As it happened: Coventry 1-2 Wolves

Well, that is that. Thank you very much for tuning in, for a pre-season fixture that wads surprisingly enjoyable.

Plenty of tenacity and determination resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable game. Enjoy your weekend, folks!

And that is that! Wolves claim the victory after goals from Fabio Silva and Ruben Neves proved decisive. 

The Lage era is taking shape and Coventry look promising ahead of the fresh campaign.

Wolves have a late, late corner and Joao Moutinho's ball glides over the cluster of players and finds Cutrone, who placed and effort into the side netting.

Two minutes added on at the final stage.

Nelson Semedo wins a corner after gliding past his man and forcing an interception in the box.

Coventry can hold their head high today, they have impressed and will undoubtedly secure a third consecutive season in the second division if they manage to implement their game plan on a consistent basis.

 

Wolves with more and more of the ball in the dying embers of the fixture.

This is the perfect opportunity to work on ball retention and the closing down of a game, something that will need to be polished ahead of a plethora of Premier League games.

Nuno may have departed, but Wolves have seemingly retained the defensive aptitude instilled over his tenure.

They are hard to break down and don't offer many clear openings.

Both sides are now somewhat floundering and the game is lacking its previous fluidity; Wolves superior in possession but Coventry still seeking openings to capitalise on.

Deft footwork from Cutrone beats his man after he wins the ball in the middle of the park.

His advances are cut out however, before the danger becomes imminent. 

Gibbs-White and Max Kilman take to the bench for Wolves, with captain Conor Coady and Luke Cundle the replacements.

Waghorn is off for Coventry, replaced by Ryan Howley.

I forgot to mention earlier, Adama Traore was withdrawn for Patrick Cutrone, who dribbles superbly up the pitch as I type.

The lack of Traore's skill can be felt as Wolves take their foot off the gas in the closing stages.

 

Walker attempts to rectify his earlier miss with a fierce strike at goal; noble, but parried easily by Ruddy.

The linesman then flags for offside and it wouldn't have counted anyway.

Despite a clear drop in intensity, Wolves do look fit and ready for the season.

There really has been plenty of desire and sharpness, this match resembles more of a FA Cup encounter to a pre-season friendly.

Coventry have loosened the pressure that has served them so well over the past 15 minutes of football.

Wolves have regained composure and will be confident of securing victory in Coventry.

Wow, Coventry should be level. 

Tyler Walker's first touch off the game should be an equaliser after a cross results in all but a tap in to secure a level score. 

Instead, the ball begrudgingly dribbles wide for the home team.

 

Coventry are growing into this fixture, and that goal has inspired confidence.

The match is opening up and Wolves need to take control once again.

 

Traore - arguably man of the match so far - unleashes a fierce effort that takes a deflection, earning his side corner.

Easily dealt with as a host of changes appear to take place...

What a period of football we've just witnessed.

Wolves are now retaining possession and probing for a third after a frenetic phase that resulted in a goal for both teams. 

Martyn Waghorn scores from the spot.

He smacks the ball into the left side pop the net, sending Ruddy the wrong way. Game on!

Oh my goodness! Action in abundance.

It's not great, I must say. Hoever makes a sloppy mistake and brings the Coventry forward down in the box. Penalty!

 

OH YES IT IS! Ruben Neves with the goal!

Gibbs-White slips the ball to Neves, who sees his deflected strike defeat Coventry's defence and finds the back of the net.

 

Traore is fouled in a promising position, but opts to taken the free-kick quickly.

The right decision..?!

Chem Campbell has impressed so far since his introduction. He breaks into the box from the right and births a fierce strike into the corner, although this is anticipated and swept up from the opposition goalkeeper.

Wolves - in their golden shirts - are initiating the advances to start the second half, with Aid-Nouri continuing to free up space down that left flank.

It is clear to identify Lage's philosophy - players in the middle of the park used in a triangular approach to pivot for further players, freeing up space and opening offensive opportunity.

We are back underway!

Coventry with a single change - Pape Souare (officially trialist B, not A as previously assumed) takes to the field.

No further changes for Wolves at the break.

Coventry are back on the field, whilst Wolves are expected to remerge in one moment. 

Will Wolves score multiple goals in a match for the first time this pre-season? Will Coventry score their first goal since the previous term's culmination?

