THE defender who allowed Coventry to stage their fight-back at Portman Road will be hit in the pocket in new rules designed to hurt sloppy play.With the Blues leading Coventry City 2-0 at Portman Road last night, with goals from Darren Currie and Jimmy Juan, Gary McSheffrey was left unmarked as he swept home a corner seconds before half time.

By Derek Davis

THE defender who allowed Coventry to stage their fight-back at Portman Road will be hit in the pocket in new rules designed to hurt sloppy play.

With the Blues leading Coventry City 2-0 at Portman Road last night, with goals from Darren Currie and Jimmy Juan, Gary McSheffrey was left unmarked as he swept home a corner seconds before half time.

Lilian Nails equalised for the Sky Blues after the break as Town threw away a two-goal lead at Portman Road.

While boss Joe Royle was happier than after Sunday's embarrassing defeat at Reading, he will not allow players to get away with not doing their jobs properly.

He said: “The individual who should have been marking his man will be fined, which is our new rule.”

But Royle insists Town should have had a third goal after Richard Duffy cleared a Nicky Forster shot from inside the goal.

Royle said: “The fella who has headed it clear has almost got his back against the net, so it is hard to believe it wasn't given.

“It was a game that we should have won but could have lost at the end.

“If I was disappointed on Sunday, then I was quite proud of them tonight. We got pulled around with injuries and we had a couple of debutants so, overall, I thought they were smashing, they stood up to be counted.”

Blues' man-of-the-match Darren Currie was happy to notch his second home goal in as many games but felt he might have found a late winner after his shot was blocked following a brilliant run into the box.

He added: “I was really disappointed the shot didn't go in. I probably hit it too well, I would have been better scuffing it.”

Owen Garvan will have scans this morning on his leg injury, while Kevin Horlock has a rib injury to go with his swollen knee and both are doubtful for Saturday's home game with Watford.