Coventry City

 

In what was the first league meeting between the sides in 49 years, the home side came out of the blocks with intent and less than five minutes had elapsed before Lewis Page got down the left side and whipped an inviting cross towards Tudgay, who’s near post flick-on went narrowly over.

 

The Sky Blues enjoyed their fair share of possession early on and were pressuring the Cobblers goal with a succession of corners. A routine straight from the training ground came in low to Tudgay and his shot was blocked inside the six-yard box. 

The resulting set-play was cleared out to the edge of the area where Chris McCann’s mishit shot created a good chance for Marvin Sordell but his header couldn’t beat Cobblers goalkeeper Adam Smith.

 

The Sky Blues continued to come forward in search of the opener, as home debutant Daniel Agyei played a smart pass in to the path of Tudgay who engineered a yard of space on edge of the box but his shot was comfortably saved.

 

Then, Northampton having not seen much of the ball looked to create their first opportunity of the game from the right through Brendan Maloney, his looping cross was headed goalwards by Alex Revell only to be cleared off the line brilliantly by stand-in captain Jordan Willis.

 

Just before the half-hour Harry Beautyman turned smartly in the midfield for the Cobblers and drove at pace towards City’s backline. As he was closed down he shifted the ball left to John-Joe O’Toole, who slid in Matthew Taylor and his fizzed cross was tapped in by Beautyman, who started and ended the move. 

 

Undeterred, the Sky Blues continued to look for openings and Sordell’s smart flick past Maloney would have found him running towards goal, if it wasn’t for the the 27-year old’s nous to haul the advancing forward down - a challenge for which he was booked.

  

In the 45th minute of the first-half, Matthew Taylor lined up an 18-yard freekick, which was goalbound before Jordan Turnbull, on his home debut, deflected it wide.

 

City came out to a roar of encouragement from the Sky Blue army after the break as they looked to overturn the one goal deficit. Ten minutes into the second-half a lofted ball into Tudgay was taken brilliantly on his chest and in one movement spun towards goal and lashed a fierce volley towards the left corner, only to be denied by a strong hand from Smith.

 

Ten minutes later City found the breakthrough they had been looking for. Jodi Jones, moments after coming on for Agyei, gained possession on the right of the box. He faked right, sending his opposing man the wrong way, creating space for him to deliver an inch perfect cross for Tudgay to head home from six yards. 

The 18-year old then had, arguably, the clearest opening of the game as he was played through on goal and under pressure he rode a challenge from behind and looked to slot the ball beyond the on-rushing Smith who got a hand to it.

 

With 15 minutes to play, there was a warm introduction for Gael Bigirimana who made his third debut in a Coventry City shirt as he joined the action in place of Cian Harries. 

 

But there was nearly a sting in the tale with five minutes left, Northampton on the break through second half substitute, JJ Hooper, he crossed to the near post and Matt Taylor produced an excellent one handed stop from Charles-Cook to keep the scoreline even.

Yellow: Bigirimana, Sordell, McCann, Maloney, Buchanan, Beautyman, O'Toole, Revell, McCourt. 

Attendance: 10,022 (1,608) 

Coventry City: Charles-Cook (GK), Willis (C), Harries (Bigirimana 72'), Di. Kelly-Evans, Turnbull, McCann, Page, Gadzhev, Sordell (Reid 67'), Tudgay, Agyei (J. Jones 57').

Subs: Burge (GK), Lameiras, Haynes, Ricketts.

Northampton Town: Smith (GK), Maloney (Phillips 75'), Buchanan (C), Diamond, Zakuani, Revell, Gorre, McCourt, Beautyman (Hooper 67'), O'Toole (D'Ath 60'), Taylor. 

Subs: Cornell (GK), Richards, Sonupe, Nyatanga.