The Sky Blues fell to a late 3-2 defeat as Millwall took the points at The Den.

Goals from Kyle McFadzean and Matty Godden saw the Sky Blues come racing out the blocks, but a goal back from Jake Cooper before half-time kept the competition alive.

Two goals in the second-half for the Lions, either side of a Gustavo Hamer red card, meant the hosts took all three points.

The Sky Blues began swiftly and took an immediate lead through captain Kyle McFadzean who diverted the ball home from Matty Godden’s goal-bound header.

City continued their rapid start and were unfortunate to have another chalked off, soon after, when Godden put the finishing touches on a sumptuous team move.

Mark Robins’ men maintained their high-intensity style of play and carved open another chance when Viktor Gyökeres left his marker for dead to force a tip over the bar from Bartosz Bialkowski.

Fresh off an assist versus Bristol City, Jake Bidwell grabbed his second in as many games with a delightful ball hooked up to Godden at the back post who finished smartly to leave the keeper rooted to the spot.

However, the hosts did pave their way back into the tie, grabbing a goal before the half-time whistle- Jake Cooper the scorer.

HALF-TIME: Millwall 1-2 Sky Blues

The good football continued in the second-half for the Sky Blues, but it was the Lions that managed to grab the game’s next goal.

Tyler Burey’s long range effort cannoned off the woodwork with the ball dropping kindly to George Honeyman who had the easy task of tapping home to level the match.

City rose to the challenge immediately with McFadzean striking from distance, forcing a second successive corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Jonathan Panzo’s header crashed off the bar before Dom Hyam’s effort was blocked in a crowded penalty area- both a sign, however, of the Sky Blues’ pressure.

The Sky Blues were then reduced to ten men, with Gustavo Hamer being shown a second yellow card for a professional foul on the half-way line.

Five minutes from time, Millwall added their third through George Saville to ensure they took all three points.

FULL-TIME: Millwall 3-2 Sky Blues

Scorers: Kyle McFadzean (2’), Matty Godden (29’), Jake Cooper (36’), George Honeyman (53’), George Saville (85')

Yellow cards: Jamie Shackleton (18’), Tyler Burey (30’), Gustavo Hamer (37’, 67’), Benik Afobe (62’), Jake Bidwell (64’), Danny McNamara (67’)

Red cards: Gustavo Hamer (67’)

Attendance: 13,880 (2,042 away)

Millwall XI: Bartosz Bialkowski (GK), Danny McNamara, Charlie Creswell (George Saville 80'), Jake Cooper (C), Murray Wallace, Scott Malone, Billy Mitchell, Jamie Shackleton (George Evans 90'), George Honeyman (Ryan Leonard 80'), Mason Bennett Tyler Burey (13’), Benik Afobe (Isaac Olaofe 90')

Unused subs: George Long (GK), Shaun Hutchinson.

Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK); Fankaty Dabo, Jonathan Panzo (Josh Eccles 89'), Kyle McFadzean (C), Dom Hyam, Jake Bidwell; Gustavo Hamer, Ben Sheaf, Jamie Allen; Matty Godden (Fabio Tavares 89'), Viktor Gyökeres.

Unused subs: Ben Wilson (GK); Callum Doyle, Jack Burroughs, Kasey Palmer, Tyler Walker.