City pick up another point in their quest for a top six finish, but couldn't find that elusive League One goal...
The Sky Blues went in search of their first league win of the season at home to Bury on Tuesday evening, but couldn’t break through a resilient Shakers back line as the Ricoh witnessed it’s second consecutive 0-0 draw.
A tactical change just after the break livened up the home side’s attack force as the pace of Jodi Jones and Kyel Reid gave Bury something to think about. Jones laid on chances for Jordan Willis and Dion Kelly-Evans in the second-half but both were off target while Reid attempted a couple of efforts from distance.
Kelvin Etuhu could have nicked it for the visitors just before the end, but for smart goalkeeping by Reice Charles-Cook who was alert enough to move off his line swiftly and smother the danger.
Tony Mowbray made four changes to the side that started midweek, with Marcus Tudgay, George Thomas and Ryan Haynes regaining their starting berth, and debutant Chris McCann replacing Ben Stevenson in midfield.
McCann quickly introduced himself to the Coventry faithful, winning a couple of meaty challenges in the heart of the midfield before linking well with City’s Bulgarian midfielder Vladimir Gadzhev.
There was very little between the sides in the first-half. Bury’s Neil Danns whipped an early free-kick into the City box, which crept over the six yard line untouched by either side. Danns, a summer signing at Gigg Lane, picked up a knock moments later and forced the visitors in to an early change as Jacob Mellis took the 33-year old’s place in midfield.
The Sky Blues had a couple of first-half sightings of goal, with Tudgay looking to run in behind the Shakers’ defence, but the best chance of the first 45 fell to Ruben Lameiras in the 17th minute, who latched onto a loose pass, before shifting the ball onto his right foot and firing just wide of Bury’s goal.
The remainder of the half saw decent spells of possession for both sides without much in the way of clear-cut chances. On the half hour mark Andy Rose was on the end of a heavy challenge, forcing him off the field, and giving 19-year old Dion Kelly-Evans his second senior appearance of the new campaign.
Goalless at the break, Tony Mowbray elected to make his second subsitution of the evening, with forward Jodi Jones replacing Ruben Lameiras in attack.
The second-half wasn’t too dissimilar from the first, but sprung into life on the hour mark as the Sky Blues were enjoying their best spell of the game. 18-year old Jodi Jones spurred the home crowd on with his willingness to get forward and drive at the Bury defence. Picking the ball up on the halfway line, Jones glided across the pitch before sliding in Kelly-Evans who hit the side netting from a tight angle.
Bury mustered their best chances of the game with five minutes to go as a through ball from Tom Pope found Etuhu who tried to round Charles-Cook in the Coventry net. The City stopper stood up tall to deny the midfielder from 12 yards, before punching away a Pope header with an acrobatic leap to his left.
Yellow: Etuhu, Soares.
Attendance: 9,096 (222).
Teams
Coventry City: Charless-Cook, Willis, Ricketts, Harries, Rose (Kelly-Evans 35’), Gadzhev, McCann, Haynes, Lameiras (Jones 45’), Tudgay, G. Thomas (Reid 56’).
Subs: Burge (GK), Page, Finch, Stevenson.
Bury: Williams (GK), Jones, Cameron, Kay, Leigh, Etuhu, Soares, Danns (Mellis 14’), Mayor, Hope (Ismail 56’), Pope.
Subs: Radhubka (GK), Clark, Dudley, Maher, Barnett.