City violence sends Sky Blues to Coventry

Thirteen frightening minutes of violence at Maine Road showed that supporters are being put at risk because police and clubs have become too dependent on stewards to keep the peace.

Security criteria throughout the country may need an overhaul after 100 Coventry City hooligans broke through a cordon manned only by Manchester City volunteers.

The incident proved not only that violence remains a threat to the national game but that stewards alone are not a sufficient deterrent to the most determined of thugs.

Trouble flared after Shaun Goater's injury- time goal gave Manchester City a 1-0 win. Significantly, police who had been helping to enforce a segregated area between the rival fans had been withdrawn three minutes earlier. They were deployed outside the ground, ready for the end of the game.

The Coventry thugs sensed their opportunity and surged forward. Punches were thrown and missiles hurled and, but for the 40 stewards who bravely stood their ground, the situation would have been even graver.

Chief Inspector Chris Marshall, the police commander at the match, said: 'We worked to a planned operation and towards the end of the game I deployed my officers to the exits outside the ground where there would be more potential for trouble.

'This was the third meeting between the clubs this season. There had been no history of trouble and there had been no incidents during the game.