 

The referee blows for half-time! Wolves lead 1-0 after a well-taken goal from Fabio Silva. 

Wolves look assured considering this is a second match in as many days; two injuries to Mosquera and Bueno have also affected the matches flow.

Gyokeres breaks away and starts a flowing move.

Hamer plays in a delightful ball that agonisingly evades Waghorn.

Three minutes have been added on as the home side leave unscathed from a defensive mishap between goalkeeper and defender.

Neves takes a ranged shot which he sees comfortably saved.

Silva gingerly asks for a spot kick after an alleged handball following Traore's tidy work down the right flank.

Play continues and young forward Campbell is now on to fill in at left-back!

Wolves are now playing a flat back-four after an injurious ten minutes.

Gibbs-White is now on the floor after Traore breaks once again, but he looks to be okay.

Oh no. Hugo Bueno is now down and clutching his hamstring; the young full-back was brought on not ten minutes ago to replace the injured Mosquera.

The medical staff are earning their money today, and it appears Bueno won't be able to continue.

 

Adama Traore really is some player! He channels his innate gliding excellence to avert the advances of multiple defenders.

His pass is served to Gibbs-White who watches his effort drive above the goal.

O'Hare is seamlessly encouraging attack for Coventry, it must be said the Championship side do look dangerous and certainly capable of bagging a goal.

Youngster Hugo Bueno has now come on for the departed Mosquera after Lage is forced into an early alteration.

Bueno enters on the left flank whilst Ait-Nouri switches to the right.

The Wolves manager will be largely contented with how his side have performed.

They have shown offensive promise and defensive resilience which will only be aptly sharpened as the season takes place. 

Mosquera is down injured and receiving treatment, and concurrently the two sides leave the fray for a drinks break. 

The Columbian defender exits down the tunnel and it appears that's his day concluded.

Interestingly, each side is managing to enter promising positions before ultimately being snuffed out.

As I say this... Coventry have their best break of the match with Victor Gyokeres driven effort whistling wide.

Bruno Lage seems a real character, consistently barking orders and exerting his authority, eager to ensure his tactical plan is being implemented.

Ruben Neves was the orchestrator for the goal, and a lovely drop of the shoulder results in a free-kick.

 

Both teams are displaying plenty of commitment in this pre-season encounter...

An exquisite ball is then played over the top for Coventry and dealt with by the young Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera! 

The Sky Blues break and earn another corner down the left flank. 

Once again, Wolves deal with the danger before scrappy passing results in a loss of possession.

Ait-Nouri is impressing, a swift move enables the young full-back to place a ball into the box from the side.

Gibbs-White anticipates the move, but cannot get his leg in the way to ensure a tap-in.

Wolves look comfortable, Coventry are enjoying success playing aerial balls into the box, but the defence are safely dealing with the threat.

Raul Jimenez' trademark song is being belted with volume by the Wolves faithful.

He may not be on the pitch but it is clear the striker is beloved in a way that evades most football players.

Traore's dazzling dribbling and sharp movements are proving troublesome for Coventry.

Silva is also getting into some promising positions; the young forward looks a real talent!

 

My.. the home side nearly level, a looping ball over the top falls gracefully to Waghorn.

The forward can only see his effort dinked wide under pressure from the defending side.

GOALLLL: a goal in front of the travelling supporters!

Gibbs-White swings the corner in to Traore whose deflected effort is rebounded into the box and on a plate for the prodigious Silva! 1-0!

Coventry have an excellent offensive press; sharpness, guile, determination.

As I write, Adama Traore plays in a ball which is headed by Silva, and a deflection results in the away sides first corner. 

Wolves are doing the first bit of defending, but are indeed doing so just fine. 

Martin Waghorn's corner is easily dealt with and results in a third corner; the effort is timid and dealt with by veteran Ruddy.

Coventry earn the first glimpse of opportunity after a lovely thorough ball results in a tangle in the box.

Corner to Coventry.

ANDDD we aren underway! 

The home side starts proceedings and play a long ball forwards, to no avail.

Both managers have named strong line-ups, expect a well-contested clash here today.

 

Scenes you love to see; Wolves fans at the game, something Lage will hope to galvanise his squad after a season devoid of stadium support.

 

Ed has provided an intriguing piece of analysis on Morgan Gibbs-White, who will be hoping to stake his claim towards an integral role.

