Sky Blue gaffer Mark Robins
After a disappointing first pre-season warm up game for Mark Robins’ men when they lost 2-0 at Sutton United the squad decamped to Spain for further training where a Sky Blues XI met an Everton U23 side on this day (13th July 2018) at la Manga, Cartagena near Alicante. Twenty Sky Blues players were given the opportunity to impress the ‘gaffer’ during the game with plenty of tactical changes and substitutions.
The Sky Blues, as might be expected, ran out 3-1 winners over the Toffee’s youngsters. Returned from injury Tony Andreu (a fairly recent CCFPA recruit) was in the thick of things as the Sky Blues, containing a number of new signings, started to gel and there was much to admire by approximately 100 Sky Blues fans present in the crowd of around 150.
Tom Davies in the Sky Blue
The City goals came from three players all now CCFPA members. First central defender Tom Davies netted after twelve minutes and then striker Jonson Clarke-Harris five minutes later (both headers). A second half strike from Tony Andreu (on 64 minutes) completed the Sky Blue scoring. Everton’s goal came from Nathan Broadhead after nine minutes before the hour mark.
Jonson in Sky Blue action
CCFC’s match report from their website can be found by clicking here and the report of Coventry Telegraph’s Gregg Evans is here.
Mark’s men that afternoon two years ago was (CCFPA members are underlined):-
First half: Liam O’Brien, Jordan Thompson, Tom Davies ©, Dom Hyam, Jak Hickman, Junior Brown, Callum Maycock, Junior Ogogo, Zain Westbrooke, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jordan Ponticelli
Second Half: Lee Burge, Jack Grimmer, Jordan Thompson (Jak Hickman -67), Rod McDonald, Brandon Mason, Callum Maycock (Dom Hyam -60), Michael Doyle ©, Jordan Shipley, Tony Andreu, Zain Westbrooke(Jordan Ponticelli –67) and Max Biamou
Tony Andreu at La Manga v Everton U23 (CCFC)
On their return to the UK, after an encouraging 2-1 win over an Aston Villa XI (away) behind closed doors City failed to win any of their remaining three pre season friendlies losing 2-0 at Stevenage, 1-0 to Derby County (at Nuneaton‘s Liberty Way) and 5-2 to West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns at the end of that month. As we know all too well now the 2018-19 League One season ended with disappointment with City missing out on the play-offs but a creditable eight place finish in their first season back in the division was definitely an achievement in the circumstances and laid the foundations for the following season’s storming table topping performance.
CCFC 2018-19
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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