New season, same old Sky Blues?

Coventry City went into their home against Bury on Saturday afternoon on the back of an unbeaten start to the 2012/13 season but were looking to kick on from drawing their opening two league games.

The Shakers came to the Ricoh Arena having taken one point from their first two league games and looking to new signing David Healy to provide the goals that would cause an upset.

Andy Thorn felt his side started nervously against Sheffield United on Tuesday but they pushed Bury back from the beginning, strikers Cody McDonald and Stephen Elliott defending from the front, causing the visitors to make a number of mistakes and fashioning an excellent chance which McDonald will be disappointed not to have taken.

‘despatched’

City also caused problems from set pieces but when a goal came it was via a long-range screamer from Adam Barton. The hosts continued to dominate and, when McDonald won a free kick on the edge of the box it was despatched hard and low into the net by Carl Baker.

It could have been three before the break as McDonald again came close but, as soon as Bury were handed a lifeline through a cheaply conceded penalty after half-time City lost their way and were pegged back, making it three games in a row where they have lost leads to end up with draws.

The first-half was full of positives, Richard Wood dominating in the air and Steven Jennings playing with a calm assurance in front of the back four while the two strikers were a handful for the Bury defence. After the interval the Sky Blues continued to make plenty of space for their full-backs but struggled to turn that into chances while, as on Tuesday night there was plenty of joy for the visitors against Reece Brown as he adapts to playing at right-back.