City’s u23s maintained their 100% record in the Professional Development League with a 4-1 victory over Millwall at the Alan Higgs Centre this afternoon.
City would force the Lions’ ‘keeper Joe Wright into action after only seven minutes when the ball deflected to Fabio Tavares in the box with his shot being saved at the near post before Jordan Shipley was denied on the follow up.
A long ball over the top would be where the visitors’ first chance would come from however Tyrese Briscoe snatched at his shot, hitting the side netting.
Jonny Ngandu would go close with an effort when Julien Dacosta’s cross found the midfielder on the edge of the box and after beating his man he managed to get a shot away that went just wide of the post.
Tavares then played the ball out side to Shipley, who set up Josh Reid just outside the area but the full back fired his first time shot over the bar.
City continued their push for the opener and Liam Kelly’s cross was headed down by Kai Garande on the foot of Shipley but his effort went wide of Wright’s goal.
Shipley played in Tavares but his shot was blocked by Chinwike Okoli sliding in before Kelly had a shot from 25 yards out saved by Wright to bring the half to a close.
HALF TIME: Sky Blues u23s 0-0 Millwall u23s
And within 40 seconds of the restart, Dacosta gave City the lead.
Jay McGrath found Reid out wide who crossed the ball across the box for the defender to tap into an empty net.
Dacosta turned provider when he pulled a cross back to Tavares who controlled the ball on the turn before firing past Wright to double the Sky Blues’ advantage.
Millwall looked for an instant response as Tom Leahy managed to get away from his man before shooting straight at Cian Tyler in the City goal.
Tyler would be called into action again when Garande’s cross required tipping over before City comfortably dealt with the corner.
Rus then played a great through ball into the path of Tavares who calmly finished the ball past Wright to get his second of the game.
Jayden Davis had a free kick deflected over earning the visitors a corner which was poked home by Alfie Allen after a goal mouth scramble.
Tavares did well to win the ball back and played in Aaron Evans-Harriott who ran into the box but Okoli intercepted to prevent City reestablishing their three goal lead.
But in the third minute of injury time Rus won the ball back just in the Millwall half and carried the ball into the box, going across goal before firing back across to complete the victory!
FULL TIME: Sky Blues u23s 4-1 Millwall u23s
SCORERS: Dacosta 46’, Tavares 54’, Tavares 69’, Rus 90+3’; Allen 76’
CARDS: Shipley 72’, Rus 90+4’
Sky Blues XI: Cian Tyler, Julien Dacosta, Blaine Rowe, George Burroughs, Jay McGrath, Josh Reid, Liam Kelly (c) (Ricardo Dinanga 71’), Ryan Howley, Jordan Shipley (Aaron Evans-Harriott 81’), Jonny Ngandu (Marco Rus 64’), Fabio Tavares
Unused subs: Luke Bell, Harrison Nee.