Injuries, formation and what we learned as Paul Pogba watches Coventry City thumped by AS Monaco
Coventry City pre-season news from CoventryLive as we pick the bones out of the Sky Blues’ second pre-season run-out
Coventry City suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to French top flight side AS Monaco as Frank Lampard’s men continued to build their fitness levels ahead of the new Championship season.
It was always going to be a bit of a mismatch in terms of quality against the eight-time French champions but the object of the exercise was clearly to get more competitive match minutes in the Sky Blues’ legs as they continue to build into the 2025/26 season.
The defeat from the behind-closed-doors game at St George’s Park comes after last Saturday’s opening 2-0 pre-season friendly loss to Portuguese side Portimonense.
Who played?
Frank Lampard fielded two different outfield teams in each half, including three development players in centre-back Callum Perry, midfielder Kai Andrews and striker Justin Obikwu. Goalkeeper Ben Wilson was the only player to play the full 90 minutes.
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First half XI: Ben Wilson; Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Bobby Thomas, Callum Perry, Jay Dasilva; Matt Grimes, Ben Sheaf; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni, Miguel Angel Brau; Ellis Simms.
Second half XI: Ben Wilson; Milan van Ewijk, Joel Latibeaudiere, Liam Kitching, Jake Bidwell; Jamie Allen, Victor Torp; Kai Andrews, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Ephron Mason-Clark; Justin Obikwu.
How did they set up?
Lampard stuck with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation for both halves with Grimes and Sheaf in tandem in the holding roles to start the game and Jack Rudoni deployed in his familiar and effective number 10 role.
Summer signing Brau was once again deployed out of position, with the left-back operating further forward on the left wing at a time when Haji Wright remains out with an Achilles injury, while Ellis Simms led the line.
The second 45 saw Allen and Torp in the defensive midfield slots while rookie midfielder Andrews – a holding player by trade – was played wide on the right as striker Thomas-Asante was asked to play in the number 10 role behind another development lad, Obikwu, who had recovered from a training niggle to play his first friendly of the summer.
Who didn’t play and why?
Haji Wright (Achilles), Josh Eccles (knee) and Oliver Dovin (ACL) – all of whom are continuing their rehab from their respective injuries.
Luis Binks, Raphael Borge Rodrigues, Norman Bassette and Brad Collins also sat out with what is understood to be slight knocks and strains from training.
Young goalkeeper Luke Bell, meanwhile, was an unused sub.
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Mini match report:
A second half hat-trick from substitute Maghnes Akliouche added to first half goals from Mika Biereth and Saimon Bouabre to sink the Sky Blues 5-0 at St George’s Park.
The eight-time French champions pressed hard and looked impressive, as expected from a side that finished third in Ligue 1 last season while competing in the Champions League.
Monaco opened the scoring in the 27th minute when former Arsenal striker Biereth scored on the turn via the aid of a deflection off Bobby Thomas.
Bouabre then doubled Monaco’s lead on 37 minutes when he cut in from the left and sent a curling shot from the edge of the box into the far top corner to beat Ben Wilson in the City goal.
Sky Blues midfielder Jack Rudoni had City’s best chances, first with a blocked effort before Radoslaw Majecki tipped a powerful shot over the crossbar – the Monaco goalkeeper’s only real save of the game.