reception, with most boos coming from the Northam.
Five minutes later it looked like he had stolen the three points having stabbed the ball in the net after being put through by John, but he was adjudged to be offside.
Saints best chance of the game came with a mere ten minutes left on the clock; Safri chipped the ball over the back line for Euell whose delicate back flick found John eight yards out with the goal at his mercy but he fired straight at Schmeichel.
The away side almost nicked all three points in the dying stages after substitute Simpson's low cross was just missed by Best, Gray gathered up the loose ball and his effort from an acute angle was well tipped over by Richard Wright.
Verdict - crucial point (for now)
So, a stalemate that doesn't really do either side many favours, but with none of the other bottom six losing it was crucial we at least got a point. Although there will still be twists and turns in the remainder of the season, this on paper was our easiest fixture and our run in is not kind, which leaves me feeling very nervous and not very confident.
The main thing today was to get a response following the Hull fiasco which at least defensively we did. Richard Wright had a good debut, making three very smart saves at times when he looked like Coventry might just steal the victory.
His distribution wasn't the best in periods, but the conditions did play a part in that. Powell and Thomas did look stronger and more organised than last Saturday and they had to be alert especially in the second half after Misfud was placed in a more attacking role.
All credit to Powell in particular who looked a totally different player to last week. However, the away side didn't offer much going forward, their main tactic being to lump the ball forward to Best, so the centre backs had a lot of heading to do and did it well.
What continues to worry me about our attacking options is our lack of width. Viafara always looks to press down the right when played out wide and today his delivery was better than I have seen in previous weeks, it seems he is adapting to that role, but he is still not a natural wide player.
Licka was switched to the left after not getting into the game against Hull, but as a wide man today he didn't offer much. When Vignal picked up the ball in the left back position Licka always seemed to be infield and there was no wide option for the full back.
Our left sided options in the squad are Hammill and Surman, neither of which seems to be in favour at the moment. Surman had been playing poorly when dropped and Hammill looked particularly out of shape when he made a brief cameo against Bristol Rovers in the cup but one of these has to play on the left to give us more of a threat down that flank.
Either of these coming off the bench today could have livened up the attack when at times we lacked ideas going forward. Upfront Stern didn't have one of his better games today, he really should have put away one of his second half chances.
In the first half in particular John and Pericard didn't link up to well together and often went for the same ball, although they are a new partnership we don't really have the time for them to gel. Today they seemed too similar to play together and we did look more dangerous when Bradley Wright-Phillips entered the fray.
A clean sheet is encouraging though and we need to build on this and go to Cardiff next week and at least get something out of the game. I'll be there to support the boys, I want to encourage as many fans as possible to make the trip the team really need the support in this tricky times. Hopefully I'll see you there. COYR!