FOOTBALL: A HAT-TRICK from Jodi Jones helped the Sky Blues defeat Notts Country 3-0 at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Jones – one of just three players from last season that made today’s starting XI – was on target once in the first half and twice in the second, completing his hat-trick with the last kick of the game.
It marked the perfect start to Mark Robins’ side as they started their first campaign in the fourth tier of English football since 1959.
City fans had to wait 28 minutes for the first goal of the season when Jones’ strike found its way through a sea of Notts County legs to hand the Sky Blues a first-half advantage.
Further pressure from Mark Robins’ men towards the end of the first half couldn’t be translated into a second goal as both sides ended the half with a goal separating them.
Added pressure at the start of the second half eventually resulted in the Sky Blues doubling their lead when Jones scored his second of the game on 80 minutes before completing his hat-trick with the last kick of the game on a counter attack.
Mark Robins said: “It was a performance I hoped for.
“Notts County performed as we expected and we dealt with their threat. They will win more games than they don’t.
“It was a great hat-trick, Jodi took all the goals well and he was helped too.
“I’m equally pleased with the clean sheet. We put bodies on the line.
“There’s a lot of expectation this season. We’re delighted and will enjoy the win.”
