It could have been so different. Coventry were the team on top in the early exchanges and it was not a shock to see Doyle pick his spot from 20 yards and fire high past the helpless Alexander. Cardiff were all over the place, co-writer Matt Gabb stood next to me said "it's going to be a long afternoon". When Suffo turned on 18 mins and beat Alexander it was just about game over, the ball appeared to be heading goalwards but it hit the post and then bounced back across goal and was made safe.
The referee in the first half I thought had a mare. It was his 1st Div 1 game of the season and he was wrong so many times. Richard Shaw, the Coventry centre back, got away with three severe challanges on Gavin Gordon and Rob Earnshaw, his booking in the second half was justified and I thought he'd done enough during the game to get sent off.
Ref Ilderton's biggest howler was to allow Langley to take out Doyle in the box and not give Coventry a sure fire penalty. The game by that stage had turned City's way. Robert Earnshaw broke free, his effort was blocked by keeper Shearer, Gareth Whalley following up put himself on the line and dived in bravely to get a touch on the ball, it seemed to hit Shearer and then Whalley again before creeping ito the corner of the net.
City fans went ballistic and made more noise that the home crowd who had lost their early voice.
Gavin Gordon was taking some stick from the fella's behind me for missing a header that Shearer held under the bar but Gavin rammed it back down their throats when he rose to meet a Gary Croft free kick and make it 2 - 1 to Cardiff. It was a superb header and fair reward for Gavin who was making the first 1st Division start of his career.
Ilderton then waved play on as Doyle was felled in the City box, if the Sky Blues had pulled it back to 2 - 2 it would have been up for grabs but amazingly City went down the other end and Earnie again broke free, Shearer came out to him and in my opinion did enough to block Earnie but Ilderton pointed to the spot and the countries leading scorer made no mistake with his spot kick.
We'd gone from whipping boys to crown princes in 12 incredible minutes.
The Cardiff fans were noisy enough anyway but the level was raised above and beyond anything Coventry would have seen in recent times. The lads to our right had been silenced and apart from vitriol towards the referee and an occasional cheer for winning a corner they had had the spirit knocked out of them.
City did a professional job in the second half. Covenjtry had to attack and City were able to defend with ease. Alexander had a few attempts straight at him but did not have to work that hard.
The best chance fell to Robert Earnshaw who round "calamity" Shearer in goal and as City fans started celebrating the 4th goal it was a shock to see the ball hit the post and bounce safe.
Julian Gray came on and impressed with his pace and ability. Cardiff could have scored more, there were times that we broke and had numbers going forward but the sharpness was missing. and Coventry survived. They tried to press but created little.
With so many players suspended or injured it was a superb result for City and all of the players and staff deserve credit.
Earnie was superb, Gavin Gordon did all that was asked, Robinson added passion.
Richard Langley came in for some stick for poor passing but he made ammends with a superb last gasp tackle after running the length of the pitch after his error gave the ball to Coventry in their box. Langley though was booked for the 5th time this season and will miss the trip to Burnley on Nov 1st.
Next up it's West Ham.