Coventry City

The Sky Blues U23s travel to South Yorkshire today to face Sheffield United U23s at Bramall Lane this afternoon in the Professional Development League, with kick off scheduled for 1:00pm. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.

Last Time Out…

The U23s continued their unbeaten start to the Professional Development League with a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at the Coventry Building Society Arena last week.

City had a shot blocked in the opening minute when Fankaty Dabo picked out Josh Reid.

Then the lively Fabio Tavares was narrowly flagged offside when one on one with the Wednesday ‘keeper Jack Hall before he played a teasing ball across the six-yard box that Jordan Shipley couldn’t quite get on the end of.

However, the Owls took the lead when a heavy deflection fell kindly to Basille Zottos, whose tidy finish beat Ben Wilson in the 19^th minute.

The Sky Blues came out after the break on the front foot with Jordan Shipley’s corner causing the Wednesday defence trouble with Hall’s punch away falling straight to Reid but his effort deflected wide.

Alex Bonnington then had a couple of chances for the visitors before Wilson denied Will Trueman before setting the Sky Blues on the attack with Owls skipper David Agbontohoma doing enough to deny Tavares getting a shot away.

The home side kept up the momentum however with Jonny Ngandu getting close, but in the last minute the in form Tavares levelled with his shot going in off the bar to earn a well deserved point!

The Opposition

Sheffield United had a positive 2020/21 Professional Development League, finishing top of the Northern Section before triumphing 4-0 over Ipswich Town in the semi finals only to lose 2-0 in the final, to the side that finished eight points behind them in the table, Birmingham City.

This season the Blades have started well with three wins seeing them third in the table after victory at Barnsley last week.

Both sides had chances to take the lead early on in the South Yorkshire derby but it was Sheffield United that took lead when Leo Gaxha’s cross picked out Angelo Cappello to fire home in the 19^th minute.

The hosts responded only three minutes later when the ball fell to a trialist inside the box to the level the game.

In a frantic four minute spell Capello instantly put the Blades back ahead when he met Andre Brooks’ cross, turned his man and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Five minutes into the second half United extended their lead when Marcus Dewhurst’s long punt up field was headed past his opposite number by Barnsley defender Jason Sraha.

The Tykes kept at it but the closest they came to finding a second was when Isaac Christie-Davies free kick hit the bar with Sheffield United running out 3-1 winners.  

Last Six Games

Won – Barnsley U23s 1-3 Sheffield United U23s (Professional Development League)

Lost – Cardiff City U23s 2-0 Sheffield United U23s (Professional Development League)

Won – Everton U23s 1-3 Sheffield United U23s (Premier League Cup)

Lost – Sheffield United U23s 2-4 Bristol City U23s (Professional Development League)

Won – Charlton Athletic U23s 0-3 Sheffield United U23s (Professional Development League

Won – Watford U23s 0-4 Sheffield United U23s (Professional Development League)

Last Time We Met

The two sides last met in was in March 2021 when the Sky Blues went down 3-2 to the hosts at Bramall Lane

In the early exchanges the home side had the best chances when Iliman Ndiaye’s pull back found Nicksoen Gomis but he could only fire over.

However, the Sky Blues arguably created the best chance of the game so far when Joe Newton ran down the wing before his cross picked out David Bremang but the striker’s effort went over the bar.

But just as City were growing into the game, they suffered a major set-back when Morgan Williams was shown a straight red card and then minutes later the hosts took the lead when Ndiaye converted Frankie Maguire’s cross.

On the stroke of half time Wesley Jobello beat his man out wide and found Jonny Ngandu on the edge of the box, with the Sky Blue captain drawing his side level.

The Blades retook the lead four minutes into the second half as Kyron Gordon headed in Harry Boyes’ corner.

Antwoine Hackford and Daniel Jebbison wasted chances to extend the hosts lead with Bremang bringing City back level on the hour mark from Jordan Young’s cross.

Unfortunately the ten men in Sky Blues couldn’t hold on for a point with Jebbison slotting home Femi Seriki’s cross to give the Blades the points.

Sky Blues Xl: Tom Billson (GK), Jack Burroughs, Blaine Rowe, Morgan Williams, Joe Newton, Josh Eccles, Jonny Ngandu (C), Will Bapaga, Wesley Jobello, Jordan Young (Dan Bartlett 81’), David Bremang.

Unused Subs: Cian Tyler (GK), Dan Lafferty, George Burroughs, Trialist.

Northern Section Table: