WILLEM II 1-0 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy (Burge 58), Christie, Wiilis (Phillips. 46), J.Clarke, Adams (Haynes 58), Baker (Lobjoit 58), Thomas (Daniels 58), Fleck (Garner 58), Trialist (Wilson 46), Moussa (Maund 58), Trailist.
Willem II: Meul (Branderhoorst 46), Heerkens, Peters, Jallo, Vossebelt, Willytens, Migidjan, Haemhouts, Boymans, Messaoud, Mamedou. Subs used Zanelli (46),Zeelst, Hujigevoort
HT WII 0-0 CCFC FT WII 1-0 CCFC Goal Ali Messaoud 58
Booked Spanish Trialist, Vossebelt
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Coventry City were beaten 1-0 by Willem II
This match had been a total nightmare, thanks to the Dutch club thinking that the SISU Out protests were going see trouble caused in Holland and this made for little or no information, available to either the small band of City supporters, the media or the club and playing squad themselves.
However, thanks to City boss Steven Pressley, who again thanked all fifteen City fans who came, and the tour guide whom the City supporters had to meet an hour before kick off, there were City supporters watching this clandestine match and no trouble whatsover.
The game was played at VV De Veluwseboys, on the outskirts of Garderen, where Willem II had been training all week and saw plenty of meaty challenges in a tight first half.
City fielding two trialists, including a French striker and a Spanish left winger, who whilst the Sky Blues are in administration cannot be named, played some good stuff in midfield, watched an early shot from the side relegated from the Dutch top flight fly over.
Cyrus Christie worked well in the 13th minute to win a corner and followed by a second corner two minutes and a throw in.
Just before the drinks break, City's French trialist cut in and curled just wide.
Ali Messaoud headed at Joe Murphy who had little to do unlike David Meul who had to be alert to a Carl Baker on the half hour mark.
In the final seconds, Willem II had a corner and Murphy caught the header as City went into the break level.
Callum Wilson came on for the French trialist and Jordan Willis was replaced by Arron Phillips at the break.
Willem II had the better of the early chances with Boymans dragging across Murphy's goal in the 51st minute.
Six minutes later, Messaoud won a corner. It was not cleared and Ali Messaoud banged in the loose ball past Joe Murphy.
Steven Pressley made six changes straight away bringing on the youngsters who played some tidy football despite failing to create any real chances of note.
Lee Burge punched two crosses away, a great save with 15 minutes to go when Messaoud turned inside the area and from a close ranger header with eight minutes left.
City continued to battle but went down to a 1-0 defeat.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service.