COVENTRY CITY U23’S 0-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY
City U23's: Corey Addai, Jak Hickman, Sam McCallum, Chris Camwell, Morgan Williams, Declan Drysdale, Josh Eccles, Billy Stedman (Costelius Lautaru 81), Dexter Walters (George Hunt 95), Jack Burroughs, Jonny Ngandu. Subs: Tom Bilson, Reece Ford, Josh Endall.
Birmingham: Jeacock, Hutton, Bajrami (C), Redmond, Burke, Baker (Hurst 64), O’Keeffe, Stirk, McCoy, Bailey, Bellingham. Subs: Siviter, McLean, Forrest, Traore
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Coventry City’s and Birmingham City U23’s played out a 0-0 draw at the Ricoh Arena this afternoon.
Jason Farndon and Luke Tidsdale were without David Bremang and Charlie Wakefield who were on first team duty but had Jack Burroughs back after suffering concussion on international duty with Scotland U19’s.
On a cloudy afternoon and not as warm as it had been earlier in the week, both sides struggled to get to grips with a pitch which was patchy and looking worn.
There were chances in the first half with the first falling to Dexter Walters before Bellingham fired into the side netting.
After two corners for the visitors, a Jak Hickman free kick went over in a game where Josh Eccles who worked well in midfield, was on the receiving end of some crunching tackles, one of which brought a booking for Baker.
Neither side failed to trouble the keeper and it was goal-less at the break.
Six minutes into the second half and Eccles got down the right and fired wide. Birmingham went up the other end with Odin Bailey creating space for a shot which bounced off Addai’s right hand post.
In the 56th minute, Hickman won the Sky Blues a corner. Declan Drysdale who has been excellent since joining City from Tranmere, came in with a effort which blocked and fell for Chris Camwell to hit a twenty yarder that Zach Jeacock had to dive full length to his right to push away for another corner.
Drysdale fired wide from another corner just before the hour mark and this was followed by Corey O’Keefe trying and failing to beat Addai from the half way line, the City keeper flapping at a cross to concede a corner for the visitors at the North Stand end and Addai saving from Ryan Burke.
Luke Ridsdale was out urging more tempo from his side and although the Sky Blues were better in the closing stages with a couple of corners, the only real fight from either side came in stoppage time when there was a big melee following a bad foul on Dexter Walters, who had to be replaced by George Hunt and Chris Camwell and Jude Bellngham cautioned in a game which will be quickly forgotten.
Pictures copyright of CNS Sport.