Kilmarnock 0-2 Coventry

Aug 3 2008 Brian Welsh At Rugby Park

SHOT-SHY Killie copped an undeserved defeat as Coventry's Elliott Ward and Julian Gray put them to the sword.

Ward's controversial penalty and Gray's stunner gave City the win against Jim Jefferies' side.

And the Kilmarnock boss will be worried that his strikers fired blanks again ahead of next week's SPL opener with Hibs.

City's front two Freddy Eastwood and Leon Best looked lively early on and keeper Damien Rascle had to use his feet to deny Best an angled shot.

The Rugby Park side grew into the game and David Fernandez should have headed them in front but he misjudged James Fowler's perfect cross.

Winger Craig Bryson was then denied by City keeper Kieren Westwood twice in quick succession before the break

His point-blank header from sub Gavin Skelton's cross was brilliantly stopped by the Westwood's leg.

And from the resultant corner the ball fell to Bryson 15 yards out but his sweet strike flew straight into the arms of the keeper.

Killie made three changes at half-time and Chad Harpur came on for Rascle.

The replacement goalie was involved in the big talking point of the game just nine minutes later.

Danny Fox played a long ball down the left wing which Gray chased.

He arrived in the box and collided with Harpur, both players fell to the ground and it looked like there was nothing in it.

But ref Eddie Smith felt Harpur had impeded Gray and pointed to the spot.

Centre-half Ward sent the Killie keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.

The game then fell flat for long spells and Jeff's men looked in desperate need of some inspiration.

Sub Willie Gibson responded by sparking Killie back into life when he cut in from the left and unleashed a 20-yard thunderbolt.

It looked to be heading in but Westwood got a hand to it to tip it away.

The home side lost heart and Gray curled a superb right-foot effort into the top corner late on.

But the scoreline was a harsh reflection.

team sheet

KILMARNOCK: Rascle, Fowler, Wright, Pascali, O'Leary, Ford, Hamill, Fernandez, Sammon, Taouil, Bryson. Subs: Harpur, Lilley, Locke, Morgan, Murray, Gibson, Skelton, Flanagan.

COVENTRY: Westwood, Wright, Fox, Ward, Dann, Tabb, Beuzelin, Simpson, Grey, Best, Eastwood. Subs: Turner, Ireland, McKenzie, Thornton, Hall, Borrowdale, Kyle, Morrison.