Bristol Rovers fell to a 2-0 defeat against Sky Bet Championship team Coventry City in their penultimate pre-season fixture.
The Pirates put up a valiant display against the Sky Blues, showing real defensive grit and moments of quality in the first half to reduce their opponents' chances and limit the efforts at Luke Southwood's goal.
Both of Coventry’s goals came in the second half, which saw an own goal from Macauley Southam-Hales to give the visitors the lead before Kaine Kesler-Hayden rounded Southwood and tapped the ball into an open net to double the Sky Blues' advantage.
Despite the defeat, it was a special fixture for Darrell Clarke, who returned to the home dugout at The Mem for the first time since leading the Pirates to back-to-back promotions between 2014-18.
Championship outfit Coventry took control of possession in the early stages of the first pre-season game at The Mem. Clarke's team saw midfielder Josh McEachran line up against his ex-Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard’s side.
Jack Sparkes whipped in a dangerous ball into the Coventry box, which was attacked by Promise Omochere. However, goalkeeper Ben Wilson managed to claw it away from the Gas' striker.
Coventry forwards Brandon Thomas-Asante and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto carried a real threat towards the Rovers' goal, with the attacker driving down the right wing and forcing Sparkes to bring him down, resulting in the first caution of the game from referee Steve Martin.
Rovers had their only clear chance of the match in the 37th minute as Kamil Conteh floated a delivery into the box, but Omochere nodded just over.
Coventry continued to have the lion’s share of possession in the second half of the fixture, carving out an early opportunity as Southwood punched a delivery away, landing at the feet of Mason Clarke, who fired an effort just past the far post.
The first goal of the evening for the Sky Blues was an unfortunate own goal from Southam Hales. The wing back was unable to sort out his feet as a cut back bounced off him into the Gas net, giving the away side a deserved lead in the 63rd minute.
The Gas responded well, creating a decent chance as Shaq Forde burst down the wing and floated a cross onto the head of Ruel Sotiriou, but a deflection robbed the effort of any power, and the Coventry shot-stopper was able to collect it. Unfortunately, Forde’s cameo would be cut short as the winger was shortly forced off through injury.
The Coventry lead was doubled with ten minutes remaining as the Gas defence was split by a through ball by Matt Grimes into Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who rounded Southwood before slotting the ball into the empty net.
The Pirates will conclude their pre-season schedule with a trip to Oxford United before starting their Sky Bet League Two campaign against Harrogate Town.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Senior (Southam Hales 45), Sparkes (Dewsbury 69), Moore (Bilongo 45) Kilgour, Hutchinson (Thomas 45), Omochere (Forde 59 Ellison 75), Sotirou, Taylor, Mceachran (Shaw 59), Conteh.
Subs not used: Young
Booked: Sparkes
Coventry City: Wilson (Collins 45), Binks (Kesler Hayden 45), Thomas (Latibeaudiere 45), Sakamoto (Kitching 45), Allen (Bidwell 45), Sheaf (Simms 45), Thomas-Asante (Grimes 45), Van Ewijk (Torp 45), Bassette (Raphael 45), Andrews (Mason-Clark 45)
Goals: Southam Hales (own goal), Kesler-Hayden
Official: Steve Martin
Attendance: 4134 (1393 Away)
