Bell bends it in like Beckham! Coca Cola CHAMPIONSHIP +++ BIG MATCH ANALYSIS +++ Winner stirs up unhappy memories for Sullivan.

Byline: By Andy Turner 

Coventry 1

Doncaster 0

CHRIS COLEMAN admitted in the build-up to this game that he would take a scrappy 1-0 win, just as long as his side ended their sequence of three straight Championship defeats.

That's exactly what he got - plus a magical bonus from David Bell who claimed his first goal since January's transfer-window switch from Norwich with a magnificent shot into the top corner from over 40 yards.

His 20th-minute strike was against the same goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, who was beaten from the half-way line over 12 years ago as David Beckham first announced himself as a world-class talent.

"I hadn't thought of that," admitted Bell, "but I can think of worse people to be compared with." Sullivan, however, was having none of it, and is clearly sick of being reminded of the famous goal that has haunted him throughout his career.

The 39-year-old keeper graciously admitted: "He caught it a treat and there were a couple of players on the line as well so there was only one place he was going to score. But it was nothing like Beckham's."

It wasn't in terms of Sullivan's position - the keeper being stranded to the right of the goal on Saturday rather than caught off his line at Selhurst Park and being outrageously lobbed. But there was room for some comparison in the wonderful vision and accuracy Bell displayed after Sullivan raced out of his area towards the right-hand corner flag to clear the ball ahead of Clinton Morrison only to make a hash of his kick.

"I would probably say that's the best goal I have ever scored," said Bell, "and I will enjoy seeing it again on the TV.

"He cleared it down the line and I got a touch and saw that he was way out of his goal so I thought, 'why not?' It is just one of those things - I struck it well and I was delighted to see it go in the top corner.

"As soon as I hit it I knew it had a great chance of going in. It was just one of those things where the keeperwas out of his goal and luckily it went in the top corner."

The goal was no more than City deserved for a bright start on a sun-drenched pitch, as the home side got forward well, switching play nicely and using both flanks to good effect.

Although he faded in the game, Jordan Henderson had a decent first half and provided a delightful cross in the opening minutes which the wasteful Freddy Eastwood scooped narrowly over the bar, and he worked well with the over-lapping Stephen Wright who was unlucky not to increase Coventry's lead when he hit a terrific volley on to the post.

Aron Gunnarsson was back in the starting line-up ahead of Michael Doyle, rested by Coleman after playing in ten of the previous 11 games. And the popular Iceland international played with great confidence on the ball, driving his teammates forward and setting up those early attacks, although he protested a little bit too much to the referee whenever he was stopped in his tracks. He was alongside Guillaume Beuzelin, who never really made an impact in the game and was eventually replaced by Isaac Osbourne - finally getting a run in his favoured central midfield role, albeit for only 15 minutes.

The longer City went without increasing their lead, the more they sat back and soaked up Doncaster's growing possession without really hurting them. To be fair to Rovers they did have some decent chances - three of which were denied by goalkeeper Keiren Westwood at his best - but with James Coppinger out injured, strike partner and leading scorer Paul Heffernan looked lightweight up front.

When the visitors did make a more determined push late on in an otherwise flat second half, with Coventry looking jaded, the home back four provided stout resistance with Scott Dann, in particular, and Ben Turner on top of their game to complement their keeper.

"It was a massive three points to be fair because we have been looking over our shoulders recently and if we had lost it would have been quite bad," said Westwood.

"I was pleased with my own game. I said when I first came to the club that it is about trying to be as consistent as possible and over the course of the season I have done that. Everyone has bad games and you concede bad goals, but, overall, I have been happy with my form all season."

The keeper, whose poor clearance led to Preston's winner the week before, could only sympathise with his opposite number, adding: "I felt for Sully a bit but it has got us a goal and a win and we are delighted with what was a great finish from Belly.

"He has got that ability, which he has shown in glimpses since he first arrived here, and that goal topped it off."

The Verdict

Chris Coleman

WE have played better but the most important thing was that we put an end to our run of defeats.

