Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Saturday 1 March 2003

1 March 2003

The Diary recovers from a severe cheap vodka-induced hangover just in time to see Town be absolutely crap and lose again, 2-0 at home to a poor Coventry side who come into the game on the back of a five-match losing (and non-scoring) streak. Able to choose from a full-strength squad for the first time all season, Paul Groves selects an entirely inadequate midfield devoid of wit, wisdom, width, and in Alan Pouton's case, match fitness; while the Cooke Report is that Terry is once again absent even from the bench. As was the case when the two sides met at Highfield Road way back in September, Coventry spend most of the afternoon cheating - rewarded with a yellow card for Youssef Chippo and a second-half penalty which John Eustace converts for their second - the difference being that the Mariners deserved at least a point from the away fixture. The midlanders' first comes from a Simon Ford own goal on 17 minutes; and the only consolation for Town fans is that Stoke, Wednesday and Brighton all lose - but first division survival looks unlikely with the team in this sort of form.

Elsewhere - the third division, to be precise - a Carlisle defence with former Mariner Paul Raven at its heart is ripped apart by up-and-coming Hull, with the prolific Jamie Forrester netting once in t' Tahgers' 5-1 romp.

Robert Taylor, who in his short time with Town last season and this all too briefly hinted at becoming the new Clive Mendonca, is attempting to resurrect his injury-ravaged career with Scunthorpe, and good luck to him.

And finally, a big thank you to Mr Andy Holt, who filled in so very capably for the Diary yesterday when I was off getting trolleyed on aforementioned cheap vodka. My one minor quibble is with Andy's spelling of 'emanating' as 'eminating', which Freudian slip I fear may result from his secret devotion to gay pop superstar Eminem; but all round, Andy, it's a sight better performance than Town's today. Cheers fella!