The Sky Blues had to settle for a draw after struggling to find a killer touch against bottom of the league AFC Wimbledon at the Ricoh Arena.
City suffered an early setback when they conceded from a second minute corner and spent the next hour chasing the came, creating a string of chances but unable to display a cutting edge in front of goal.
Luke Thomas finally pulled the home side level in the 62nd minute but a late miss from Jordy Hiwula meant Mark Robins’s men ended with a disappointing point at home against the League One strugglers who defended in numbers for long periods of the game.
STARTING FORMATION: 4-4-2
LEE BURGE: 6.5
Will be disappointed to have conceded from a set-piece but pulled off a decent save to deny Jake Jervis a second and did the routine stuff pretty well, particularly dealing with tricky back passes.
DUJON STERLING: 7
Played so high up the pitch in a dominant first half when he was like a second winger, allowing Luke Thomas to cause problems inside. Provided a constant outlet but only criticism was the quality of crosses which cold have been better at times.
JORDAN WILLIS: 6.5
Question marks will be asked after City conceded from an early set-piece but, overall, defended well in a game that was played largely in the opposition’s half.
DOM HYAM: 7
Like Willis, has to take some responsibility for the early setback from a corner but otherwise read the game well and defended solidly for the remainder of the game.
SAM McCALLUM: 6.5
A nervous first start for the 18-year-old who gave away the corner that led to Wimbledon’s opening blow but found his feet to make a positive contribution going forward.
LUKE THOMAS: 7.5
As lively as ever and given more freedom to roam inside with Sterling playing so high up the pitch. Made a nuisance of himself in and around the box but wasted a great chance to get City back on level terms when he blasted wide from close range. Made amends when he scored the equaliser just after the hour.
TOM BAYLISS: 7
Drove City forward with some impressive running with the ball, linking up well with the forwards in a dominant first 45. Helped set up a great chance at the end when he combined with Hiwula.
LIAM KELLY: 7
Made a welcome return to the heart of the midfield where he helped move the ball about quickly and recycled attacks as City set up camp in Wimbledon’s half. Had a couple of chances to score, the best of which saw him thump the crossbar with the last kick of the game.
BRIGHT ENOBAKHARE: 5.5
Slow to get into the game but showed glimpses of skill in and around the box, getting better as the first half went on. Replaced by Clarke-Harris just half the hour mark after City had equalised.
CONOR CHAPLIN: 6.5
Worked hard with lots of movement but nothing fell for him in the first half. Linked up well with Hiwula from a brilliant move after the break but an ultimately frustrating afternoon for the striker who claimed he got a touch for the goal.
JORDY HIWULA: 6
Denied at the near post in the first half when he was lively in and around the box. Pushed out wide when Clarke-Harris went on and passed up the opportunity to score the winner when he dragged a late shot disappointingly wide from close range.
SUBSTITUTES:
JONSON CLARKE-HARRIS (62 mins, for Enobakhare): 6.5
Added some much-needed physicality against Wimbledon’s centre-backs, putting himself about and helping to defend a couple of late set pieces at the other end.
JACK GRIMMER (89 mins, for McCallum): 5
Never really had any time to make an impression.
Subs (not used): Corey Addai (GK), Tom Davies, Michael Doyle, Zain Westbrooke, Jordan Shipley.
OPPOSITION:
AFC WIMBLEDON (4-1-4-1): Aaron Ramsdale; Tennai Watson, Abdul-Yussuf Oshilaja, Paul Kalambayi, Tyler Garratt (68 mins, for Joe Pigott); Will Nightingale; Mitchell Pinnock, Anthony Hartigan, Anthony Wordsworth, Andy Barcham; Jake Jervis (68 mins, for Dylan Connolly).
Subs (not used): Joe McDonnell (GK), Liam Trotter, Toby Sibbick, Tommy Wood, Alfie Egan.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Thomas (61)
WIMBLEDON: Jervis (2)
ATTENDANCE: 10,420 (667 away)
THE REF: Robert Lewis
NEXT UP: Plymouth Argyle (a), Saturday, January 19, 3pm.
