Clinton Morrison scored a superb double to give Coventry a 2-1 victory over Ipswich.
Morrison brace clinches 2-1 win
Clinton Morrison scored a superb double to give Coventry a 2-1 victory over Ipswich in their opening match of the Championship season.
Morrison produced a sublime finish to open the scoring after 10 minutes and then powered a header past Richard Wright in the 24th minute to make it 2-0.
Ipswich reduced their arrears through Jon Walters moments later and dominated the second half, but the Sky Blues withstood the onslaught to emerge with three points.
Delightful opener
Bobby Robson was remembered with a minute's applause before kick-off and his name was still being sung when his former side Ipswich fell behind in the 10th minute after a rush of blood to the head from goalkeeper Wright.
A harmless looking goal-kick ran through to Morrison and after Wright needlessly chased out of his goal, the striker was able to turn and chip a delightful effort over his head and those of several covering defenders to find the top corner.
Some fine passing in the middle then led to Morrison's second in the 24th minute.
David Bell played it into the feet of Leon Best and after the striker was tackled Aron Gunnarsson worked it back out wide to Isaac Osbourne.
The right-back sent in a perfect first-time cross for Morrison to attack and he powered a header past Wright from 10 yards out.
Roy Keane was irate as he appeared on the touchline and within four minutes his side had one back.
Jon Stead dissected the Coventry defence with a perfect throughball and Walters kept his cool to steer a shot inside the post.
Ipswich captain Gareth McAuley should have tested Westwood with a free header before debutant Lee Martin twice shot over when well placed.
Pressure
Jaime Peters was then denied by a sprawling save from Westwood as Ipswich piled on the pressure after the break.
Keane gave new £1.7million signing Tamas Priskin 25 minutes from the bench and his first touch set up Walters for a fine effort which flew just wide.
Westwood made another top save to keep out a Walters header and Morrison cleared a Pim Balkestein effort off the line as the hosts soaked up wave after wave of Ipswich attacks.
But Coventry held on to start the season with a win and end Keane's 100 per cent record with Town.
| Coventry City |
Team Statistics |
Ipswich Town |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 0 |
Shots off Target |
11 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 7 |
Corners |
12 |
| 9 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 60.7 |
Passing Success |
66.1 |
| 11 |
Tackles |
13 |
| 72.7 |
Tackles Success |
92.3 |
| 44.4 |
Possession |
55.6 |
| 47.7 |
Territorial Advantage |
52.3 |
|
