COVENTRY City were left frustrated as Ipswich Town grabbed a late winner from Michael Chopra.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas handed the away side an early lead before Sammy Clingan levelled from the spot. Gary Deegan gave Coventry the lead before the break but Michael grabbed two goals to win for the Tractor Boys.

With the Ricoh Arena experiencing a bit of light snow, it was the away side who were the stronger starters. In the 7^th minute, Aaron Cresswell was able to get down the left and cross in for an unmarked Daryl Murphy to head just over.

Both sides struggled to adapt to the testing conditions with possession being squandered regularly within the first quarter of an hour.

In the 20^th minute, Ipswich took the lead after Coventry failed to clear their lines. Despite a fairly routine ball forward, Jordan Clarke was only able to miscue his kick to the right across the area, only for Richard Wood to knock the ball into the area. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas stole in and his deflected effort found the corner of net.

Coventry attempted to respond immediately through Wood as David Bell was able to collect a far corner and cross for the defender, but he headed tamely wide.

In the 27^th minute, Gary McSheffrey whipped in a set-piece from the left and it fell for Richard Keogh at the far post to slot home. Despite this, the referee called it back and awarded a penalty to the Sky Blues for an apparent handball. Luckily for the home fans, captain Sammy Clingan stepped up and made the keeper go the wrong way to level the tie.

Despite both teams scoring, there was a lack of clear chances at either end as Gary Deegan and Clingan battled in the middle of the park.

As the game approached half-time, McSheffrey received a neat pass from Deegan and arrowed the ball towards the far-post but Clarke was unable to hit the target with his sliding effort.

Coventry went in search of the lead before half-time as Bell was able to receive the ball from Platt and he unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive which was only just tipped over from Adam Lee-Barrett.

A minute before the break, the home side did take the lead. Clarke's long throw into the area was flicked on by Platt and it fell for Deegan to half-volley home.

As the snow got heavier, the teams came out for the second-half and it was the Tractor Boys who almost grabbed the next goal of the game. Emmanuel-Thomas was able to take the ball down on the edge of the area and flick it through to Michael Chopra but he somehow put it wide when it seemed easier to score.

With half-chances for Alex Nimely and Deegan spurned, Ipswich began to dominate proceedings in the tricky conditions. Sitting ever deeper, the away side were dangerous down the lines with Emmanuel-Thomas the main threat for Paul Jewell's side.

The pressure told as Lee Martin was fouled inside the area by Keogh to give the away side a 62^nd minute penalty. Despite Joe Murphy saving the spot-kick onto the bar, he failed to reach Chopra's rebound so Ipswich levelled the tie.

They continued to pile forward and Chopra once again missed a crucial to put Ipswich ahead. Emmanuel-Thomas won the ball in the middle of the park and slid Chopra through to the right of goal but his low effort was brilliantly saved by Murphy in the City net.

Coventry did have their chances though and as the game encroached into the last quarter of an hour, Clingan almost put the Sky Blues ahead. McSheffrey was fouled just outside the area and the Northern Ireland international curled the ball narrowly wide from the resulting free-kick.

In the last ten minutes, both sides pushed forward for the crucial winner but were unable to get a telling effort on goal with both Nimely for Coventry and Emmanuel-Thomas for Ipswich having good chances.

Adam Lee-Barrett spilled two crosses late on but neither Wood or McSheffrey could direct their efforts towards goal in the four minutes of injury time.

The curse of the late goal struck again though as Chopra stole in at the far post after the Coventry defence failed to clear, to win it for Ipswich.

Teams

Coventry City: Murphy, Cranie, Keogh, Wood, Clarke (Willis 84), McSheffrey, Clingan (c), Deegan, Bell (Norwood 65), Nimely, Platt
Subs: Dunn (GK), Baker, Eastwood.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barratt, Cresswell, Edwards, Emmanuel-Thomas, Chopra, Martin, Drury, Hyam, Smith, Murphy, Sonko (c)
Subs: McCarthy (GK), Delaney, Leadbitter, Scotland, Bullard

Attendance: 13,464 (1,146 away)