Post Match Reaction - Coventry City 4 Newcastle United 1

Where to start?! BBC ran the headline Coventry announce themselves back in the big time and who are we to argue! City took all 3 points with a 4-1 win against Newcastle, exactly the same score as when City last won against the Toon way back on 16th October 1999, nearly 27 years ago exactly.

Here's your post match links for including highlights, reaction, vlogs and The LAST Word.

The LAST Word

SFL paid virtually no attention to LAST's post-match preview, where we said to keep the winning team and formation! The only things we got right were Yirenkyi coming in for Onyeka and MVE coming back on the right. City changed to a 4-4-2, with Mfuni dropping to the bench and Rudy playing behind Cherif.

City got just the start they wanted when Toon keeper Hornicek spilled the ball into the path of Cherif, who beat him to it and was brought down for a penalty. Thoughts turned to who might take it, but Rudy grabbed the ball and sent Hornicek the wrong way with his first-ever penalty in 90 minutes.

City were then under the cosh somewhat and were guilty of sitting back. Newcastle had several chances, but there's one reason Newcastle didn't equalise, and that reason was Bobby Thomas. He was winning headers, putting the ball over the bar and, at one point, with Rushworth stranded, he chased back and blocked the ball from going into an empty net. Jamie Carragher would later compare him to "John Terry of 2005". Newcastle didn't get back level, though, and importantly, City went into the break in front.

The second half started as well as the first. MVE launched a long throw, which was won by a Newcastle head. Cherif, though, had cleverly peeled away from the pack, anticipating where the ball would go. He collected it on the edge of the box, swivelled and drilled the ball through four Newcastle players and into the bottom corner. He thus became City's third-youngest PL scorer after Keane and Ndlovu.

This was a very open game, and Newcastle pulled one back on 70 minutes when City, particularly Yirenkyi, who had run himself into the ground, sat off Botman, who smashed the ball into the top corner for another goal conceded to a centre-half from long range.

I think we all feared the worst as Newcastle were set free straight away, but that came to nothing. No need to worry, though, as City scored twice in five minutes, with BTA hitting the post as well.

SFL had made some good subs, and two of them combined for the third. It was great to see Tats come on, and he got a good reception. He robbed Lewis Hall on the right and drove into the box. He was dispossessed, but the ball broke to BTA, who was brought down. The ref played a great advantage and Ellis Simms slotted home with his very first touch on his 150th appearance.

City weren't done, though, and another sub, Mfuni, drove into the box and unleashed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Scenes! Limbs! That made Mfuni City's youngest-ever Premier League scorer, demoting Cherif to fourth!

What a result, as big as the Forest one. City backed up their first win with their second. An important home win, not just for the three points but for the manner in which they did it. They worked tirelessly, were direct and quick with the ball in attack and defended heroically.

Bobby Thomas was outstanding and looks every bit a Premier League centre-half. Yirenkyi was what we needed in central midfield, full of energy. Yes, he makes mistakes, and he will do as a young player, but he must be a complete pain to play against.

Cherif looks like he's settled in, and the coaching staff have done some work with him. He took his goal excellently and looked a threat, although he did miss somewhat of a sitter for his second, but we'll forgive him that!

It just needed that one bit of luck or the first goal to go our way, and we'd be off and running, and that's what's happened. City had 51 shots and one goal in five matches, and then six shots and four goals last night!

It puts City on six points from six games, with the bottom two teams to come. Dr Tottenham will be a tough game, though. As Spursy as they may be, they did just draw at Manure and spent double what we did in the summer.

Then it's Fulham at home, which City should go into with confidence. A draw at Spurs and a win against Fulham would give us 10 points out of 12 following 0 from 15.

Highlights:

Official YouTube Highlights

Reaction:

Official - SFL, Simms and Rudi