Goalscorer Jamie Sheldon

Blues U18's were again out of luck as they undeservedly went down to a narrow away defeat at their Midlands counterparts Coventry City.

The Blues youngsters produced a good performance but were guilty of not making the most of their dominance.

The visitors missed several good chances to open the scoring in the first half, notably Jamie Sheldon who was clean through but was denied by the Coventry keeper.

Sheldon made amends by firing Blues in front just three minutes after the interval but the hosts took advantage of a short lapse in concentration from their opponents to turn the game on its head.

Coventry scored two quick goals through Bradley Jones and Andy Ritchie; ironically later that afternoon the latter's namesake masterminded the first team's giant-killing by Huddersfield on a depressing day all round for Blues at all levels.

Sheldon and Ashley Sammons both hit the woodwork as Blues looked to rescue something from the game but it was to no avail.

"It was similar to previous weeks. I couldn't fault them on attitude and some of their football was very good," said Academy coach Steve Spooner.

"We showed boldness in passing the ball and looked confident but at times we overplayed.

Steve Spooner

"We scored within three minutes of the second half but then we had a five minute spell where we stopped doing all the things that we are good at.

"Their striker peeled off the back of a defender and scored with a free header and the second one came from a midfielder not tracking.

"Both of our central midfielders were U16 schoolboys and were playing against a Coventry first year pro but they were on top for long periods of the game.

"However, they both have a tendency to ball-watch and consequently that's what happened in the crazy five minute spell."

It was a fifth successive defeat for the team and, whilst there were positives to come out of the performance, Spooner was quick to register his discontent with the losing run.

"Part of their development is to learn to be ruthless and if you have to go away 0-0 then you do that, you don't come away losing," he added.

"I emphasised to them the need for turning good performances into winning performances.

"That is what we are lacking at the moment, the concentration to see games through.

"It goes back to the development versus results debate, but we need to start digging out some results.

"Perhaps we need to start being a little bit uglier and scrap a few victories out.

"I am very disappointed and I wouldn't want people to think that I am content with us playing well and losing.

"That is not the case because winning is just as much a part of their development as the technical side.

"We have to produce winners as well."

Full time: Coventry U18's 2 Blues U18'S 1

Blues: Lyness, Rutter, Timmins, Sammons, Preston, Joyce, Moses-Garvey, Newbury, Jervis (Hunt), Sheldon, Lea.
Subs not used: Rowe.