The Sky Blues suffered their first defeat of the pre-season in their sternest test to date against newly relegated Dutch second division side Willem II.
But there were plenty of positives to take from a competitive first half when City had the edge over their opponents and Steven Pressley’s triallist French striker caught the eye.
The game also saw Jordan Willis make a welcome return at centre-half alongside the increasingly composed Jordan Clarke, who got through another 90 minutes out of necessity as he continues to fill in at the back.
There was no place for star man Leon Clarke who sat out as a precaution after feeling a tight hamstring in training, while Adam Barton also watched from the sidelines after picking up a minor calf injury.
But Pressley was more than happy with his Gallic centre-forward who has been training with the club for the last couple of weeks.
Standing at 6ft 2inch tall, the Didier Drogba look-alike is a strong and powerful player with a good touch and turn of pace.
And although clearly behind the rest of the squad in terms of his fitness, he impressed in the 45 minutes he was given, often dropping deep to receive and hold the ball, and able to turn and attack smartly.
Pressley wants to keep his identity under wraps at this stage, perhaps for fear he may be pinched from under his nose as the transfer embargo rumbles on, but one gets the sense that he would snap him up now if he could.
Another triallist who can’t be named at this stage, a Spanish winger, played the entire game on the left but it was the right side where the Sky Blues looked at their most threatening where Cyrus Christie continues to be the team’s most effective outlet.
He linked up superbly well with Carl Baker and Conor Thomas who picked him out in pockets of space to enable the marauding full-back to get to the byline and float a handful of crosses into the box in a first half of plenty of possession but very little to show for it in terms of clear cut chances.
The Spaniard, meanwhile, was neat and tidy at times but didn’t see as much of the ball and was arguably lucky to stay on the field when he slid in with his studs showing as he tried to hunt the ball down to regain possession, a part of the game that City have been doing really well.
But Pressley made several changes at half time and just before the hour, with Christie switching to centre-half in place of Willis who was eased back to action with 45 since returning from a knee strain.
That upset City’s grip on the game and Willem seized the initiative in the 59th minute when the defence failed to clear their lines and new signing from AZ Alkmaar, Ali Messaoud, took advantage by latching on to a loose ball and finishing from close range in a crowded box.
That saw the balance of play shift to the ‘home’ side in the game played at a neutral venue at Garderen, north of Arnhem.
The fixture was due to be played behind closed doors but fans were informed late yesterday afternoon that they were allowed in and 15 travelling supporters made the trip.
Willem continued to dominate the second half and would have increased their lead had it not been for the impressive Lee Burge who dominated his area and made two terrific saves, one low to his right at full stretch and a second from point-blank range as the young keeper continues to look a more than able deputy to Joe Murphy.
City: Joe Murphy (60 mins, Lee Burge); Cyrus Christie, Jordan Willis (45 Aaron Phillips), Jordan Clarke, Blair Adams (60 mins, Ryan Haynes); Carl Baker (60 mins, Louis Garner), Conor Thomas (60 mins, Billy Daniels), John Fleck (60 mins, Leon Lobjoit), Spanish triallist; Franck Moussa, French triallist (45 mins, Callum Wilson).
I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from 
