COVENTRY CITY 1-1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION BY KEV MONKS
Date 31/07/10 At The Ricoh Arena
Team
Westwood, Keogh, Cranie, Wood, McPake (Cameron 77), Gunnarsson (Bell 11 off, Laurent 57), Carsley, Doyle, McSheffrey (Platt 46), Eastwood (Baker 70), Jutkiewicz (Clingan 83) SNU L.Thomas, Quirke, Turner, Grandison, Clarke, Jeffers
West Brom
Carson (Myhill 46), S.Reid (Zulverloon 63), Cech (Mattock 46), Malumba, Ibanez (Tamas 63), Olsson, Morrison (R.Reid 83), Brunt, Bednar, Dorrans, Thomas (Miller 45) SNU Barnett,Mebe
HT CCFC 1-0 WBAFC FT CCFC 1-1 WBAFC ATT 6,957
Referee Kevin Friend Goals Gary McSheffrey (14), Ishmael Miller (73) Booked McSheffrey, Mattock, Bednar
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The last time Coventry City went unbeaten in pre-season, they won the FA Cup and new Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd became the first manager since George Curtis and John Sillett in 1986/87 to steer the Sky Blues to an unbeaten pre-season, following their 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
The visit of Premier League West Brom to the Ricoh Arena on an afternoon that was sunny but had some cloudy spells, was used as the Jimmy Hill Tribute Appeal game and former players including the aforementioned George and John provided a guard of honour for the players onto the pitch and Jimmy Hill who got a great ovation from both sets of supporters in a crowd of around 6,000.
City, who have been linked with Manchester City's Kelvin Ethutu and had another trialist keeper warming up, named a side that included Lee Carsley, Gary McSheffrey, Richard Keogh and Lukas Jutkiewicz and had trialist Francis Laurent on the bench.
After the hard working Carsley had fired over and Roman Bednar had incurred the wrath of some of the City support for feigning a back injury, which did not need treatment when it arrived, they were forced into an 11th minute change when Aron Gunnarsson went down and had to be replaced by David Bell.
The former Norwich City winger was involved straight away setting up a chance for Eastwood.
In the 14th minute, the City supporters who have not had many goals to cheer this pre-season, had one to celebrate when Gary McSheffrey was picked out by Eastwood and the Coventry born striker raced down in front of the Tescos Stand before slipping the ball past the advancing Scott Carson.
City deserved their lead and were looking for more goals through the lively Lukas Jutkiewicz, who again displayed some good touches but fired over in the 23rd minute and five minutes later, he shot wide from five yards following a McSheffrey cross.
Michael Doyle worked well in midfield along side Carsley, doing a similar sort of job that he did with Dennis Wise whilst at the back, Richard Wood and James McPake were again solid.
Martin Cranie did well in the opening period, making some good clearances and although Richard Keogh lost his marker on couple of occasions whilst defending, the signing from Carlisle was putting in a good shift.
That continued in the second half, following a break that saw one of my City heroes Bill Glazier unveiled to the crowd along with around twenty former players including Mick Coop, Willie Carr and Bobby Gould and the playing of the proper Ted Heath version of the Sky Blue Song, that used to blast out as we made our way into Highfield Road.
It was a second half that saw new signing Clive Platt or The Tree as he is nicknamed, unveiled to the crowd and the striker signed this week from Colchester United, immediately sprang into action, winning headers and laying off the ball with an air of confidence.
Michael Doyle got down the right as City attacked the CT Stand for the second half and delivered a cracking 55th minute cross which Jutkiewicz half bicycle kicked over the bar.
In the 57th minute, Aidy Boothroyd sent on Francis Laurent, who is on trial after being one of a number released by cash strapped Southend. Laurent played in midfield and did not look out of place in a Championship side
Laurent almost scored in the 62nd minute when he was at the far post for a corner won by the persistence of City's Irish, Pole. Unfortunately, he nodded the wrong side of the side netting.
Bednar wasted a good chance at the other end before Freddy Eastwood, who, had worked hard was replaced by Carl Baker.
Jutkiewicz sent a Laurent cross onto the roof of the bar but West Brom who had new signing Boaz Myhill in goal, went up the other end through Zulverloon who crossed for Ishmael Miller to head past Keiren Westwood, who up until that point had not been tested.
Although someone in the Tescos Stand with a booming voice was demanding more from the City, claiming that "we pay your wages", City had worked well for the draw and will go into the new season next week against Portsmouth, hitting the ground running.