COVENTRY City ended a run of two straight friendly stalemates with a 1-0 win over League Two outfit Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium.

Defender James McPake scored the only goal of the game on six minutes after returning to the squad following recovery from a groin problem.

The opener was infact the first real threatening opportunity of the game as Sammy Clingan whipped in a deep free kick from the left, Ben Turner rising at the by-line to head the ball back across the area with McPake on hand just infront of the penalty spot to hammer home a half volley.

It took the hosts 17 minutes before they threatened the Sky Blues' goalmouth, former City midfielder Kevin Thornton lashing in a free kick delivery of his own which took a glancing head off Steve Guinan but only enough to guide it past the far post.

Two minutes later Aron Gunnarsson got forward and produced a stinging effort from 25 yards, Northampton 'keeper Paul Walker having to palm it around his post.

Thornton was on hand for another dangerous inswinger on 26 minutes, this time his delivery metting nobody in the area as it sailed wide of Keiren Westwood's far post.

Roy O'Donovan kept Walker on his toes six minutes before the break after a good bit of quick first touch passing with Freddy Eastwood and Carl Baker, the Irishman finishing off the move with a sweeping shot he dragged just past the post from just inside the area.

Northampton 'keeper Walker was required to use his head and not his hands two minutes after the restart when a long crossfields ball from Gunnarsson almost found the chasing Eastwood only for the striker to be narrowly beaten to the ball by Walker's forehead.

Three minutes before the hour mark Eastwood came even closer to getting on the scoresheet when he received a cut back from McSheffrey at the byline only to watch his goalbound shot blocked by the back of Andy Holt.

McSheffrey fired over the crossbar on the hour when a loose ball in the area, caused by Gunnarsson's long throw, fell to his feet but he could not keep huis effort down.

The same could be said of O'Donovan with 20 minuites to go after Eastwoood did well to get to the byline and pick out his strike partner, his first time effort on the edge of the six-yard area popping up over the crossbar.

Clingan tested 'keeper Walker's wrists on 76 minutes with a stinging effort from 25 yards which shook the shotstopper as he parried it.

But the hosts came within a whisker of an equaliser with four minutes to go when Michael Jacobs' inswinging free kick met the head of McKay who could only glance fractionally wide.

Attendance: 1,829 (759 away)

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood (Thomas 65), Turner, Keogh, Gunnarsson, Clingan, Hussey (Jeffers 86), McPake (Cameron 45), O'Donovan, Baker (Cranie 75), McSheffrey, Eastwood
Subs: Quirke (GK), Clarke, Doyle, McIndoe, Grandison

Northampton Town: Walker, Rodgers (Harrris 84), Hall, Thornton (Slowe 75), Beckwith, Osman (Kaziboni 88), Guinan (Purcell 63), Holt, Wedderburn (Gilligan 60), McKay (Konstantinou 88), Davis (Jacobs 63)
Subs: Gherasim (GK), Death, Farquharson, McReady, Harris