The Sky Blues continued their unbeaten start to the Professional Development campaign with victory over Birmingham at St Andrew’s.
Will Bapaga’s goal was the only one of the game and helped to steer City to all three points.
The Sky Blues started the game off brightly and saw a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges of the game, as they looked to assert themselves.
The first shot of the game came from winger Charlie Wakefield, but he’s effort from outside of the box wasn’t troubling Moha Ramos, as it sailed over the bar.
Wakefield was involved moments later when he fizzed a cross into the box and picked out Declan Drysdale, but his header glanced agonisingly wide.
Birmingham looked to create their first opportunity and they went close through Jack Concannon, but he poked his effort wide of the post.
David Bremang, who started for the 23s this afternoon, tried his luck from distance, but his shot rolled into the hands of Ramos.
Adan George had a similar chance for Birmingham minutes after, but it was the same result as his shot didn’t trouble Tom Billson.
The Sky Blues then almost found the breakthrough with the best chance of the half so far and it was Jordan Young who’s pin point cross was met by Bremang, but his header was expertly saved by Ramos.
However, Ramos was helpless to deny Will Bapaga firing the Sky Blues into the lead, when he latched onto a ball into the box from Blaine Rowe and found the back of the net to make it 0-1 to the Sky Blues.
That would be the last action of the first half and after the break, Tom Billson was called into action as he made a superb stop to deny Ryan Stirk grabbing an equaliser.
Up the other end and Birmingham could count themselves lucky not to be two down when Bremang won his header in the box and his effort whistled past the post.
Billson was making saves again a few minutes after the Sky Blues opportunity as he got down well to save from Adan George.
Up the other end and the Sky Blues caught Birmingham on the counter attack and it was Wakefield who found himself through on goal, but he was denied by Ramos.
The Sky Blues ‘keeper was having a busy half and he was on hand to deny Josh Andrews and then save from Caolan Boyd-Munce both in the space of a few minutes as Birmingham looked for an equaliser.
City looked to put the game to bed and had chances through Jonny Ngandu and Jack Burroughs.
Firstly it was Ngandu with an opportunity which fell to him inside of the box, when he brought the ball down on his chest and then got a shot away, but his effort was saved.
Seconds later another opportunity for City and it was Jack Burroughs with a side-footed volley inside of the box which came back off the crossbar.
City continued to apply the pressure and went close through Young, but he couldn’t steer his shot on target as it went into the side netting.
Tom Billson pulled off a match winning save with a minute left on the clock as he denied George who had run through one-on-one to help City hang on to all three points and continue their unbeaten start.
Sky Blues Xl: Tom Billson (GK), Brandon Mason, Declan Drysdale (C), Callum Maycock, Blaine Rowe, Jonny Ngandu, Jack Burroughs, Jordan Young, Will Bapaga, Charlie Wakefield (78’ Walters), David Bremang.
Subs: Keelan Fallows (GK), Joe Newton, Dexter Walters, George Burroughs, Sam Pitts-Eckersall