United were beaten 5-1 at home today despite Scott Vernon's goal taking them in to the break ahead. Two penalties for Ward, a tap in for Doyle, and a pearler from Daniel Fox added to Dean Gerken's unfortunate error as Leon Best equalised.

How planes take off, and stay in the air has always puzzled me. Similarly, how do heavy ships and tankers stay afloat? I have another puzzle to add to the list now. Just how did Coventry City overturn a one goal deficit to thump United 5-1 at Layer Road this afternoon. The U's weren't as poor as the result suggests. Indeed, even at 3-1 we said how the result flattered the visitors but to be fair to them, they took the chances - including two penalties - whilst the U's missed enough to miss out on a point at least.
United were forced in to one change for the game against City with Bela Balogh coming in to the side at the expense of the (presumed injured) Matt Heath. That meant another start up front for Scott Vernon alongside Kevin Lisbie whilst Medy Elito had another chance to shine after his midweek International match.
City had the dangerous Michael Mifsud on the right wing with another Michael, this time Hughes, controlling play in the middle of the park as Chris Coleman used a 4-5-1 system designed to stifle the U's play. Kasper Schmeichel, son of Manchester United great Peter, was in goal.
First chance of the game came from Mifsud who looked suspiciously offside out on the wing before cutting in firing right across the face of Gerken's goal. Hughes volleyed in to the hands of Gerken but from the U's first meaningful attack of the game they opened the scoring.
The goal was down to Kevin Lisbie's superb run across the back four of City and down to astute pass from Coyne. That left him one on one with Schmeichel and though the on-loan Manchester City keeper parried the initial effort, he nor Elliott Ward could prevent Scott Vernon from pouncing for his third goal in two Layer Road games.
Leon Best and Chris Coyne then clashed, accidentally, in my opinion which did leave many U's fan irate with the referee. This was one of the few he did get right but he was certainly not helped by the City players preference for hitting the ground.
The U's then had a massive let off. A simple free kick in to the box wasn't dealt with by the U's defenders and no one was more surprised than Stephen Hughes when he found the ball at his feet with just the keeper to beat six yards out. Gerken did well to parry Hughes' initial effort but unlike the U's goal, Vernon got back to perform an overhead kick to clear the ball off the line. From my angle, it hadn't crossed the line.
Tabb was first on to a ball that flicked a United head from a long ball forward and fired in a volley which Gerken did well to beat out. At the other end, Vernon got to the by-line to pull it back but failed to find a U's shirt in doing so.
United's longest serving player then put Kevin Lisbie right through with just the keeper to beat but this time the Danish keeper came up trumps while Elito's volley looked to arrowing in to the top corner of the net from my angle - but from Schmeichel's non-plussed reaction he always knew it would end up with the City fans behind the goal.
So an entertaining first half ended with the U's on top - there was no clue about the carnage yet to come.
City came storming out of the block and scored twice within the opening six minutes. Gerken, who had been getting back to form, was culpable with the first. Best looked to be running out of room down the inside left channel and did well to toe poke the ball towards goal. However, as Gerken bent down to collect he inexplicably let the ball go between his legs and the ball rolled agonisingly in to the net. It was just what City needed after a halftime rollacking from manager Chris Coleman.
The Sky Blues fans were in raptures when three minutes later, Daniel Fox - who had been close to signing for the U's during the transfer window, curled in a lovely shot from the edge of the box past Gerken. United had never quite recovered from having John White off for treatment and though the Great Totham youngster had been waved back on to the field, the U's hadn't got back in to formation.
City might have had a penalty as Best turned Balogh in the box and shot wide with many thinking the Hungarian had enough of the front man's shirt to concede the spot kick.
United had been stunned by City's goal scoring spell but Vernon had a chance similar to his second against Ipswich a fortnight ago but this time found the stand rather than the far corner.
However, the former Blackpool man should have done much better with his next chance as Lisbie got in around the back and pulled the ball back to Vernon six yards out who scuffed his shot with the goal at his mercy. The rebound fell to Jackson who tried to hammer the ball in but his effort was bravely blocked. Schmeichel made a bit of a meal of a Jackson grounder which he saved at the second attempt.
With twenty or so minutes remaining Geraint Williams made a change with Kevin McLeod coming on for John White. This meant that Elito went to the right wing and Duguid to the left back position. If this was tactical then it was a fatal error as White had been coping with Mifsud (well, just about) but up against a part-time defender the Maltese International was about to have a field day.
However, before City went goal crazy the U's should have equalised through leading scorer Lisbie. Ifil swung in a left-footed cross which Lisbie, clear of the last man, swept towards goal. The problem was he swept it straight in to the hands of Schmeichel. A yard either side, and the U's were back level. The Dane was also on hand to catch Vernon's long-range strike as the U's looked for the equaliser.
But then City, took over completely. Mifsud was brought down by Duguid inside the box and Ward sent Gerken the wrong way for his second penalty in successive games.
Two minutes later and it's game over completely. A thumped long ball out from the back from a City defender was in the general area of Mifsud. The pacy winger needed no second invitation, beating Duguid for pace, and pulling the ball back towards goal. Though Ifil kept out Best's slight touch, he and Gerken could do nothing about Doyle's pass in to the back of the net. The midfielder celebrated wildly with the visiting fans and was booked for taking his shirt off and jumping in to the terracing. I thought they were separate offences and maybe he was lucky to stay on the park.
The U's to their credit never gave up. Duguid's shot from outside the box was a yard wide, while Lisbie raced through on his third one-on-one. This time he beat the keeper but the post came to City's rescue and the ball was cleared to safety.
The coup de grace was applied by a second penalty of the game from Ward. Hinds was allowed to jink down the by-line and progress was eventually ended by Coyne - though it looked again like the player went down to easily. Ward made no mistake though as City inflicted United's heaviest defeat at Layer Road since April 2003.

Photo: Action Images

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