Early strikes Adam Virgo and Chris Birchall proved enough for City's reserves as they saw off Italian outfit AC Renate 2-1 at the Ryton Training Ground this afternoon.

The Sky Blues started the game brightly and after six minutes Virgo put Coventry ahead when Ange Lorougnon threaded the ball through to the on-loan Celtic man and the striker coolly lobbed the ball home.

Five minutes later Coventry doubled their lead when Birchall latched on to a Ryan Lynch pass and the Trinidad and Tobago international hit a fierce shot from 18-yards out, the strike ricocheted onto the cross bar and forced its way over the line.

Under the surveying eye of caretaker boss Adrian Heath, Arran Lee-Barrett made a double save to deny Claudio Borghi after 20 minutes.

Birchall was looking impressive and orchestrating play in midfield as City began to assert their dominance.

The Sky Blues began the second period of play strongly when Virgo angled a header agonisingly wide after an excellent pull back from Lorougnon.

Liam Davis was proving to be a constant thorn in the side for AC Renate and the young midfielder nearly made the score 3-0 when he dragged his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area on 63 minutes.

Moments later the ball ended up in the back of the Italian's net when Lorougnon met a Davis cross but the Frenchman appeared to handle the ball into the net and accordingly the goal was disallowed.

The versatile Virgo then hit the post with a crisp volley with 22 minutes remaining on the clock. Comeback kid Stuart Giddings was substituted after 70 minutes of play and the young defender enjoyed a good round out after a prolonged period on the sidelines through injury.

The Serie D side pulled one back late on when Borghi rounded Lee-Barrett and calmly converted the ball into the back of the net.

The score line somewhat flattered AC Renate but the match was a good work out for a number of players vying for a place in Adrian Heath's starting 11.

Coventry City: Lee-Barrett; Giddings (Duggan, 70); Bunce; Turner; Lynch; Davis; Gooding; Birchall (Hildreth, 67); Trialist; Virgo (Burtoft, 80); Lorougnon