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Lewis looks lively

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Flying winger Lewis Gobern gave Mick McCarthy food for thought ahead of Sunday's clash at Leeds with a lively display as Wolves lost to Coventry in a hard-fought Compton Park friendly, writes

Mark Douglas

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A scratch Wolves side were beaten 2-1 yesterday, but McCarthy will have been impressed by an assured debut from Charlie Mulgrew.

Another scoring display from second- half substitute Leon Clarke will also have pleased the manager.

And 20-year-old Academy graduate Gobern may have played himself into contention for a starting role at Elland Road with a fine second-half display.

After a quiet first period Gobern was transformed in the second period, teasing the Sky Blues defence with a series of menacing and pacy runs.

The winger set up Leon Clarke's headed consolation goal with a superb swirling right-footed cross on 50 minutes, and was at the centre of a spirited second- half Wolves display.

But the efforts of Wolves' scratch side weren't enough to prevent defeat in a hard-fought friendly.

There was also a return for Brazilian midfielder Gui Finkler who marked his return from a hip injury with a 40-minute cameo in the second half.

Wolves went behind after just four minutes when Ben Turner managed to beat the Wolves defence and get in a header from a Liam Davis free-kick.

His effort rebounded off the post but hit the unfortunate Carl Ikeme on his back and crept in.

The Sky Blues doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Isaac Osborne scored with a fine volley.

The pick from a poor first- half display by Wolves came from striker Craig Davies.

The Welsh under-21 international, paired with Carl Cort for the first time, had two gilt-edged chances to open his Wolves account in the first half.

On 24 minutes he picked up a long ball from Mulgrew on the halfway line and glided past three defenders before firing his shot straight at the Sky Blues keeper.

And on the half-hour mark only a last-gasp tackle from Ryan Lynch prevented Davies from shooting when well placed.

After a lacklustre first half side Wolves were much improved in the second with senior trio Rohan Ricketts, Leon Clarke and Jody Craddock replacing Darren Potter, Carl Cort and Gary Breen.

McCarthy's side should have had an instant second- half riposte, but Ricketts could only drive Gobern's flighted cross against the post after 47 minutes.

And Mulgrew - who moved to centre-back in the second half - had a shot cleared off the line on 74 minutes.

Returning Wolves duo Jay Bothroyd and Jackie McNamara didn't play any part - but both were interested spectators down at Compton Park.

The pair have returned to full training and were doing fitness work as they continue their battle to be in contention for the Elland Road clash on Saturday.

Wolves: Ikeme (Lumley 74), Lowe (Ricketts 45), Mulgrew, Gleeson, Riley, Breen (Craddock HT), Gobern, Potter (HT), Cort (Clarke HT), Davies (Finkler 52), Jones.

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