COVENTRY CITY U21's 0-0 DERBY COUNTY U21’S
City:Dunn (GK), J. Clarke, Azille-Moore, Henderson (c), Stewart, Thomas, Roberts, Ruffels, Daniels, Philliskirk, Ball. SNU Subs: Maund, Rankin, Finch, Garner, Maddison
Derby County: Legzdins (GK), O'Connor, Roberts, Brayford (Dales 63), Gjokaj, Hanson, Bennett, Jacobs, Vernam (Smith 66), Doyle, Hoganson. Subs: Smith, Morth, Adams, Thomas.
HT CCFC 0-0 DCFC
FT CCFC 0-0 DCFC
Referee A.Howson
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Coventry City U21’s finished their PDL League 2 North home campaign with a 0-0 draw against Derby County.
With the Ricoh Arena pitch passed fit to play, Lee Carsley’s side, which had moved up to fifth in the table with wins at Birmingham, Derby and at home to Wigan, took to the field against a Derby side which had lost last week 3-0 at Leicester and was second in the table.
Carsley fielded Jordan Stewart at left back with Jordan Clarke who had played at centre half last week, moving to his normal position of right back, whilst up front Callum Ball came in to play against his parent club.
The wind was howling around the Ricoh Arena in front of a crowd of around thirty including Derby first team boss Nigel Clough and Steve Ogrizovic, Steve Pressley plus players Callum Wilson, Jordan Willis, Shaun Jeffers and Lee Burge and they saw Derby take to the pitch in an all black kit as did the referee and his assistants before Akil Howson put on an florescent orange t-shirt over his black top.
City, who were 19/10 to win, according to one online betting site, attacked the away end for the first half and had a good chance in the seventh minute when Callum Ball fired across the area.
Two minutes later and the Rams won the first corner of the game. Valentin Gjokaj dived in to meet the flag kick but just missed the ball which went out for a City goal kick.
Chris Dunn, who has been in good form for the Sky Blues, had his easiest match in a while and was not duly tested throughout the game thanks to Tarirk Azille-Moore, Joe Henderson plus Clarke and Stewart all ensuring that Derby’s chances were kept to a minimum.
At the other end, City did make Adam Ledzdins in the Derby goal work when he fired just grabbed a Ruffels shot from six yards out after Ball had initially fired wide.
As Connor Thomas continued to pull strings in midfield and Daniels, Philliskirk, Ruffels and Roberts provided plenty of hard work and some good passing, the Sky Blues created chances. Josh Ruffels, Philliskirk, Roberts and Ball all were blocked by some resolute defending by the Rams, whose only real chance had come from a 25th minute Charles Vernam volley which Dunn was able to scramble away.
Vernam went close in the 61st minute with a shot on the turn which went inches wide just before.he was the second Derby player to be replaced.
City did not make any changes to their starting eleven and continued to pick away at the Derby defence.
In the 71st minute, Callum Ball fired over from twenty yards and then Will Roberts went wide from a great ball across the park from Philliskirk.
Despite the pitch, City were playing some good football and a lovely 77th minute ball from Daniels to Ball on the left, saw the ball sent over to Jordan Clarke who fired over with a screamer.
Two minutes later and Jordan Stewart crossed from the left for Will Roberts to get in a header from six yards which Legzdins somehow managed to deflect onto the bar for a City corner.
City won another corner. Ball had his shot from a Daniels flag kick blocked and the ball fell for Conor Thomas on the edge of the area who let fly with a pilesdriver which Legzdins brilliantly pushed over for another corner.
A free kick, a throw and a corner followed for City and although a late Derby corner caused some concern before it was dealt with by Jordan Stewart making a great block, both sides took a point from what was an intriguing game.