Coventrians V Birmingham United (Division Two)

​Coventrians were looking to build on their eye-catching win against AFC Solihull last weekend with a statement result against Birmingham United yesterday. The hosts have adapted well to step seven since promotion from division three in the summer of 2023. Manager Matt Breeze is doing a good job and players such as Romano Graham have impressed up front.   

Birmingham United were one of the form teams in division two and were coming off four consecutive wins going into yesterday. It’s been an impressive start for the visitors with just one loss from six matches prior to this match. Manager Joe Sims is building something, and they are competing with the likes of Knowle and Northfield Town at the top of division two.

The atmosphere at the Colliery Sports Ground was friendly and welcoming yesterday. The people at the club were helpful with any queries raised and do a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make it a good matchday experience. There was a wide selection of snacks and drinks on offer alongside pin badges at the clubhouse. It’s a brilliant ground to visit for supporters of grassroots football.

Supporters can get the number 16 bus from Coventry City Centre and get off at Prologis Park where it’s only a short walk to the ground. It’s well worth a visit and accessible to get to by public transport with the number 16 bus coming regularly.  

​Starting line ups

Coventrian’s starting line-up included Josh Richards starting in goal and Romano Graham captaining the team up front. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with Anthony Smith and Romano Graham playing up front and being supported by Joe Rooney from attacking midfield.

There were three changes from the team that started against AFC Solihull last weekend with Finley Reynolds coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Maradoche Mirpo.

The starting line up for Birmingham United featured Dan Rushe starting in goal and Lewan Tobin captaining the team from midfield. The formation appeared to be a 4-4-2 with Connoll Farrell and Jahvan Howell playing up front and being supported by Connor Doyle and Alpha Wurie on the wings.

There were three changes from the team that started against Cadbury Athletic last weekend with Josh Mussell coming into the team and playing at left-back. 

​First Half

The match got off to a lively start inside the opening fifteen minutes and Coventrians started on the front foot. Romano Graham got into a promising position in the box before having an effort well saved by Dan Rushe at the near post in the 2nd minute. The hosts were committing players forward and Romano Graham played an inviting ball to Maradoche Mirpo whose shot was saved.

​The back three for Coventrians were reading the game well inside the opening fifteen minutes and limiting the clear-cut chances early on. Aidan Niblock impressed at the back and was clearing a lot of dangerous balls into the box.

It took the visitors twenty minutes to settle into the match, but a moment of quality gave them the lead. Ryan Pierpoint made a late run off the shoulder following a set piece and was through one on one with Josh Richards. His shot was saved but Jahvan Howell did well to anticipate the rebound and finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

The goal gave the visitors a lot of confidence and they started to impose themselves on the match more following the opening goal. A key strength that helped Birmingham United grow into the match yesterday was the midfield. Lewan Tobin and Brett Fellows were brilliant in midfield and gave the visitors a control of the match as the first half went on.    

Connoll Farrell looked like a striker in form and was holding up the play well throughout the first half and bringing players into the final third to build attacks.

Jahvan Howell impressed yesterday and was constantly getting into dangerous positions in and around the box. He had a shot from distance that just went over the bar in the middle of the first half.

Coventrians showed a lot of effort and endeavour yesterday and were close to finding an equaliser when a mistake at the back allowed Romano Graham through on goal whose effort was well saved by Dan Rushe. One of the most encouraging things for the hosts yesterday was that they were creating chances against a side who had only conceded one goal from four matches.  

A brilliant run into the box from Jahvan Howell made it 2-0 to Birmingham United on the half hour mark. He read the flight of the ball well before producing a quality finish into the bottom right corner.

A flee flowing passing move by the visitors made it 3-0 a few minutes later. An inviting ball was played to Connoll Farrell in the final third who ran with the ball before finishing across Josh Richards into the bottom right corner. It was a class finish and effectively sealed the match for the Blinders.

Lewan Tobin was helping to break up the play for Birmingham United which stopped Coventrians building a run of momentum in front of goal. Brett Fellows was also doing a good job of linking up the play from midfield which helped the visitors grow into the match.

Coventrians were pushing for a goal in the latter stages of the first half, but it was not quite clicking in the final third.

Second Half

Birmingham United made it 4-0 in the early stages of the second half when Josh Richards tried to clear a long ball into the box. His kick deflected off Connoll Farrell into the bottom right corner.

Despite the early set back for Coventrians they had a good fifteen-minute spell in front of goal in the middle of the second half. Finley Reynolds had a guilt edged chance to get a goal back when he was free in the box. His header was saved by Dan Rushe who managed to push it past the post for a corner.

Cydon Walker was having an encouraging game for Coventrians and impressed from right-back. He was getting forward down the right-hand side and offered an attacking threat for the hosts to build attacks from yesterday.

A well struck free kick by Jake Smith was tipped over the post by Dan Rushe to keep the clean sheet intact for Birmingham United.

Josh Mussell impressed for Birmingham United from left-back. He was reading the game well at the back and getting to a lot of dangerous balls into the final third.

Substitute Ellis Vaux struck a brilliant free kick from the left-hand side for the visitors that went into the bottom left corner to make it 5-0 late on. Fellow substitute Ethan Hanks had a chance near injury time and had a shot well saved by Josh Richards.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Birmingham United making it five consecutive wins in division two.

Full time

Coventrians should not be too discouraged with the result yesterday. They ran into one of the form teams in division two and competed well in spells throughout the match. Matt Breeze is doing a good job overall and there well clear of any relegation worries. They will be looking to cause a few upsets over the next few weeks with tough looking away matches against Knowle and Bolehall Swifts.                         

Birmingham United were brilliant yesterday and put in a professional performance to beat Coventrians and get another clean sheet. It’s now four clean sheets from their last five matches in division two and there’s a good culture being built at the club. They will be looking to challenge alongside the likes of Knowle at step seven and this performance should give them hope.  

FT score: Coventrians 0-5 Birmingham United

Man of the match: Jahvan Howell (Birmingham United)

Attendance: 53

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League