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Match Previews

PREVIEW: Sky Blues host Wigan Athletic U23s

City looking to maintain unbeaten home form...

18 October 2021

The Sky Blues U23s host Wigan Athletic at the Alan Higgs Centre this afternoon, with kick off scheduled for 1:00pm. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.

Last Time Out…

The U23s’ unbeaten start to the Professional Development League ended with a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

City started their trip to South Yorkshire well with both Fabio Tavares and Blaine Rowe going close in the early stages.

Cian Tyler was called into action to stop a Kyron Gordon header but moments later the visitors took the lead when Rowe’s cross found Tavares at the back post to open the scoring!

A minute into the second half saw the Blades awarded a penalty which Zac Brunt bringing the hosts level from the spot.

Jordan Shipley went close with a shot across goal but the home side took the lead when Regan Slater headed in a rebound after Tyler had done well to deny Angello Cappelo.

City almost equalised late on when Bright Enobakhare’s chip to the back post alluded the head of Tyler Walker as United ran out winners in a tight game.

The Opposition

The Latics finished 6^th in the 2020/21 Professional Development League and are currently on a run of three successive wins in the competition with a 1-0 victory at Colchester United last time out.

The visitors began the match on the front foot with Divin Baningime and Harry McGee going close with early efforts. The hosts grew into the game with Chay Cooper having an effort deflected onto the cross bar just before half time.

Ten minutes after the break saw Wigan found the decisive goal when after some good hold up play by Tom Costello, he set-up McGee who fired into the bottom corner.

The best chance the Essex side had to draw level was when Harry Beadle headed goal bound from a corner but Latics’ keeper Sam Tickle was on hand to stop the shot.

Last Six Games

Won – Colchester United U23s 0-1 Wigan Athletic U23s (Professional Development League)
Won – Crewe Alexandra U23s 1-3 Wigan Athletic U23s (Professional Development League)
Won – Wigan Athletic U23s 2-1 Charlton Athletic U23s (Professional Development League)
Won – Leeds United U23s 1-2 Wigan Athletic U23s (Premier League Cup)
Lost – Ipswich Town U23s 3-0 Wigan Athletic U23s (Professional Development League)
Lost – Wigan Athletic U23s 0-3 Bristol City U23s (Professional Development League)

Last Time We Met

The two sides last met in was in March 2021 when the Sky Blues ran out 3-0 winners.

The Latics had the first chance when Sam Opeaon brought the ball down, but his shot didn’t trouble Marko Marosi.

At the other end, Matty Godden picked out the run of Tyler Walker, but he was brought down on the edge of the area and the referee sent off Jack Sanders.

Walker and Blaine Rowe then went close but the hosts were finally rewarded when Bapaga played in Godden who fired in to give the Sky Blues the lead.

Wigan hit the cross bar just after half time with Jonny Ngandu having the same luck at the other end.

But he would not be denied again, as he beat two men before finding the back of the net from a tight angle to double City’s advantage.

Substitute Jordan Young then crossed the ball to Julien Dacosta who made the game safe with the hosts third of the afternoon.

Sky Blues Xl: Marko Marosi (GK), Julien Dacosta, Blaine Rowe, Jordon Thompson, Josh Reid, Jack Burroughs, Josh Eccles, Jonny Ngandu (C), Will Bapaga, Tyler Walker, Matty Godden.

Subs: Keelan Fallows (GK), Joe Newton, Jordan Young, Dan Lafferty, Fabio Tavares.

Northern Section Table:

Team	Played	F	A	GD	Points
Coventry City	6	13	5	+8	13
Sheffield United	6	14	8	+6	12
Peterborough United	7	16	11	+5	11
Hull City	7	15	15	0	10
Wigan Athletic	6	6	9	-3	9
Barnsley	7	6	20	-14	7
Sheffield Wednesday	8	7	14	-7	5
Crewe Alexandra	7	8	20	-12	3

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Sky Blues U23s 5-3 Wigan Athletic U23s

18 October 2021

City’s U23s got back to winning ways with a 5-3 victory over in form Wigan Athletic at the Alan Higgs Centre this afternoon.

