OXFORD UNITED 1-0 COVENTRY CITY
Cityy: Murphy, J Clarke, Willis, Adams, Phillips, Thomas, Fleck, Hines, Lobjoit, L Clarke, Moussa. SNU: Burge (GK), Maund, Garner, Azille-Moore.
Oxford United: Clarke, Meades (Raynes 46), Wright (Newey 70), Smalley (Constable 46), Hunt, Hall, Williams (Bevans 66), Whing (Ruffels 61), Davies (Marsh 46), Mullins, O'Dowda. SNU: Crocombe (GK), Potter, Rose,
HT OUFC 0-0 CCFC
FT. OUFC 1-0 CCFC
ATT 1577
Goal James Constable (46)
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Coventry City ended their pre-season campaign with a dour 1-0 defeat at Oxford United.
Steven Pressley fielded former City loanee Zavron Hines, who has been released by Bradford City in his starting line up, which was the rest of the squad who did not play at Mansfield Town on Friday night.
City, in Sky Blue, had the better of the opening exchanges with a good ball from Jordan Willis winning a corner. Moussa had a shot blocked and Ryan Clarke, in the Oxford goal, grabs the loose ball.
Another corner followed as did one for Oxford in their purple and white change kit whch Murphy had to push away for another flag kick.
The 301 City fans, including three of us who have done all the pre-season games, at the Kassam Stadium on this muggy afternoon, who had been stung for extra to pay on the day and for food and drink, had given a good reception to former Sky Blue Andy Whing, who was keeping Leon Clarke quiet.
In the 19th minute. Blair Adams, who for me, had a fine game, always looking to go forward, picked out Conor Thomas for a shot which went wide from 25 yards.
Hines and Adams tried to get City going forward whilst the two Jordan's at the back, worked well together.
In the 35th minute, Whing won the ball and found Davies who volleyed in a shot from 14 yards which Murphy had to tip over for a corner.
Asa Hall shot wide from 20 yards, before City were awarded a free kick for a foul on Moussa. Leon Clarke took the free kick and Ryan Clarke had to dive to his left to push away for a City corner.
Oxford made three changes at the break and one of them, James Constable, got the ball and with his first touch and scored from the edge of the area to put Oxford 1-0 up.
Constable had another shot on a goal a minute later but City started to come with Leon Clarke winning a corner which saw Fleck fire well wide from thirty yards.
Moussa on his left, tried the same two minutes later, going not far wide from twenty yards before it kick off in the 57th minute when John Fleck reacted. There was plenty of pushing and shoving. Andy Whing dived in acting as peacemaker pulling players away before things calmed down and the game restarted with no cards shown by Mr Coggins
There were groans from the City fans on the hour mark as Hines sent a twenty yarder clean out of the ground and into the car park at this three sided stadium.
After Leon Lobjoit had fired over the bar, Andy Whing was replaced and on came former City youngster Josh Ruffels, who is at the Kassam Stadium trying to win a contract with his hometown club.
In the 64th minute, we witnessed the sight of something that has been all to rare this pre-season - a City player in the box attacking. It was Blair Adams who had got into the penalty area and he fired a shot which was pushed over for a corner.
The ball came to the far side from the flag kick and there was Jordan Clarke who met the ball with his head well. Unfortunately, there was a covering defender on the line and the danger was cleared.
Conor Thomas took a bang on his head, but after treatment he was able to continue, unlike Jack Wright, who went down under a. 70th minute challenge. Wright put his hand up to summon assistance straight away and he was stretchered off to good applause from the City fans and then the home fans and replaced by Newey.
Some good control from Hines brought a cross towards the penalty spot for Moussa to fire over, a Thomas shot was deflected out for a corner which Jordan Clarke headed over and Lobjoit got in a header on goal.
City had had plenty of the play and plenty of chances but their failures to take them means a lot of hard work before they face Crawley Town next Saturday.