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PREVIEW: U23s host Sheffield United

The top two face off against each other...

14 December 2021

The Sky Blues U23s play their final game of the year when they host Sheffield United at the Alan Higgs Centre on Tuesday afternoon, with kick off scheduled for the Professional Development League clash at 1:00pm. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.

Last Time Out…

The U23s’ won their ninth league game of the season last Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Peterborough United.

The visitors took the lead when Kai Corbett curled an effort into the far corner with 11 minutes on the clock, moments before Josh Pask was then sent off for bringing down Corbett.

Five minutes into the second half Luke Tisdale’s side levelled the match through Jodi Jones before his cross just before the hour mark put City ahead after Emmanuel Fernandez put through his own net.

Extreme hail forced the game to be temporarily stopped but with play resumed Josh Eccles sealed the points with a shot from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner!

Sky Blues XI: Tom Billson (GK), Blaine Rowe, Declan Drysdale, Josh Pask, Josh Reid, Josh Eccles, Jonny Ngandu (C), Marco Rus (Ricardo Dinanga 62’), Aaron Evans-Harriott (Jay McGrath 25’), Jodi Jones (Aidan Finnegan 85’), Fabio Tavares.

Unused subs: Trialist, George Burroughs.

The Opposition

The Blades finished top of the 2020/21 Professional Development League Northern Division and overcame Ipswich Town 4-0 in the Semi Final before ending up as runners-up in the overall competition after losing to Birmingham City in the Final 2-0.

This season the South Yorkshire club find themselves 2^th, five points behind the Sky Blues, after winning 2-0 against Crewe Alexandra at the Technique Stadium last Tuesday.

Crewe ‘keeper Tom Booth had to deny a trio of Blades’ players early on as Andre Brooks, Iliman Ndiaye and Angelo Cappello chances all forced him into saves.

However, just before the break saw the home side get their deserved opener when Hassan Ayari fired in a free kick from the edge of the box.

Cappello was denied again by Booth, who was keeping the Railwaymen in the game, and after four further saves, Will Osula finally sealed the win for the Blades when he chipped Booth with three minutes remaining.

Last Six Games

Won – Sheffield United U23s 2-0 Crewe Alexandra U23s (Professional Development League)
Drew – Peterborough United U23s 3-3 Sheffield United U23s (Premier League Cup)
Drew – Peterborough United U23s 0-0 Sheffield United U23s (Professional Development League)
Draw – Sheffield United U23s 1-1 Swansea City U23s (Professional Development League)
Won – Sheffield United U23s 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday U23s (Professional Development League
Won – Hull City U23s 0-2 Sheffield United U23s (Professional Development League)

Last Time We Met

The two sides last met in was in October 2021 with City going down to their first defeat of the season at Bramall Lane.

Strikers Fabio Tavares and Tyler Walker both had chances to give the Sky Blues the lead early on with Blades’ keeper Jordan Amissah denying the former before the latter headed wide.

21 minutes was on the clock when City took the lead as Marco Rus passed to Blaine Rowe out wide and the full back’s cross picked out Tavares who found the back of the net.

However, in the first minute of the second half the Blades were awarded a penalty when Rowe was deemed to have brought down Arblaster with Brunt bringing his side level from the spot.

Jordan Shipley then had had an effort saved by Amissah before Regan Slater put the hosts ahead when he reacted quickest to the rebound following Tyler’ denying Angello Cappello.

Amissah saved another shot from Shipley but in the final minute Josh Reid’s cross to the back post just couldn’t pick out Walker as Luke Tisdale’s side slipped to their first defeat of the season

Sky Blues Xl: Cian Tyler (GK), Blaine Rowe, George Burroughs, Michael Rose (C), Josh Reid, Jonny Ngandu, Marco Rus, Jordan Shipley, Bright Enobakhare, Fabio Tavares (Aaron Evans-Harriott 78’), Tyler Walker.

Unused Subs: Luke Bell, Fionn O’Brien, Harrison Nee, Oliver Berry.

