Lukas Jutkiewicz spares Coventry as honours end even in groundshare derby
Coventry City 0 Birmingham City 0
Neither of these sides has been especially familiar with clean sheets this season so both managers can regard this result as a minor triumph. But, as a spectacle, this curious groundshare derby of tenants versus hosts will not stay long in the memory.
Birmingham could be forgiven had they felt a little disorientated as they emerged from the visitors’ dressing room in their red away kit, but that could not be offered as an excuse for Lukas Jutkiewicz missing probably the best chance of the night as early as the 16th minute as a cross from Mikel San Jose gave him all of the goal to aim at. The frontman glanced his header wide, which rather set the tone. He went close near the end, but was defied by goalkeeper Marko Marosi, who pushed his header on to the bar.
After seven defeats so far, avoiding another at least felt good for Coventry manager Mark Robins, who said: “It was a scrappy game and we didn’t lose, so that’s a good thing. And Marko has made a brilliant save to get us a point. That normally ends up in the back of our net – that’s normally about the time we concede goals.”
Coventry had their moments, mostly involving Tyler Walker, who led their line tirelessly, despite playing with stitches in an ankle, and only the sharp reactions of Neil Etheridge, in the Birmingham goal, denied him his best opportunity, midway through the first period. After the break, just as before it, the moments when a goal threatened to come tended to fizzle out quickly, with neither side able to summon up any real quality.
The managers had the option of using up to five substitutes each, following the EFL rule change – the first to have this privilege at their disposal – but in the event six of the 10 remained on the bench.
Birmingham’s strong finish left manager Aitor Karanka feeling they should have won, but he was philosophical. “But it is another point, another clean sheet and to not concede goals is important – two weeks ago we had conceded five goals in two games and that wasn’t good,” he added.
Match details
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Marosi; Dabo (Giles 76), McFadzean, Hyam, McCallum; Sheaf (Ostigard 68), Kelly; Hamer, O'Hare, Shipley (Biamou 68); Walker.
Substitutes not used Wilson (gk), Allen, Jobello, Bakayoko, Thompson, Bapaga. Booked Sheaf
Birmingham City (4-2-3-1) Etheridge; Colin, Dean, Roberts, Friend; Sunjic, San Jose; Sanchez, McGree (Toral 59), Bela; Jutkiewicz.
Substitutes not used Prieto (gk), Pedersen, Kieftenbeld, Crowley, Hogan, Leko, Gardner, Dacres-Cogley.
Referee Oliver Langford (West Midlands).