Wigan earned an early corner and from Luke Robinson’s set piece was headed across goal by Thelo Aasgaard but Harry McGee fired wide.

Robinson then crossed to the back post with McGee heading back across to Tom Costello who headed against the bar before Thelo Aagaard fired wide.

Jodi Jones put Aaron Evans-Harriott through but he was just beaten to the ball by the sliding Arthur Lomax.

But it was the visitors that took the lead when Kieran Lloyd put a ball across the six yard box for Costello to tap in.

Cian Tyler was called into action when McGee’s shot from range was dipping but the City ‘keeper pulled off a strong diving save.

Ricardo Dinanga then shot from range after being teed up by Matty Godden but his shot was saved by Sam Tickle in the Latic’s net.

Marco Rus put a dangerous through ball to Fabio Tavares but Lomax’s clearance was put out of play by Robinson.

From the resulting throw in, Jones crossed for Godden to direct the ball into the back of the net with his head to equalise!

Dinanga then fired into the side netting then he ran on to the end of a Evans-Harriott cross but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Wigan responded through Robinson but he could only fire his shot wide after being set up by Aasgaard before Tyler tipped Costello’s shot onto the post.

City then broke from a Latics’ corner with Jones trying an effort from range but Tickle did enough to deny the midfielder.

But just before half time Costello got his second of the game when he headed in a cross to put Wigan ahead at the break.

HALF TIME: Sky Blues U23s 1-2 Wigan Athletic U23s

Costello then spurred a great chance to further the visitors lead but he fired wide with the goal gaping when he got onto the end of McGee’s cross.

Rus then flicked a ball over the top that Tavares headed the ball into the path of Evans-Harriott who’s superb volley it into the bottom corner drew the Sky Blues back level!

Cian Tyler then did well to deny Scott Smith at his near post with his legs, in what was turning into an end to end encounter.

A tricky run from Rus saw the midfielder cut inside before being stived down by Lomax to earn City a penalty which Godden fired into the bottom corner.

Robinson’s cross was flicked goalwards by Chris Sze but Dinanga was on hand to clear off the line.

The Sky Blues broke through Rus who got his second assist of the game when he slid in Godden who slotted home for his hat trick!

Jones then picked out Godden who selflessly passed across goal to Tavares for the hardworking forward to convert to get his seventh of the season!

Wigan earned a succession of corners in the final minutes and Robinson’s in swinging cross was unluckily deflected into the back of Tyler’s net by Ryan Howley.

Tyler then came out and denied Costello his hat trick with his feet with the forward bearing down on goal as City ran out winners.

FULL TIME: Sky Blues U23s 5-3 Wigan Athletic U23s

Scorers: Matty Godden 34’, Aaron Evans-Harriott 57’, Matty Godden 65’ pen, 77’, Fabio Tavares 80’; Tom Costello 19’, 42’, Ryan Howley 88’;

Cards: Ricardo Dinanga 79’; Arthur Lomax 64’

Sky Blues U23s XI: Cian Tyler, Blaine Rowe, Ryan Howley, George Burroughs, Ricardo Dinanga (Shay Young 84’), Marco Rus, Jodi Jones (Harrison Nee 81’), Jonny Ngandu, Aaron Evans-Harriott, Fabio Tavares, Matty Godden (C).

Unused subs: Trialist, Oliver Berry, Evan Eghosa

Wigan Athletic U23s XI: Sam Tickle, Kieran Lloyd, Arthur Lomax, Adam Long, Luke Robinson, Divin Baningine, Scott Smith (C), Baba Adeeko, Thelo Aasgaard, Harry McGee, Tom Costello.

Unused subs: Owen Mooney, Harry McHugh, Chris Sze, Levi Welsh.

Match Reports