Healy injury takes shine off entertaining game
A serious injury to Irish international Colin Healy overshadowed a gripping game between Sunderland and Coventry at Highfield Road.
Coventry were held to their eighth draw in 10 games as Sunderland lifted themselves into the play-off places.
A Gary McAllister penalty cancelled out an early opener by Stewart Downing as the match ended 1-1, but Healy’s injury, which came after a tackle by Youssef Safri in the 79th minute, took the shine off an entertaining contest.
Fuming Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy said he was not impressed by Safri’s challenge.
He said: “I wanted to talk about the match because it was a good game, but instead I have got a player lying in hospital with a suspected broken ankle.
“I think it was a bad tackle as he has gone over the top. I have seen it three times and I cannot dress it up as anything other than a very poor challenge.
“I am not saying it was malicious or even that he meant to do it, but the ball is there to be won and if players started tackling the ball we would all be much better off.”
City boss McAllister defended his player: “It was not as much what I saw as what I heard. There was a loud crack and I was praying it was just a clash of shin pads.
“It is pretty disturbing to see a player lying on the pitch on oxygen.
“One minute the game was ebbing and flowing, the next there is a player on the floor with a serious injury.
“I have played with Youssef for many years and I know he would not do anything like this on purpose.
“There was no intent at all and Youssef is very concerned for Colin Healy.
“Colin is a young player who has worked very hard to get where he is and to earn his contract at Sunderland. I am sure he will recover from this.”
McAllister admitted that both sides seemed happy to play for the draw after seeing Healy leave the field.
Sunderland had taken the lead after just seven minutes when Julio Arca played the ball wide to Downing, who struck a low drive past the stretching Gavin Ward.
Coventry hauled themselves back into the game 14 minutes later when McAllister played an excellent through ball for Julian Joachim.
With the ball heading out of play, Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom came off his line and brought the former Aston Villa striker down.
McAllister calmly stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.
