PREVIEW: Coventry City v Colchester United - The Sky Blues host the U's at the Ricoh

City welcome Colchester United to the Ricoh in SkyBet League Two...

20 October 2017

Venue: The Ricoh Arena

Competition: SkyBet League Two

Date: Saturday 21th October, 2017

Kick-off: 3pm

The Sky Blues will be looking to bounce back from successive defeats in SkyBet League Two when they welcome Colchester United to the Ricoh Arena tomorrow.

The U's are 14th in the standings, seven points behind City and nine points above the drop zone.

Manager John McGreal has a dramatically decreasing pool of players to chose from with eight of his first teamers unavailible for this one.

Kyel Reid, on loan from the Sky Blues, is ineligible to play due to the nature of his move along with Kane Vincent-Young (hamstring), Drey Wright (ankle), Kurtis Guthrie (ankle), Sammie Szmodics (ankle), Brendan Dickinson (knee), Luke Prosser (knee) Courtney Senior (knee) and and club captain Luke Prosser (knee).

The Opponents

One familiar face likely to feature for the U's tomorrow is Sanmi Odelusi. The former Bolton winger made three appearances for the Sky Blues finding the net on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Rochdale.

In defence for McGreal's side is 25-year-old defender Tom Eastman. Eastman has over 200 apppearances for Colchester and has been a regular so far.

Another player to keep an eye out for is Mikael Mandron. The French striker made the move to the Colchester Community Stadium in the summer from Wigan Athletic. Formerly a Sunderland Academy prospect, the 6ft3 forward attracted Football League attention when he scored ten goals in 28 games for National League side Eastleigh.

Past Meetings

Coventry City 0-1 Colchester United - Tue 29th March 2016 - SkyBet League One

Colchester United 1-3 Coventry City - Sat 1th November 2015 - SkyBet League One

Coventry City 1-0 Colchester United - Sat 11th April 2015 - SkyBet League One

Colchester United 0-1 Coventry City - Sat 22nd November 2014 - SkyBet League One

Colchester United 2-1 Coventry City - Sat 8th March 2014 - SkyBet League One

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Coventry City 0-0 Colchester United - Sky Blues held to a goalless draw by The U's at the Ricoh

Ten-man Colchester hold City to a goalless draw at the Ricoh...

21 October 2017

The Sky Blues have been held to a goalless draw by Colchester United at the Ricoh Arena.

Marc McNulty and Ryan Haynes came closest for City on what was another frustrating afternoon infront of goal.

Colchester skipper Tom Lapslie was dismissed late on for a delilberate handball but the visitors managed to hang on to leave with a point.

Mark Robins' side had their first shot on goal in the opening 50 seconds. Jodi Jones twisted an turned on the edge of the area creating space for McNulty who directed his header toward Sam Walker's goal but the 26-year-old was able to push it away.

Jones would be forced off ten minutes later through injury and was replaced by Jordan Shipley to link up with Haynes down the elft hand side.

Jack Grimmer and Marc McNulty linked up well to create City's first chance of the second period. Grimmer's cross was perfectly floated towards a free Shipley with the goal gaping, but Walker was able to get a strong hand on the ball and just flick it away from the youngsters head.

Colchester's first real chance of the game came with twenty minutes to go. A foul on Tom Lapsie gave Sean Murray a chance to float a set-piece into the area but Lee Burge was able to keep out Ryan Inniss' cross.

With fifteen minutes to go the visitors were down to ten. Lapslie, booked moments earlier for a foul on Peter Vincenti was judged to have deliberatly handled the ball right infront of the assitant referee leaving Michael Sailsbury no option but to show him a red card. Colchester were down to ten.

Haynes came close to finding the bottom corner on his first start this season after returning from injury as did Nazon who saw two effort from distance blocked well by Tom Eastman.

Yellows: Inniss, Nazon, Doyle

Reds: Lapslie

Goals:

Attendance: 7,149 (349 Away).

Coventry City XI: Burge (GK); Grimmer, Willis, McDonald, Haynes, Kelly, Doyle (C), Jones (Shipley 23'), Nazon, McNulty, Beavon (Vincenti 72').

Subs: O'Brien (GK), Davies, Stevenson, Biamou, Ponticelli.

Colchester United XI: Walker (GK), Jackson, Lapslie, Kent, Wright, Comley, Murray, Eastman, Mandron (Kambamba 88'), Hanlan (Slater 77'), Inniss.

Subs: Gilmartin (GK), Kinsella, O'Sullivan, Slater, Odelusi, James,

Referee: Mr M. Sailsbury.

Match Reports

Standings