FOOTBALL: STRIKER George Thomas received high praise from new boss Russell Slade after helping the Sky Blues book their place in the quarter-final of the Checkatrade Trophy thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion’s Under-21 side.
Goals from Ruben Lameiras, Ryan Haynes and Thomas himself booked City a place in the last eight and also gave Slade his first win as Sky Blues manager.
Thomas has been in and out of the first team this season having scored two goals in 12 appearances in all competitions.
The young Welsh striker has impressed for the Under-23s this season and Slade hinted that he could be recalled to League One action as the club look to get themselves out of the relegation zone this Saturday against fellow strugglers Chesterfield.
Slade said: “What about George Thomas, he never stopped did he? He has got a great work ethic and he is making things happen for his teammates, I was really pleased with his performance.
“I could have done with getting him off really, I needed a fourth sub to perhaps protect him a little bit but he has done so well. I also thought Dion Kelly-Evans was fantastic.
“Your match winners and flair players are important, but the bread and butter players, those who are committed and willing to do the hard part of the game are important, and they did that on Tuesday.”
Captain for the evening Stuart Beavon fired over the bar early on and Ruben Lameiras had a volley well saved by Robert Sanchez, who enjoyed a superb first half in-between the sticks for Brighton in the opening period.
Sanchez produced a superb one-handed save to deny Cian Harries and he also kept out a long range effort from Gael Bigirimana, while Thomas blazed over the bar from six yards out in-between.
The breakthrough finally came four minutes before the break when Lameiras was well placed at the back post to flick the ball past a helpless Sanchez.
It was the more of the same after the re-start with the Sky Blues on the front foot and with 50 minutes on the clock Thomas headed home City’s second from a clever Beavon flick on.
Harries made an important block following a mistake by Reice Charles-Cook who was recalled into the City goal as the visitors searched for a way back into the match.
But in the final moments of the game Ryan Haynes scored his third goal in the competition with a neat right-footed finish to seal a comfortable 3-0 win.
“We’ve performed very well and been able to rest certain individuals and not over exert others with an important fixture coming up at the weekend,” Slade added.
“Of course I wish it was three points, but a win is a win and we progress into the next round of the competition.
“It is about momentum and that is three unbeaten now if you want to take the positives from the situation. I’ve also managed to play a lot of players that I haven’t seen from the other games.
“We had a few little niggles and injuries beforehand so that is good for us.”
