Derby can knock it about in their own half all they like! It wasn't hurting us! At least until the second half anyway. I hate the way people brand a 'poor performance' and a 'bad performance' simply on whether or not we played attractive football. That was Coleman and Dowie's downfall. Fact is, we have Micky Doyle and Lee Carsley at centre mid. Not Xavi and Iniesta! And if it works, why not use it.
Because when all is said and done, the scoreline simply reads 'Coventry City 2-1 Derby County'. That's the main bit. Not the attendance, not the style of play, not the possession, the score.
I for one would be rather annoyed if we played attractive football each game but didn't win. All this hoofball rubbish is wide of the mark. We don't always hoof it up to the big boys, today, Sheffers often made some neat moves linking up with the strikers.
Lee Carsley and Micky Doyle are there for a specific reason. To get on the opponent's nerves, and to win that ball. And it worked today. Carsley made Savage look very, very poor, and Doyler, despite all that is said about him, has been a rock. Anyone who has been to any of the 4 games we have played this season, would agree that Doyler has been superb. You don't keep Aron Gunnarsson and Sammy Clingan out of the side if you're playing as poor as some say.
In conclusion, having said all the above, I prefer playing scrappily and digging out a result, rather than trying to play intricate passing football and regularly losing leads and losing games we perhaps should win, like last season. The teams at the top are the ones who win games they should lose, and the teams at the bottom are the ones who lose the games they should win.
One more thing, isn't it great to see our academy being heralded. Ben Turner and Nathan Cameron at centre half and Gary McSheffrey on the left. Cameron reminds me a bit of Des Walker. Big, strong and quick. He'll get better and better given the chance. And Ben 'Calamity' Turner showing why we've kept the faith in him. Hopefully the mistakes he makes are in the past. If so, he could become a very tidy player.