COVENTRY City Under 18s' pre-season winning streak was brought an end on Tuesday evening with a 3-0 defeat away to West Bromwich Albion.

The Sky Blues were undone by two set pieces and one goal from open play but manager Gregor Rioch remained upbeat, saying he was more pleased with the performance from the defeat than he was from his side's recent 2-1 win away to Walsall.

The Baggies took the lead on 12 minutes with a cleverly worked free-kick, the dead ball played down the side of the wall for an oncoming winger to cross the ball into the box for a header home.

The hosts made it 2-0 midway through the second half when Sulieman Leluu was caught in possession and the resulting ball over the top allowed the striker to finish past the City goalkeeper.

West Brom then wrapped up the game in the closing stages of the second half with their second set piece, a wide free-kick into the box which caught the Sky Blues unaware, allowing the Baggies striker to tap home at the far post.

Rioch said: "We've been punished by two set pieces which maybe we were caught sleeping at a little bit but it was a good performance from the lads and they deserved to get on the scoresheet.

"We've had around a dozen corners and a dozen crosses and our passing and movement is getting better al the time so that was pleasing considering most of these lads were coming off the back of Saturday's win over Bromsgrove.

"It's pleasing to see we are still heading in the right direction. West Brom are a good outfit and they were a very good test for our lads. We've just got to work on those final touches so the honing of the skills ahead of the new season is definitely on course."

Team

Coventry City: Quirke, Adams, Gudger Cameron, Greenway, Grandison, Trialist, Leluu, Bottomer, Ogleby, Wilson
Subs (rolling): Burge (GK), Grogan, Blackwell, Bigirimana