Entertaining friendly ends in a draw
- Town keeps clean sheet against La Liga opposition
- Impressive performances from Kyle Dempsey & Jason Davidson
- Nahki Wells draws best saves in the stalemate
A resilient performance from Town earned them a 0-0 draw with La Liga side Deportivo de La Coruna in a game of few clear-cut chances.
As expected, Deportivo had good spells of possession in the first half, but both sides had chances to take the lead. Nahki Wells had the best chance for Town and drew a good save out of Deportivo goalkeeper German Lux, while Deportivo failed to test Town ‘keeper Alex Smithies.
Both sides struggled to create any clear chances as the second-half was disrupted by substitutions for both sides.
However, there was plenty to be positive about from a Town perspective. On top of the new home shirt reveal ahead of kick-off, the defence was solid against the top-flight Spanish side and there were good debuts from several of the new players, most notably Kyle Dempsey and Jason Davidson, who picked up Man of the Match.
Town boss Chris Powell changed the shape of his side for tonight’s friendly with Deportivo to a 4-3-3 formation. Jason Davidson returned at left back while Kyle Dempsey joined Dean Whitehead and Jacob Butterfield in the middle of midfield. Sean Scannell and Jordy Hiwula were wide of striker Nahki Wells.
The La Liga side dominated possession early on and created the first chance of the game. Juan Dominquez met a floated cross but couldn’t direct his header towards goal.
Town looked to play the ball behind the Deportivo defence when they had the ball. Nahki Wells had Town’s first chance was struck straight at Goalkeeper German Lux; shortly after Dempsey curled his shot over the bar after some good work from last season’s Player of the Year Jacob Butterfield.
Deportivo continued to look threatening in possession and had a good chance to take the lead. Miguel Cardoso fed off a poor pass from Tommy Smith but dragged his shot harmlessly wide.
Only a couple of minutes later the away side had the ball in the net. Cardoso was played through after Dempsey’s pass was intercepted. He placed the ball past Smithies only to find out his goal was ruled out for offside.
However, the best chance of the half fell to Nahki Wells. He stole the ball off Deportivo defender Pablo Insua near the by-line before having a good shot saved from a tight angle.
The away side began to turn up the style. Some superb flowing football led to a chance for Luis Fernandez. Laure whipped over a cross but it was put over acrobatically by the striker.
Deportivo continued the second half as they ended the first – in possession. The Spaniards created the first chance of the half when substitute Alejandro Arribas met Juanfran’s cross, but his header went straight in the hands of Smithies.
Butterfield has Town’s first chance of the second half. He blazed over a free kick as the sides struggled to break each other down.
Adam Hammill looked lively when he came on but he couldn’t help Town find a way through the Deportivo defence.
Town’s team (4-3-3):
Alex Smithies (Joe Murphy, 46); Jason Davidson (William Boyle, 77), Murray Wallace, Mark Hudson (c) (Joel Lynch, 46), Tommy Smith (Martin Cranie, 68); Dean Whitehead (Jonathan Hogg, 62), Jacob Butterfield (Adam Hammill, 77), Kyle Dempsey (Duane Holmes, 87); Jordy Hiwula (Harry Bunn, 62), Nahki Wells (James Vaughan, 68), Sean Scannell (Joe Lolley, 62)
Unused sub:
Sondre Tronstad
Gate:
4,633
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