BLACKBURN ROVERS 2-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
TEAM: Gott, Phillips, Pegg (Garner 72), Ruffels,. Henderson, Willis, Roberts, Bigirimana, Clarke-Harris, Daniels (Rankin 88), Richards (Maund 72). SNU Donald, Lawton
Blackburn: Urwin, Wylie, Beesley, Hanley (Boland 77), Edwards, O'Connoll ( Paul 52 ), Osawe, Cotton, Haley, O'Sullivan, Fernandez. SNU Dilo, Mason-Ware, Laverty.
HT BRFC 1-0 CCFC FT BRFC 2-0 CCFC ATT 511
GOALS John O'Sullivan (14), Curtis Haley (64)
Referee R.Wotton. Booked Henderson, O'Connoll, O'Sullivan
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Coventry City crashed out of the FA Youth Cup with a 2-0 defeIat at Blackburn Rovers.
There was a good City support on a bitterly cold night at Ewood Park along with first team boss Andy Thorn and former City coach Steve Kean, to see the Sky Blues, playing in their green and black kit take to the field.
Josh Ruffels sent a twenty yarder at the home keeper within the first thirty seconds but from the outset, it was obvious that Terry McPhillips' team was a strong and physical outfit.
Defenders Joe Pegg and Jordan Willis were immense early on. Pegg used both feet to get the ball up to the midfield which contained first teamer Gael Bigirimana, whilst Willis made the first of some timely clearances after an Osawe cross had been pushed away by Alex Gott.
In the 14th minute, Blackburn took the lead when another Osawe cross was not dealt with and John O'Sullivan was given the room to score from the edge of the area.
Bigirimana sprayed some good balls around, but it was not until the 35th minute that City created a chance of note when Pegg played in Richards who found Jonson Clarke-Harris who was sent crashing with the referee only waving play on.
Two minutes later, another good move gave Ruffels a chance with a long range. But yet again, Urwin was able to deal with the shot.
Joe Henderson who did well in his aerial challenges and Blackburn's O'Connoll were both cautioned as the half finished with City trailing.
The Sky Blues came at Blackburn from the start of the second half winning two quick corners after Urwin fumbled an inital Richards shot round his right hand post for a corner, before a crunching tackle saw O'Connoll stretchered off.
City won another corner but in the 64th minute, a run by Hugo Fernandez down the left, saw him pick out the unmarked Curtis Haley who made the most of a one on one to put Rovers two goals ahead.
Osawe almost made it three a minute later but thankfully his shot hit the side netting.
That was the signal for Greg Rioch to make changes with Lewis Garner and Ben Maund coming on to replace Pegg and Richards.
Ruffels fired over before City put together the move of the match when Will Roberts got down the right and crossed for Jonson Clarke-Harris to get in a header which Urwin parried. The ball came back to Clarke-Harris again. This time, his effort hit the keeper and Maund sent the rebound wide.
Lewis Rankin came on for the last two minutes and the six added on by the referee and although Willis and Ruffels had efforts on goal, City, who had given all they had, were out of the FA Youth Cup for another season.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM