The Sky Blues were held to a goalless draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
The first shot of the game fell to the Sky Blues and it was Josh Eccles who found space on the edge of the area and struck the ball narrowly wide of goal from around 25-yards-out.
The hosts had a golden opportunity to make the breakthrough when Tyrhys Dolan had his shot saved by Brad Collins and the ball fell into the path of Sammie Szmodics but he fired over from close range.
Haji Wright had a sight at goal midway through the first half, as the ball fell to his feet on the edge of the area, but his effort was saved by Pears.
Just before the break, Szmodics forced Collins into action, as the City shot-stopper got down low to his right to keep out the Rovers striker.
HALF-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Sky Blues
The second half begun and it was Blackburn who came close to finding the opening goal, but Sam Gallagher was unable to divert his header on target, as his attempt went wide of goal.
City then had the game’s best chance when Wright’s shot deflected into the path of Liam Kelly and inside the area, his shot hit the post and went across the face of goal.
The Sky Blues were reduced to ten men when Liam Kitching was shown a red card for being deemed to have denied Sam Gallagher a goal scoring opportunity.
Blackburn then hit the woodwork themselves and it was Tyrhys Dolan who saw his shot come back off the post after striking the ball from range.
Former City man Yasin Ayari was introduced in the second half and he had his head in his hands when his shot whistled past the post from the edge of the area.
The midfielder came close again from the edge of the area, but again his shot went inches wide of goal.
FULL-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Sky Blues
Yellows: Kasey Palmer
Reds: John Eustace, Liam Kitching
Attendance: 20,026 (4,338)
Sky Blues Xl: Brad Collins (GK), Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva, Liam Kelly (C), Josh Eccles (Allen 72’), Callum O'Hare, Kasey Palmer (Latibeaudiere 65’), Ellis Simms (Godden 72’), Haji Wright.
Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Luke Bell (GK), Dermi Lusala, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jake Bidwell, Kai Andrews, Jamie Allen, Matty Godden, Aidan Dausch.
Blackburn Xl: Aynsley Pears (GK), Hayden Carter, Dom Hyam (C), Kyle McFadzean, Callum Brittain, Sondre Tronstad, Joe Rankin-Costello (Ayari 63’), Harry Pickering (Chrisene 73’), Sammie Szmodics, Tyrhys Dolan, Sam Gallagher.
Subs: Leo Wahlstedt (GK), Billy Koumetio, Dilan Markanday, John Buckley, Andy Moran, Jake Garrett, Semir Telalovic, Yasin Ayari, Ben Chrisene.
