Ipswich rose to fifth in the Premiership last night when a last-minute header from the defender Fabian Wilnis broke the deadlock and deepened Coventry's depression near the foot of the table.
Coventry have now lost five successive league games and won only once since August. Last night they made several changes from the side that surrendered 4-1 at Liverpool 10 days ago. Four players - Richard Shaw, Ivan Guerrero, Carlton Palmer and Gavin Strachan, the manager's son - were dropped, with Mo Konjic making his first start for 15 months in the centre of their defence. But it was all to no avail.
Ipswich, by contrast, have been the embodiment of consistency. Starting from the back, where Richard Wright yesterday made his 199th consecutive appearance, their line-up has been remarkably stable this season, just as it was last. Only one member of last night's squad - Hermann Hreidarsson - was not already at the club to celebrate last season's promotion.
This goes some way to explaining the surge which has carried them towards the top of the Premiership. They would have been eyeing Coventry's defensive record with particular relish, confident of scoring in their 22nd successive league game, a record unrivalled anywhere in England.
For all the omens, though, Coventry had by far the better of the first half. The visitors were constantly troubled by the pace, if not the finishing, of Craig Bellamy and by the effervescent David Thompson on the right. Ipswich, deprived of width as their two wing-backs concentrated on defence, were frequently forced into untypical long balls, and their only chances fell from corners.
They were, though, the two best chances of the half, with Jamie Scowcroft particularly culpable for failing to find the target with a 13th-minute header. Coventry's best opening came when Cedric Roussel ran on to Bellamy's through ball in the 28th minute, was incorrectly called offside.
Most of the others fell, or almost fell, to Bellamy. But Coventry's top scorer, with just one goal to his name since August, rarely shot when given the chance.
When David Thompson hit the Ipswich bar from 35 yards with a 72nd-minute freekick, the die appeared to be cast.
COVENTRY CITY: Kirkland, Telfer, Edworthy, Williams, Breen, Konjic, Thompson, Chippo, Hadji, Roussel, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Shaw, Eustace, Aloisi, Strachan, Miller. Booked: Chippo.
IPSWICH TOWN: R. Wright, McGreal (Bramble 70), Venus, Hreidarsson, Clapham, Wilnis, Magilton, Holland, J Wright (Reuser 68), Scowcroft, Stewart. Subs Not Used: Johnson, Naylor, Salmon. Booked: Wilnis. Goals: Wilnis 90.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
