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Sky Blues Come Back to Beat Blues Development Squad

The Blues Development Squad went down 2-1 to local rivals Coventry City in today’s development squad fixture after leading by an early Akwasi Asante goal.

A close range finish from Will Roberts and an excellent long-range striker were enough to secure the win for the Sky Blues whose young side looked like it was going to be overwhelmed early on.

However, Akwasi Asante showed no signs of rustiness on his return to reserve team football, intercepting a pass in midfield before striding forwards and slotting the ball just inside the far post in the first four minutes.

Koby Arthur continued to show why he is so highly rated by manager Lee Clark with a series of excellent through balls and long-range passes creating chances for the Blues strike force of Reece Hales and Asante with only the perseverance of a Coventry defence determined to stop the forwards and the safe hands of Chris Dunn stopping Blues getting any further goals.

Darren Ambrose had a fairly quiet game on the left flank which was punctuated by a blistering drive that hit the inside of the left-hand post before rebounding to a wrong-footed Ryan Higgins who couldn’t make the most of the chance gifted to him.

Higgins was once again impressive, playing at both right back and right midfield as Blues juggled substitutions and showed plenty of drive and pace as he ran at the Coventry left hand-side. However, Danny Phillsikirk got the better of him on 37 minutes, getting to the byeline before pulling the ball back to Will Roberts who had all the time and space needed to slot it home for the equaliser.

Unfortunately, after a good first half Blues faded somewhat in the second and allowed Coventry properly into the game. Asante visibly tired as the game went on, and was taken off on 60 minutes for Jack Deaman, with Koby Arthur going to centre forward and Ryan Higgins pushing up from right back to right midfield. Blues’ experienced midfield two of Hayden Mullins and Morgaro Gomis struggled at times to impose themselves on the game and dictate play and they paid for it when Billy Daniels smashed the ball home from outside the area after a 1-2 with Will Roberts.

Blues piled on the pressure, taking off James Fry for Eddy Gnahoré but they struggled to take chances created from the wide men; the ball being fizzed across the area on more than one occasion with Dunn struggling but no Blues forward to put the ball home.

Darren Ambrose really should have equalised on 88 minutes when the ball fell to him six yards out but in almost the exact same spot as Wade Elliott against Blackpool, he blazed over with the goal gaping.

On the balance of the second half Coventry were probably the better side but there was enough bright sparks from Blues to take positives from the performance; Arthur definitely looks like a talent whilst young Reece Hales showed glimpses of his promise in the first half with some very bustling play that was reminiscent of Geoff Horsfield in his pomp. Amari’i Bell looked decent enough at left back and Asante will be happy with his goal on his return from a niggly hamstring injury.

Team:

Colin Doyle; Ryan Higgins, James Fry (Eddy Gnahoré), Emmitt Delfouneso, Amari’i Bell, Koby Arthur, Hayden Mullins, Morgaro Gomis, Darren Ambrose, Akwasi Asante (Jack Deaman), Reece Hales

Subs not used: Nick Townsend, Liam Truslove, Charlee Adams

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4 Responses to “Sky Blues Come Back to Beat Blues Development Squad”

  • Oldbluenose says:

    Good to see Akwassi, back again, Considering it was his 1st, game for ages, sounds as though he played well, ?.

    Still have doubts concerning Ambrose and Mullins, but it is all hands to the deck for this last 2, months or so, !!.

  • mr_crosby says:

    Thought out of the 3 overage players Gomis had by far the best game. We had a few chances today especially in the first half and towards the end of the game just couldn’t finish them off.

  • sutton apex says:

    after the success of several of our youngsters would be nice to see asante given a 1st team run out ?? keep zig and thomas looking over their shoulder

  • Mr M Allen says:

    Thought Asante, Bell, Delfouneso, Higgins & Koby Arthur all looked very good prospects. Gomis played well. Although Blues youngsters looked individually very good plus we had experienced pros, thought Coventry players seemed to have more understanding between them, perhaps they’ve been playing together as a team for a while. However, rather than be down-hearted about losing thought some of the Blues youngsters have a bright future ahead.


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