 

We're mere minutes away from kick-off now!

The teams are out on the pitch and warming up ahead of a potentially enticing few hours of football.

 

Only 30 minutes until were underway in Coventry now!

 

Will talismanic figures such as Fabio Silva and Adama Traore inspire Wolves to victory today?

There are reports that the trialist in Coventry's squad is former Crystal Palace full-back Pape Souare.

Souare played 63 matches for the Eagles during his spell in London, registering three assists.

Coventry: L-L-L

 

Wolves: L-W-L-D

 

Both sides in need of a convincing victory today to aid their fortunes?

Our own Ed Hague-Saunders is at the Coventry Building Society Arena to bring you the match report after the game.

 

Without a win or a goal in pre-season, the Sky Blues will be eager to alter their proceedings before a second successive campaign in the Championship.

 

 

Coventry XI: Moore, McFadzean, O'Hare, 'Trialist A', Sheaf, Hyam, Gyokeres, Maatsen, Dabo, Hamer.

Wolves XI v Coventry: Ruddy, Hoever, Marques, Kilman, Mosquera, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Dendoncker, Gibbs-White, Silva, Traore. 

 

 

VAVEL's devoted Wolves editor Josh Holland was at the match yesterday.

Read his report from the game here. 

Good morning! Wolverhampton Wanderers will shortly be taking Coventry City on in their penultimate pre-season friendly.

The Wanderers drew 1-1 yesterday against Stoke City, with Raul Jimenez netting his first strike since his return from a lengthy injury.

Fans of either club, or perhaps avid football fans eager to follow some live play, don't miss a minute of the action and follow along right here!

We'll be back tomorrow at midday, see you then!

The game will begin tomorrow at 1pm BST, 1st August 2021. 

VAVEL will begin coverage of the fixture one hour before kick off.

Both of Wolves' friendlies so far have entertained a single goal, whilst Coventry are yet to score, so expect a low-scoring match.

The sides will look for fluidity  and sharpness above searching for goals in abundance. 

Cast your eyes back to 1967, when Coventry bested midlands rivals Wolves in a thrilling 3-1 contest to all but confirm the Second Division Championship in front of 51,455 fans.

Raul Jimenez will be a player looking to impress as he regains match fitness after suffering a harrowing head injury against Arsenal last November, which ruled him out for the rest of the term. 

The endeared talisman has scored 48 goals for Wolves in 110 appearances, and will be a welcome return for the forthcoming season. 

Coventry have yet to score in their three pre-season matches so far, and will call upon the likes of Tyler Walker to grab a goal and finish pre-season on a high.

Walker scored seven times in 31 league appearances last season as the team finished 16th on their return to the Sky Bet Championship.

This is Coventry's final pre-season game before welcoming Nottingham Forest for their first match of the new campaign; expect a strong xi from manager Mark Robins.

Wolves have Celta Vigo yet to play, and - if the past two matches are anything to go by - Lage will rotate multiple players to continue boosting the fitness of his team.

Wolves have returned two 1-0 score lines in their pre-season to date; losing to lowly Crewe Alexandra before Patrick Cutrone bagged the winner against Real Betis to bless the Lage era with its first victory. 

Consecutive wins would certainly aid the squad in establishing cohesion and a winning mentality. 

The Sky Blues will look to finally find a win in pre-season after a meagre return to date.

After defeats to spanish outfit Sevilla, and lower-league opposition Cheltenham Town and Mansfield Town, Coventry will certainly welcome a boost in confidence should they prevail against Wolves tomorrow.

The match is available globally to watch on Wolves TV or via the official Wolverhampton Wanderers Facebook page for £4.99. 

Additionally, Coventry City TV will be streaming the match in its entirety and can be purchased through their official site. 

The pre-season fixture will be played out at the Coventry Building Society Arena as both sides look to get minutes in the legs before the season kicks off at a frenetic pace. 

Coventry will be able to welcome fans back to the ground after previously sharing Birmingham City’s St Andrew Stadium.

Hello, my name is Angus Sinclair and thank you for tuning in; we'll bring you comprehensive score updates and news until the match finishes tomorrow afternoon!

I'll be guiding you through the encounter as Bruno Lage hopes to further shape his squad ahead of what is sure to be an enticing campaign for Wolves!