TEN-man Coventry City suffered their first defeat of the Championship season at newly promoted Millwall.

Aidy Boothroyd made five changes to the side which saw off Derby County at Ricoh arena last Saturday.

And his new-look side looked to have earned City a point when Aron Gunnarsson levelled the scores after Martin Cranie earlier gave the home side the lead with an unfortunate own goal.

But when Carl Baker was sent off with 20 minutes to go, City struggled to contend with the home side and goals from Liam Trotter and Steve Morison -from the penalty spot - saw the Lions leapfrog Coventry in the Championship table.

Millwall had a lot of joy down Coventry's right flank in the first half but it was a fortunate richochet off Nathan Cameron which freed the Welsh international, before he pulled back for veteran striker Neil Harris.

Cranie beat Harris to the ball but could only steer it into his own net.

Despite the one-sided nature of the first half, City made a decent start.

Gary McSheffrey almost broke the deadlock after just four minutes, going for goal with a free-kick wide on the right when most were expecting a cross - nearly catching out Millwall keeper David Forde.

But the home side grew in confidence and moments after the goal looked like adding a second. Cranie atoned for his earlier error though, heading off the line from a deep, Danny Schofield cross.

Clive Platt was a constant thorn in the side of the Millwall defence. And it was Platt's flick on from an Aron Gunnarsson long throw which set up McSheffrey for a volley at goal - but the former Birmingham striker couldn't keep his effort down.

Harris was proving just as difficult to handle at the other end, striking the angle between bar and post after failing to convert a free header from five yards out just a minute earlier.

Gunnarsson had a great chance to level just before the half time but couldn't volley home McSheffrey's centre - following more good hold up play from Platt.

Iain Turner showed what he could do early in the second half, smartly saving - and holding onto - Harris' long range effort after Morison knocked down a long clearance.

And the same duo combined moments later to fashion a similar chance, but Morison could only fire over.

Coventry's equaliser came just after the hour mark. Gunnarsson racing onto yet another Platt flick-on before shrugging off the attentions of his defender and driving through the keepers' legs.

The goal proved to be Gunnarsson's final contribution as he was replaced by Freddy Eastwood two minutes later.

The game found its second wind after that and tempers began to flare on both sides. Substitute, Carl Baker receiving a red card - having been on the field just 15 minutes - for yellow cards either side of fine saves by Turner.

The Sky Blues sat back after Baker's dismissal and were punished just three minutes later when Trotter got on the end of a hopeful long ball and lobbed the stranded Turner.

Turner prevented the energetic Schofield doubling the lead moments later when he turned the midfielder's stinging shot over the bar.

But from the resulting corner Coventry conceded a penalty when James McPake - only on the field for a matter of seconds - brought down Morison, who got up to convert the spot kick himself.

The deficit could have been far greater but for a string of fine saves from Turner late on.

Attendance: 11,688

Teams

Millwall

Forde, Dunne, Robinson (c), Trotter, Schofield (Carter 81), Harris, Henry (Hackett 38), Barron, Ward, Morison, Abdou. Subs: Mildenhall (GK), Mkandawire, Smith, Lisbie, Marquis.

Coventry City

Turner; Keogh, Wood (McPake 76), Cameron, Cranie; Bell (Baker 58), Clingan, Carsley, Gunarsson (Eastwood 63), McSheffrey; Platt. Subs: Westwood (GK), Doyle, Clarke, O'Donovan.

Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)