COVENTRY City's Carling Cup campaign came to an end with a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United.

Berating his players though will be the last thing on City boss Chris Coleman's mind though after they constructed a valiant fightback from two goals down before an extra-time strike from substitute Michael Owen reinstated Toon's lead.

Clinton Morrison kept Coventry City's hopes of a Carling Cup third round berth alive with a first half injury-time goal to leave the Sky Blues trailing 2-1 at half time.

It appeared the Sky Blues would have it all to do in the second half after scrappy goals from Charles N'Zogbia and James Milner left Coventry trailing.

City did most of the early running with Michael Mifsud's pace proving enough to ensure two Magpies defenders constantly gave him attention.

And Jay Tabb also had a half penalty shout turned down by referee Anthony Bates after a challenge by Sebastian Bassong.

But the Sky Blues eventually fell victim to a foiled offside trap on 20 minutes which allowed James Milner to work his way into the penalty area across the goal line and cut back for N'Zogbia who just managed to squeeze the ball past Andy Marshall.

Milner then turned from provider into inadvertent scorer when his cross after 37 minutes evaded all in the box including Marshall, the ball creeping just inside Marshall's far post.

Morrison managed to raise City heads with his late strike though, Tabb's half effort falling to him just inside the box and allowing him to lift an effort over Shay Given and into the top corner.

A comparitively eventless second half then left the Sky Blues staring defeat in the face until City skipper Scott Dann popped up with a header off Aron Gunnarsson's mammoth throw-in in the last of two added second-half minutes to complete a superb comeback with his first competitive goal for the club.

But despite Newcastle being on the back foot for the start of extra time, Owen broke City fans' hearts with a third Magpies goal six minutes into the first half. his effort stabbed past an oncoming Marshall.

Robbie Simpson almost levelled again for Coventry three minutes before the break, Morrison's deft chested touch into his path allowing him to unleash a low shot to Given's right which the Irishman had to be at full stretch to save.

And Elliott Ward also had an opportunity to make it 3-3 with the last action of the half, Danny Fox's deep corner headed back across goal for an unmarked Ward to power a header at goal only to see his effort crash against Given's upright.

Unfortunately for Coleman and his brave side though, they never came any closer to scoring in the second half of extra time as Newcastle were forced to slow the pace with their throw-ins, free-kicks and goal kicks to see out the remainder of the game.

But despite the defeat, the Sky Blues' excellent efforts did not go unnoticed by 16,000 home supporters who gave them a standing ovation at the full-time whistle.

Attendance - 19,249 (3,008 away fans)

Teams

COVENTRY CITY - Marshall; Hall, Fox, Dann, Ward, Mifsud, Tabb, Gunnarsson, Beuzelin (Doyle 62), Morrison, McKenzie (Gray 73)
Subs - Ireland (GK), Turner, Simpson, Thornton, Clarke

NEWCASTLE UNITED - Given, Coloccini, Diaz, Guthrie, Bassong, N'Zogbia, Milner, Guttierez, Geremi (Owen 74), Beye, Butt
Subs - Harper (GK), Taylor, Edgar, Tozer, Donaldson, Ranger