[Archived] News Article -> 2011/12 FA Youth Cup: Rovers Youth 2 Coventry City Youth 0

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FA Youth Cup 4th Round

Rovers Youth(1) 2 – 0 (0)Coventry City Youth

O'Sullivan 14, Haley 65

Referee: R. Wootton Attendance: 511

Although Coventry's first team may be languishing at the wrong end of the table, as indeed are the seniors at Ewood, their youth team is a fairly formidable outfit. Unbeaten in their previous 13 outings and unbeaten away all season, Coventry's youngsters, coached by former Rover Lee Carsley, included three players who had all tasted first-team action this season.

On a raw night at Ewood Park, the Rovers quickly settled to their task and the visitors had to scurry to clear a shot from Hugo Fernandez off the line. The Rovers looked dangerous whenever they got forward as the visiting defence struggled to contain the lively Osayamen Osawe on the right wing. His pace and power proved too much for the Coventry left-back and time and again he raced past him and whipped in a succession of dangerous crosses.

It was Osawe who helped to carve out the opening goal on 14 minutes. He beat his man with ease and then picked out Fernandez in the area. The young Spaniard looked as if he might have a go for goal himself but, having wrong-footed the Coventry defence, he squared the ball for John O'Sullivan to pick his spot and slot the ball home with ease. It was football of the highest order and was warmly received by the supporters.

The Rovers continued to cause Coventry problems with the speed of their passing, with O'Sullivan being at the hub of everything in the centre of midfield. Fernandez, operating on the left of midfield, managed to elude his marker on a couple of occasions and went close to adding to the lead.

The visitors were restricted to occasional breakaways with their attacks being orchestrated from midfield by Gael Bigirimana, who has made a dozen first-team appearances this season.

As half-time beckoned, the visitors began to pose more of a threat and but for a magnificent one-handed save from Matthew Urwin, they might well have gone in at the break on level terms.

The Rovers suffered a blow at the start of the second half when Jack O'Connell went into a full-blooded challenge and had to be stretchered from the field. He was replaced by Tom Paul and fortunately the change didn't unsettle the defence.

The Rovers looked an impressive outfit and played some delightful attacking football with Curtis Haley leading the line well. Although operating a five-man midfield, there was fluidity about the play which saw the likes of Osawe, Fernandez and O'Sullivan continually linking up with Haley while the visitors struggled to keep tabs on them.

On 65 minutes the Rovers doubled their lead with another well-worked goal. Fernandez, who had a splendid game, picked out Haley with an inch-perfect pass which completely split the Coventry defence. The young centre-forward latched onto the ball in a flash and after bringing it down with consummate ease he calmly placed his shot past the 'keeper and into the back of the net.

The Rovers continued to press and might well have increased their lead with slightly better finishing. As the game ebbed to its inevitable conclusion, Urwin was again called into action and was forced to make a brilliant double save from Jonson Clarke-Harris. Having seen his initial shot brilliantly saved, the Coventry striker seemed a certain scorer when he moved in to sweep the rebound home. However, Urwin somehow managed to block the second attempt to keep his goal intact. It was truly a piece of world-class goalkeeping from the youngster.

The Rovers saw out the remainder of the game despite the fact that Bigirimana missed a glorious chance to score a consolation goal.

This was an outstanding performance from the youngsters and again illustrates what an excellent job that Terry McPhilips and Tony Grant are doing with this group of youngsters. At the moment the Under-18 team is the one shining light at Ewood Park.

The Rovers now face Stoke City at Ewood Park in the next round.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers Youth

Matthew Urwin; Peter Wylie, Ryan Edwards, Jack O'Connell (Tom Paul 55), Will Beesley; Osayamen Osawe, John O'Sullivan, Robbie Cotton, Raheem Hanley (Antonie Boland 78), Hugo Fernandez Molina; Curtis Haley

Subs not used: Christopher Dilo (gk), Bradley Mason-Ware, Danny Laverty

Coach: Terry McPhillips

Coventry City Youth

Alex Gott; Aaron Philips, Jordon Willis, Joe Henderson, Joe Pegg (Louis Garner 73); Will Roberts, Gael Bigirimana, Josh Ruffles, Courtney Richards (Ben Maund 73); Billy Daniels (Lewis Rankin 89), Jonson Clarke-Harris

Subs not used: Alex Donald, Ivor Lawton

Coaches: Gregor Rioch and Lee Carsley

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – Jack O'Connell, John O'Sullivan

Coventry City – Joe Henderson

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