FOOTBALL: A THIRD consecutive home win has pushed the Sky Blues further away from the League One relegation zone as goals from Jordan Willis substitute Andy Rose and consigned Chesterfield to a seventh straight defeat in all competitions.
It may have taken them two months to get going but it now seems under Mark Venus the Sky Blues are really starting to show the rest of the league what they are all about after stretching their unbeaten home run this season to 11 matches.
Despite scoring on his return from a knee injury at Walsall on Saturday, Rose was dropped to the bench along with Ruben Lameiras and Marvin Sordell, with Jodi Jones, Kyel Reid and Marcus Tudgay all returning.
Chesterfield came into Tuesday’s clash having lost their last six matches in all competitions but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to find an opening in what was an uninspiring opening 45 minutes.
Gael Bigirimana had City’s best effort of the half but his swerving shot from just outside the area flew narrowly wide of goal.
Goalkeeper Lee Burge was in fine form in-between the sticks as he pulled of a series of fine saves to keep the scoreline level at the midway point.
With 22 minutes gone Burge made an important near post block before Willis through his body on the line to deny Ched Evans’ powerful rebound and Burge was called into action again to deny Jay O’Shea’s long range effort.
The hosts raised their performance after the break but it was the introduction of Rose and Lameiras that helped inspire the Sky Blues to victory.
Evans fired a dangerous 25-yard shot wide and Burge denied the former Sheffield United striker before just two minutes after the double change Venus’ side were in front.
Jordan Turnbull showed great composure in the area to pick out his defensive partner Willis and the skipper was able to poke the ball past Ryan Fulton in the Chesterfield goal from six yards out with 68 minutes on the clock.
The goal clearly lifted the Sky Blues who did not allow their opponents to threaten and with ten minutes remaining they double their advantage when Page picked out Rose by the penalty spot and he fired home his second goal in the space of four days.
The only down side to a near perfect night for City was in stoppage time when the impressive Page was sent off for a second yellow card but it took nothing away from a superb second half showing.
A run of 14 games unbeaten at home is the club’s best run since 1979 but this weekend attentions turn to the FA Cup as Venus prepares his side for a long trip to Morecombe on Sunday.
Sky Blues boss Mark Venus:
“We spoke honestly and frankly at half-time and we all knew it wasn’t good enough and that we hadn’t reached the levels of our performances in previous weeks.
“We came alive in the second half, created chances and played forward. We got a goal from a set-piece, our first of the season, so that’s another big plus for us.
“Not just Andy Rose, but I thought Lee Burge was excellent tonight and Jordan Willis is a player growing in confidence every week, becoming a man and becoming a leader.”
