Defending Ben Turner

However, these statistics are insignificant whilst charting the overall maturity of Turner, an academy graduate who has taken a road to the first team predominantly different from the likes of Jordan Clarke and Ashley Cain.

The Carling Cup 4th Round tie against West Ham in 2007 could well have been the turning point. Turner's mistake in injury time allowed Carlton Cole to plant the ball past Andy Marshall in a game the Sky Blues dominated.

After the heroics of the team against Manchester Utd in the previous round the heartache was even more painful and immobilizing than usual.

After the events that Tuesday evening Turner has unspectacularly, solidly and steadily won round the heads of the supporters. It's easy in the heat of the moment to expel unfounded vocal explosions towards situations we have no control over (apologies Herald Pub, Tuesday 30th October 2007) because we simply care.

Ben Turner is a prime example of a Sky Blue stalwart in the making - something I personally couldn't have found myself writing two years ago. My favourite player when I was growing up was Richard Shaw, and I genuinely believe Turner has the talent to match the love and memories we associate with Shaw (but not the haircut).

The trip to Preston at the weekend will again trigger the memory of Turner - it was at this fixture last season he scored an own goal which was mocked so cruelly by the stadium announcer.

But I suspect he won't need to score a thirty-yard screamer to be collectively applauded for his first goal in Sky Blue - the story of his tenacity, perseverance and good ol' fashioned doggedness throughout his career is enough to be proud of.