Ali Al-Hamadi was on target as Town’s U21s got their season under way with a 4-2 Premier League Cup defeat to Coventry City at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium last night.

Al-Hamadi, whose loan move Polish club Raków Częstochowa fell through due to concerns regarding his medical earlier in the month, was the only senior Blues player in John McGreal’s side.

The visitors went ahead through Oscar Jorgensen in the 34th minute but the Iraq international levelled two minutes later.

Just before the break, Blues keeper George Barrett was stretchered off, his injury leading to a long delay, then Al-Hamadi was one of three players subbed at half-time.

Coventry restored their lead from the penalty spot through Kah’vanni Lincoln in the 64th minute, then the midfielder, who had only come off the bench on the hour, converted a second spot-kick on 79.

Substitute Jamie Mauge pulled one back for Town with nine minutes left but MacKenzie Stretton added a fourth for the Sky Blues in the final minute.

Lithuania U21 international central defender Jacob Mazionis, 20, returned to action as a half-time sub having been sidelined following a foot operation in February.

Town: Barrett (Williamson 45), Elliott (Mazionis 46), Lewis, Wood, Wilkinson, Sains, Fletcher, Compton (Boakye-King 46), Al-Hamadi (Mauge 46), Eldred, Nicolaou (Adetiba 76). Unused: Pedder, Eze.

Photo: Reuters