Port Vale 2 Coventry City 0

By Kev Monks

Coventry City Reserves went down to a 2-0 defeat at Port Vale on Wednesday evening.

Reserve team boss Steve Ogrizovic fielded a young side with exception of experienced defender Robert Page, with Kevin Thornton the second most senior player at 21-years-old.

Liam Davis returned the side after injury and the talented winger missed the target with a 20th minute drive before the home side took the lead.

Vale pushed forward in the 26th minute down the right through Richman, who cut the ball inside for Luke Chapman to sweep into the net.

Luke Prosser and Colin Miles were cautioned before a powerful run by Lee Hildreth played the ball inside the area for Donovan Simmonds to fire a 43rd minute shot that brought out a reaction save from Vale custodian Martin.

A minute later, Hidreth tried his luck from 25-yards but City, who were under the cosh for the latter period of the opening half, trailed at the break.

For the second half, Ogrizovic sent Jermaine Grandison up front and played Callum Burgess in the heart of defence with Robert Page.

Grandison won a couple of early corners but in the 54th minute, the League One club went further ahead thanks to a mistake in midfield which led to Richman centering for James Lawrie to rifle high into the net from 16-yards.

Ashley Cain was sent on for Andy Gooding, who returned to the side after completing a successful loan spell at Burton Albion, but the home side continued to dictate the play with striker Danny Glover proving a constant threat.

Richman had a 62nd minute shot deflected for a corner while City goalkeeper Danny Ireland, who played reasonably well, punched the ball to Richman whose half volley from the edge of the area was brilliantly blocked on the line by the body of Liam Francis.

Davis was replaced after being on the wrong end of a two-footed Lawrie lunge and in the 81st minute, Ireland had to dive to his left to beat away a Glover drive.

This was a poor performance from the Sky Blues, who entertain Vale's close rivals Stoke City at Nuneaton Borough's Liberty Way stadium on December 17.

Port Vale: Martin, Crompton, Copeland, Edwards, Prosser, Miles, Richman, Davidson (Dixon, 85), Lawrie, Glover, Chapman. Subs (Not Used): Ransome, Pike, Brown, Branch.

Goals: Chapman (26), Lawrie (54)

Booked: Prosser, Miles, Lawrie

Coventry City: Ireland, Robinson, Francis, Page, Grandison, Hildreth, Gooding (Cain, 61), Thornton, Simmonds (Burgess, 46), Ashraf, Davis (Walker, 72). Subs (Not Used): Jones, D Marshall.

Goals: None

Booked: Davis