Despite a City rally from 2-0 down, Coventry Under-21s succumbed to defeat at Derby County....
Coventry City Under-21s succumbed to a 4-2 defeat at Derby County despite a spirited second-half fight-back.
Despite going 2-0 down early in the second half, City rallied with goals from Mathieu Manset and Louis Garner to drew level.
Unfortunately, County restored their two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes of the game despite a valiant effort from the Sky Blues.
County found themselves ahead within the first five minutes with Valentin Djokaj's powerful header from a Michael Jacobs free-kick.
In a first-half of few chances, Ben Maund went close for City after good build-up play from Adam Barton and Billy Daniels, but his curling effort was saved in the 14th minute.
County doubled their lead after the break when substitute Max Lowe slotted home from a Mason Bennett cross in the 53rd minute.
The set-back didn't deter City and they quickly found themselves level thanks to two goals in three minutes.
Manset got his reward for a battling performance when he rounded two County defenders and curled the ball into the top corner in the 58th minute.
Just two minutes later, City leveled after Louis Garner pounced on the rebound from Ben Maund's well-saved low effort to slot home.
Coventry went after the winner and went close through Manset when he rounded four Derby defenders but couldn't direct his effort on target.
Max Lowe grabbed his second and Andrew Dales netted to condemn City's Under-21s to an unfortunate defeat.
Teams
Coventry City: Burge (GK), Phillips, Willis (C), Urquhart, Haynes, Garner, Daniels, Barton (Lobjoit 46, Lawton 54), Trialist, Maund, Manset.
Subs: Gott (GK), Rankin, Baker-Richardson.
Derby County: Morch (GK), Hendrie, Hoganson, Dawkins, Gjokaj, Lelan, Jacobs, Dales, Vernam, Bennett, Sharpe.
Subs: Hanson, Etheridge, Wassall, Lowe, Thomas.