Coventry City Under-18s were taught a cruel footballing lesson on Saturday, admitted coach Eric Odhiambo, as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away at Birmingham City.
The Sky Blues scored twice through Aiden Dausch and Charlie Manners, but were unable to stop their hosts from snatching a late winner at the end of a closely fought encounter.
City, who dominated the early phases and saw a goal chalked off, took the lead but soon found themselves 2-1 down, before levelling during the second half.
However, with the game heading for a draw, Birmingham found the winners in unfortunate circumstances for Odhiambo’s side.
Speaking after the game, the coach said: “We played some really good football during the first half, and we were unlucky to have had that goal disallowed.
“Despite our early dominance, we came in level 0-0 at half time and, after the break, Birmingham responded.
“They managed to make the game a closer affair, but we still looked like the team who would take the lead, which we did through a well-taken finish by Aidan Dausch.
“The boys then started to grow in the game and we needed some good link-up play from our strikers and an excellent headed goal from Charlie Manners to equalise, just after Birmingham went 2-1 up.
“At this point, it looked like we’d have to settle for a draw but we were taught a cruel footballing lesson that lapses in concentration are often punished at this level,” he added.
“That was the case as we conceded a third in the final two minutes of the game.
“Despite the result, we were happy with the performance and if we can play like that weekly, we’ll win more games than we lose.”