Coventry City

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: