Coventry City maintained their pre-season schedule by recording a private victory over Midlands opponents Leicester City during a midday kickoff.
The West Midlands club faced a predominantly backup Foxes eleven featuring senior players Harry Souttar, Hamza Choudhury and Wout Faes, with Russell Martin’s main squad simultaneously competing against Genoa at the King Power Stadium that evening (Aug 1).
Joel Latibeaudiere struck the solitary goal midway through the latter period during the subdued friendly at Leicester’s Seagrave training ground. Frank Lampard permitted his initial lineup 75 minutes of action before completing wholesale changes, with only Liam Kitching remaining on the pitch for the entire duration.
Four squad members were unavailable: Luke Woolfenden missed his second consecutive match after also sitting out the Northampton fixture for undisclosed causes; Jack Rudoni progressing through his rehabilitation programme following shoulder operation; Aurele Amenda still on vacation after his World Cup involvement; and Jahnoah Markelo, heavily speculated to be heading to Rangers on loan.
Ben Wilson took his place between the posts for Coventry and was required to make a smart save with his legs to stop Riley Carr’s effort after just three minutes. The club’s initial attack arrived shortly afterward when Kitching threaded the ball to Victor Torp, whose effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar. The Danish midfielder created additional opportunities to break the deadlock but fired over on each occasion before a deflection resulted in a corner. Milan van Ewijk’s set-piece delivery was met by Bobby Thomas at the far post, yet his header was collected by Fran Vietes.
Wilson produced another fine stop approaching the interval by pushing away a strong strike from distance by Louis Page.
Coventry began the second period with purpose, Ellis Simms watching his low drive get saved before Torp lifted a 30-yard free-kick marginally over the bar. The away side crafted two openings within moments in the 71st minute as Simms was denied by another save before Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s powerful strike was pushed behind by the goalkeeper who had to stretch.
Lampard introduced numerous replacements at the 75-minute mark, with only Kitching remaining from the original eleven.
The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute when Josh Eccles delivered a corner that Kitching headed back across the six-yard box, leaving Latibeaudiere free to nod it in at the far post.
Leicester nearly drew level four minutes subsequently when Michael Golding’s strike struck the crossbar, though Coventry managed to see out the closing stages.
City: Ben Wilson (Oliver Dovin); Milan van Ewijk (Kaine Kesler-Hayden), Bobby Thomas (Joel Latibeaudiere), Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva (Jake Bidwell); Frank Onyeka (Josh Eccles), Matt Grimes (Kai Andrews); Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Loum Tchaouna), Victor Torp (Brandon Thomas-Asante), Ephron Mason-Clark (Raphael); Ellis Simms (Haji Wright).
Unused substitutes: Oscar Varney (GK), Miguel Brau, Elliot Betjemann.