Northern Section Table:

Team	Played	F	A	GD	Points
Coventry City	12	30	18	+12	28
Sheffield United	11	22	9	+13	23
Hull City	11	25	20	+5	17
Barnsley	12	13	29	-16	13
Peterborough United	11	18	17	+1	12
Wigan Athletic	8	11	17	-6	9
Sheffield Wednesday	11	11	19	-8	9
Crewe Alexandra	12	13	29	-16	9

Match Previews

Match Reports

UNDER-23S: Sky Blues 2-0 Sheffield United

City go eight points clear at the top...

14 December 2021

In the battle of the top two, Luke Tisdale’s side came away as 2-0 winners against Sheffield United at the Alan Higgs Centre this afternoon.

The Sky Blues took the lead with five minutes on the clock when Fabio Tavares passed to Josh Reid who drilled a shot across goal into the far corner.

Moments later that lead was doubled when Jordan Shipley collected the ball in the middle of the pitch, finding Blaine Rowe whose cross into the six yard box was converted by Tyler Walker.

The Blades first few chances came through Will Osula, who had a couple of headed chances for the visitors but he couldn’t get either on target as they looked to half the deficit.

Jodi Jones then created opportunity by weaving his way through the Blades’ box but no one could get on the end of his low cross.

As United looked the build up some pressure, Andre Brooks' cross was headed away by George Burroughs and the ball dropped to Frankie Maguire who fired his volley wide.

Hassan Ayari then drove at the hosts back line but Tyler was equal to his low shot.

Josh Reid almost had a second when Tavares’ back heel found the left-back and he almost found the back of the net, but he was denied Harrison Neal who cleared off the line.

Josh Eccles’ well worked corner to Shipley almost saw the Sky Blues score a third but his shot went just over the bar.

Burroughs then did well to block another Brooks effort before Capello whipped the ball in but Eccles was on hand to clear this time to ensure the hosts went into the break with a clean sheet.

HALF TIME: Sky Blues U23s 2-0 Sheffield United U23s

The half began with each side struggling to create a clear cut chance with Walker unable to get the ball out of his feet when under pressure.

Ayari picked out Osula but Declan Drysdale cleared the danger before the striker could get his shot away.

The Blades were awarded an indirect free kick when Tyler picked up Drysdale’s back pass with Nickseon Gomes passing to Ayari who blasted the ball towards goal but Reid heroically got in the way.

Next, Capello intercepted Howley out wide before shooting across goal but his effort went flying wide of the far post.

As the game came close to an end, Reid found Walker but Gomis blocked his shot before at the other end City 'keeper Cian Tyler denied Ayari when he attempted to round the ‘keeper.

City went close to wrapping up the match with Eccles’ low drive but Amissah prevented the midfielder from getting his name on the scoresheet.

Sheffield United were then forced to play the rest of the match with ten-men as Kamarl Grant earned his second yellow for a foul on Tavares.

FULL TIME: Sky Blues U23s 2-0 Sheffield United U23s

GOALS: Josh Reid (5’), Tyler Walker (12’)

YELLOW CARDS: Blaine Rowe (35’), Cian Tyler (62’) Marco Rus (81’), Josh Reid (82’); Will Osula (53’), Kamarl Grant (57’), Kurt Havenhand (83’), Kamarl Grant (87’)

RED CARD: Kamarl Grant (87’)

Sky Blues XI: Cian Tyler (GK), Blaine Rowe, Declan Drysdale, George Burroughs, Josh Reid (C), Josh Eccles, Jordan Shipley (Jonny Ngandu 67’) Ryan Howley (Marco Rus 80’), Jodi Jones (Aaron Evans-Harriott 90’), Tyler Walker, Fabio Tavares.

Unused subs: Trialist, Fionn O’Brien.

Sheffield United XI: Jordan Amissah (GK), Joe Starbuck, Kamarl Grant, Harrison Neal, Nickseon Gomis, Angello Capello, Hassan Ayari, Frankie Maguire, George Dickinson, Will Osula (Kurt Havenhand 66’), Andre Brooks.

Unused subs: Ethan Slater, Luke Faxon, Owen Hampson.

Match Reports