Blues 0-0 Coventry

The XI

One change. Jordan Graham replaces the injured Marc Roberts. Graham slots in at LWB, Josh Williams moves to RWB, Maxime Colin to RCB and Dion Sanderson to the centre of the back three. 

The game

An open first half with plenty of shots, particularly for the visitors, but few big chances. Blues had the best chance of the half, Tahith Chong beating two and his cut back being blazed over by Juninho Bacuna. Before that, Jonathan Panzo headed a free kick wide. After that, Fankaty Dabo was persistent and found Jamie Allen who couldn't connect cleanly. 

Gustavo Hamer had four shots from 20-30 yards of varying accuracy. Allen shot wide after good work from Gyokeres. Bacuna had a header which didn't trouble Wilson. Sheaf fired over from 20 yards. Bielik almost past Ruddy and late blocked a Panzo header. Godden blazed over after blocking a headed clearance.

Almost nothing happened in the second. 

Scott Hogan had the best effort of the game, a header from a Bacuna cross that forced an excellent save from Wilson low down. Then there half hour of midfield battles and poor touches. With seven to go, Gyokeres had a wild effort wide late on after good work. Hamer was sent off as injury time loomed for a stupid kick out. Blues tried to make the extra man count but Lukas Jutkiewicz, Trusty nor Chong could really test the Cov goal. 

Tactics

Two sides lining up 3-5-2. Blues more 3-1-4-2 v Cov's 3-4-1-2. 

Blues didn't get any kind of press right to start and their distances were all wrong which made it difficult to understand exactly what the plan was today for a lot of the first half. My belief is as followed.

 

We were worried about Gyokeres and Godden getting the run on our back three. So Williams and Graham were asked to drop deeper and protect against the ball in behind with Chong/Bacuna asked to press wide centre backs. The aim was that we could force the short pass to the wing-back, where Williams/Graham would then press and force the pass back inside. Or force the ball to Kyle McFadzean who would either have to go back to his goalkeeper, long or into a more congested centre. 

It didn't really work out like that first half. Cov were allowed to play. Panzo into Jake Bidwell, back to McFadzean to Dabo and Dabo would then have Sheaf and Hamer relatively close together to receive the ball with Bacuna focusing too much on position rather than man, meaning Cov had an out and then a pass into the feet of Gyokeres, be that pinning his marker or moving into the channel. What helped Coventry here was that Blues' defence were dropping deep rather than squeezing the space so the pass into Gyokeres or Godden was always on, albeit the former proved much stronger holding onto the ball.

This left Blues exposed with Dabo or Gyokeres facing up against Graham or Trusty on the right, Chong coming across to support, Blues' remaining defenders 6-12 yards from goal prepared to defend a cross and Bielik and Bacuna positioned for the clearance. This left space for Allen, Sheaf and Hamer 20-30 yards from goal to have a number of efforts from the right side, most of which thankfully didn't trouble Ruddy's goal for the most part. 

In possession, Blues had two avenues. The first was a ball behind for Hogan but often in a way that allowed Blues to force a header or bad touch and play on the second ball. I can't tell if this was by fortune of design. Probably the former. Or a whipped pass into the feet of Chong or Bacuna from a wide centre-back that relied on ther touch being spot on, which it tends to be. They could then turn and drive into space. The former did that much better than the latter on the day. 

Blues did at least do a decent job of recycling possession when on the attack. Bielik was taking up an aggressive position 25-30 yards from Coventry's goal which meant we were 3 v 2 at the back. Trusty and Colin were quick to read clearances and move the ball back out wide whenever a cross was sufficiently cleared.

The second half was more cagey from both sides. Blues got their distances much better with far less space available for the Coventry midfield. However, Coventry had also dropped off a little out of possession and forced Dion Sanderson to make decisions with the ball, which he did struggle with at times. Dabo and Bidwell were more aggressive against Williams and Graham, which caused Blues problems as far as an outlet was concerned so much of our play was left to Chong, and later Hannibal, to drop off, turn and move forward.

Players

Few standouts. Tahith Chong was probably Blues' best player, mainly because he actually looked after the ball. Speaking of curly haired United youngsters, Hannibal made a positive impression from the bench, an all-action, technical and willing to commit people. 

Bacuna had an off-day and it showed. He missed the early chance and tried too hard to make up for it rather than doing what he is good at. Graham and Williams offered little out wide. We lacked an organiser or talker in defence and Trusty showed he's still growing into Championship legs. 

Gyokeres impressed. Didn't get near enough to our goal to make a telling impact but uses his body so well and had all three of our defenders on toast at various points. Godden struggled to have the same impact. Cov were tidy. Thought Callum Doyle had a tough second half when Blues started playing on him. 

Anything else?

Pleased to say that the minute's silence for the queen was impeccably observed. 

Hannibal was taken out by Panzo who rightly received a yellow card. However, Hannibal immediately got up after the challenge and started waving an imaginary card. Cut that out, young man.

Conclusions

I'm torn on positive and constructive after that. 

This wasn't a good performance on the whole. It again highlighted the tough job Eustace faces changing the mentality of a group used to playing well once every 2/3/4 matches and knowing it's enough. We've had two good performances so naturally followed that up with a less inspiring one. We are also carrying players who haven't got their Championship 90-minute legs yet with tired legs and minds evident with some lazy hoofs late on. And we remain weak when defending set-pieces. 

However, we've played this game twice this season. Once against Rotherham. Once against Wigan. We lost both. A lapse in concentration or a set-piece costing us. Getting through the game with a clean sheet and making it three unbeaten is a positive. Evidence there is a slight change in mentality amongst the group, even if there is a long way to go. 

We definitely improved after half-time in terms of our shape which speaks to players taking on instruction. Hannibal made a positive impact from the bench which should put pressure on Bacuna and Chong to make sure they're being consistent in their form and application - I know, actual depth in a position! And it also dawned on me earlier today that I've not found myself frustrated by Hogan not keeping hold of possession in the final third - he's digging in, pressing well, linking play, winning free-kicks. A changed striker.