Peterborough United U21 vs Coventry City U21

Peterborough United Under 21s return to base for the final block of fixtures on Wednesday afternoon (1.30pm) starting with the visit of Coventry City.  

The jam-packed April continues for our development side, who gear up to face Coventry City in midweek.

Ryan Semple will be hoping for more of the same as last time around, as his side held on to secure a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, owing to strikes from Fabian Claxton and a Trialist.

City’s run of six games unbeaten came to an end in midweek, having been handed a heavy defeat by Ipswich Town.

Donay O’Brien-Brady and Patryk Sykut were on target in the reverse fixture, as our youngsters claimed a 2-0 victory over Wednesday’s opponents.

TEAM NEWS   

A similar side is likely to take to the field from the one that ran out 2-1 winners at Vicarage Road last time out.

FROM THE MANAGEMENT

Head of Recruitment, Analysis and PDP Coach Sam Gaughran said: "It will be another tough test tomorrow against Coventry City. We’re looking at a similar squad to last week so it’s another good opportunity for the younger lads to experience some Under 21s football, and hopefully we can come away with another result.”

THE OPPOSITION   

Coventry sit fifth in the northern section, having picked up 36 points from 24 league matches. Mark Delaney’s young Sky Blues have seen 11 victories, three draws and ten defeats over the course of the term, putting them in the upper reaches of the table.  

FROM THE MANAGER

UPDATES  

Updates of the game will be available on The Posh Academy X account.   

VENUE

The fixture will take place at the idverde Training Ground (1.30pm) behind closed doors.

Fabian Claxton’s late strike secured victory over Coventry City in the Professional Development League.

Our youngsters made it back-to-back victories in the league following last week’s success at Vicarage Road with an excellent 3-2 victory over Coventry City thanks to a winner from defender Fabian Claxton.

The afternoon started in the balance; our youngsters looked to try and break down the masked ranks of City shirts, but it was Coventry who had the fair share of possession, earning a series of corners.

Though both sides started to grow into the contest, it was City who drew the first blood. Lucca Mendonca hacked down Aston Ellard inside the penalty area, before Raphael Borges RODRIGUES dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

Coventry pressed for a quick second, but Bastian Smith was on hand to deny Ellard from close range, before Ma’Kel Campbell launched a quick counter, finding Bolu Shofowoke in behind the City backline, who rounded Eliot Meredith - only to be denied on the line by a recovering defender.

Posh then got their noses level; Eddie Fox found an extra yard, before sliding in Shofowoke whose attempt could only be pushed out towards CHANGUNDA, who followed the ball home at the back post.

Our youngsters duly took confidence from the leveller, coming back out from the break with their tails up. Shofowoke – like we’ve come to expect – burned past his marker, before forcing the City ‘keeper to spill the ball to SYKUT on the goal-line – who made no mistake.

Sykut almost continued the purple patch two minutes later. Mendonca dispossessed his opposite number, picking out Changunda whose cross was met by our number 11, but his strike lacked the necessary purchase.

Shofowoke continued to find an avenue to attack, this time our front man reached an aimless ball sent towards the final third, but his end effort was well blocked by the Coventry rearguard.

Against the run of play, City drew level. The away side launched a quick break, where RODRIGUES’ initial strike was met equally by Smith, before firing home seconds later.

Now, with the bit between their teeth, the momentum had swung in favour of the visitors. Our backline was caught in possession, but Luke Gilbert recovered well to head the ball away on the line, before City recycled the ball back out wide, forcing Smith into a sharp stop low down to his left.

After a lull in chances, our youngsters worked their way back on top; this time, Shofowoke broke into the final third, with the woodwork coming to the visitors’ aid, before Changunda’s effort from 20-yards was tipped over by Meredith.

CLAXTON continued his thirst for scoring, arriving at the back post to force the ball home with two minutes left on the clock!

Posh: Smith, Mendonca, Fitzpatrick (sub Holley 83min), Fox, Claxton, Gilbert, Changunda, Campbell, Shofowoke, Sykut, Davies (sub Beech 86min). Unused subs: Westcott, Sumnall, McWilliams-Marcano.