We knew what to expect from Doncaster who are a good passing side, very fluent, so we had to be a little bit patient and we hit them once or twice with fast-break attacks and should have scored more goals.

When we were 1-0 up against Birmingham I told the players at half time to go for it again, but against Doncaster, who are a good team who keep the ball, I wanted them to be patient and keep their shape for ten minutes to make sure they didn't find little pockets. We had a couple of hairyscary moments but we got the three points.

Sean O'Driscoll

IT'S difficult to win in this division, especially when you concede poor goals, and that was a poor goal from our point of view - it was a great finish but a poor goal for us.

Neil Sullivan's experience speaks for itself, he's 39 years old and I'm not going to teach him to suck eggs. He tried to clear the ball further up the pitch because of Gunnarsson's long throw, but in hindsight he should probably have stuck it into row Z and defended the next attack.

We are fine at passing the ball and maintaining possession but we need to improve on some of the other things that 90% of the teams in this division can do in their sleep.

Saturday March 21, 2009

RICOH ARENA

Coventry City 1

Doncaster Rovers 0

Attendance: 18,498

(Away fans 1,465)

The Teams

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2): Keiren Westwood; Stephen Wright, Scott Dann, Ben Turner, Marcus Hall; Jordan Henderson (85 mins, Robbie Simpson), Aron Gunnarsson, Guillaume Beuzelin (78 mins, Isaac Osbourne), David Bell; Clinton Morrison, Freddy Eastwood (61 mins, Leon Best). Substitutes not used: Andy Marshall (goalkeeper), Elliott Ward

DONCASTER ROVERS (4-4-2): Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts (89 mins, Sam Hird); John Spicer, Richie Wellens, Mark Wilson (84 mins, Waide Fairhurst), Martin Woods; Dean Shiels, Paul Heffernan (74 mins, James Hayter). Substitutes not used: James O'Connor, Jos Van Nieuwstadt.

Clockwatch

2 mins: Freddy Eastwood scoops a golden opportunity over the bar from seven yards out.

12: Aron Gunnarsson gets in a near-post header from a corner but Neil Sullivan saves.

18: Midfielder Mark Wilson hits a good shot from the edge of the box to force a good save.

19: Matt Mills heads over from the resulting corner.

20: Sullivan clears straight to David Bell who hits a delightful shot from 40 yards into the top corner - 1-0.

27: Stephen Wright thumps a volley on to the post.

29: Bell switches on to his right foot and hits a splendid shot to force the keeper to save.

33: John Spicer cuts into the box and has a good angled shot cut out by Westwood.

41: Henderson hits a shot straight into the keeper's arms.

43: Dean Shiels volleys just wide across the face of goal.

48: Paul Heffernan hits a neat back-flick to force Westwood into a decent stop in the six-yard box.

50: Shiels has an effort blocked as he goes one on one with Westwood.

63: Scott Dann heads narrowly over the bar from a Beuzelin cross.

85: Robbie Simpson stretches at the far post but can't connect with a Bell cross.

90: City hold firm amid three stoppage time corners.

Referee

RICHARD BEEBY (Northamptonshire)

BOOKINGS: Richie Wellens (23 mins, foul on Aron Gunnarsson), Jordan Henderson (24 mins, foul on Martin Woods), Stephen Wright (46 mins, foul on John Spicer), Clinton Morrison (56 mins, foul on Adam Lockwood).

Match Stats

Coventry

Doncaster

6 Shots on target 3

5 Shots off target 7

3 Corners 9

2 Offside 3

13 Fouls 7

3 Yellow cards 1

0 Red Cards 0

Star Man

SCOTT DANN

LED by example at the back, blocking, tackling and winning his headers throughout a commanding display.

CAPTION(S):

BEST FOOT FORWARD... Sky Blues striker Freddy Eastwood in a high-kicking duel with Doncaster's James Chambers Pictures: Lee Busby; WHAT A BEAUTY... The faces of rival bosses Chris Coleman and Sean O'Driscoll tell the story as the Sky Blues mob David Bell after his spectacular long-range shot sails into Neil Sullivan's net