The Sky Blues were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday as both teams lacked the cutting edge to seal the Emirates FA Cup tie.
The result means the sides will do battle all over again to gain a place in the fifth round of the competition but both sides will be in the hat for Mondays draw.
Infront of a raucous crowd, Birmingham had the first chance of the half as Jefferson Montero’s corner was floated into the box and met by the head of Lukas Jutkiewicz who sent his header over Marko Marosi’s goal.
Another corner ten minutes in caused the Sky Blues problems as this time skipper Harlee Dean got to the ball first and glanced his header across the face of goal.
The Sky Blues created their real first opening 22 minutes in as a neat one two between Jordan Shipley and Zain Westbrooke opened up the Birmingham right allowing Shipley to break forward and shoot low at Lee Camp’s goal however, the midfielders effort was turned behind for a corner.
On the half hour mark, teenager Jude Bellingham picked up a loose ball 30 yards out from goal and drove forward before taking aim but his effort didn’t trouble Marosi as the ball went well wide of the post.
On the stroke of half time Sam McCallum hurled a long throw into the box and despite City’s best efforts, no one could get on the end of the throw and Birmingham cleared the ball long prompting referee Tim Robinson to blow for half time.
HALF TIME- SKY BLUES 0-0 BIRMINGHAM
Marosi was called into action within minutes of the restart as Michael Rose’s clearance was picked up by Montero who let fly from inside the box however Marosi was equal to it and produced a fine stop to send the ball over the bar.
Seven minutes into the second half another McCallum long throw was cleared but this time the ball fell to Liam Kelly who took aim from distance only to see his shot fly high over the bar.
The Sky Blues continued to use the long throws and another Birmingham clearance fell to Walsh who lined up a shot from the edge of the box however his attempt was sliced wide for a goal kick.
Almost 20 minutes from time the Sky Blues introduced Max Biamou and on loan midfielder Callum O’Hare chaniing their formation in the process with Biamou partnering Godden up front.
Seven minutes after coming on, Biamou had the best opportunity of the game as fellow substitute O’Hare slipped a ball into the path of Biamou who looked to bend his shot past Camp however the ‘keeper was equal to it and produced a fine stop to keep the game goalless.
Three minutes from the end Kelly tried his luck from distance again as the unleashed a ferocious effort which whistled inches past the post.
In stoppage time O’Hare had a glorious opportunity to seal the win as Amadou Bakayoko headed the ball across goal to the unmarked O’Hare who failed to make clear contact with the ball which rolled agonisingly past the post.
FULL TIME- SKY BLUES 0-0 BIRMINGHAM
Goals: N/A
Yellows: Kristian Pedersen 87’, Jake Clarke-Salter 88’, Lukas Jutkiewicz 90’.
Reds: N/A
Attendance: 21,193 (9,465 away)
Sky Blue XI: Marko Marosi (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Michael Rose, Kyle McFadzean, Dom Hyam, Sam McCallum, Zain Westbrooke (Callum O’Hare 68’) , Liam Kelly (C), Liam Walsh, Jordan Shipley (Max Biamou 68’), Matty Godden (Amadou Bakayoko).
Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Josh Pask, Brandon Mason, Jamie Allen.
Birmingham XI: Lee Camp (GK), Kristian Pedersen, Jake Clarke-Salter, Harlee Dean (C), Maxime Colin, Jefferson Montero (Jacques Maghoma 85’), Josh McEachran, Ivan Sunjic, Kerim Mrabti (Jeremie Bela 56’), Jude Bellingham (Gary Gardner 85’) Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Unused Subs: Moha Ramos (GK), Marc Roberts, David Davies, Alvaro Gimenez.