Coventry seal a 2-1 win at the Alan Higgs Centre over Birmingham
Coventry City Under-21's sealed a derby win over Birmingham City thanks to a late goal from Adam Barton.
It was the visitors who went ahead early on through trialist Romeo Castelen but City fought back well and grabbed the victory with goals from Leon Lobjoit and Barton.
With the manager Mark Robins and first team captain Carl Baker watching, the Sky Blues made a poor start to the game and found themselves behind in the 6th minute.
Birmingham trialist Castelen was able to turn Joe Henderson before exchanging a nice one-two with Marcel Henry-Thomas and he slotted home past Lee Burge.
Despite the poor start, Coventry began to build themselves into the game with first team player Adam Barton and the impressive Leon Lobjoit controlling most of the play in midfield.
The Sky Blues had a good chance to pull level in the 21st minute when a Chris Hussey corner found Shaun Jeffers at the back-post but after a goal-mouth scramble with Pablo Ibanez, he failed to convert from within the six-yard box.
Courtney Baker-Richardson proved a constant threat on the left side of the forward line and it was his cross which almost found Jeffers but Eddy Gnahore did well to clear just after the half-hour.
City's best chance of the half came five minutes before the break when Hussey's brilliant free-kick from the right side of the area found Lobjoit in space at the back-post but the youngster directed his header over the bar.
The away side had several chances to double their lead through Papa Bouba Diop and the goal-scorer Castelen but Burge did well to save both efforts in the closing stages of the first-half.
Blues had an early chance in the second half to extend their lead when Ryan Higgins was found at the back-post but his effort was well saved by Burge.
The Sky Blues displayed some neat passing throughout the second half and captain Aaron Phillips almost rounded off a nice move, involving Barton and Will Roberts, when he turned inside Gnahore but his 25-yard shot was well saved.
Hancox had two chances for Birmingham, both well saved by Burge, before Hussey went close for the Sky Blues in the 66th minute.
Lobjoit won a free-kick 25 yards out after being fouled by Bouba Diop and Hussey's brilliant curling effort hit the bar with the goalkeeper stranded.
Two minutes later, the Sky Blues had the equaliser their pressure deserved. Reece Brown made a forward run from defence before finding Lobjoit and he finished into the bottom corner from outside the area.
Phillips kept Coventry level with 13 minutes remaining when he did brilliantly to block a Henry-Francis shot which was destined for the bottom corner.
The Sky Blues continued to press and took the lead with five minutes remaining. Hussey got down the right side of the area and he found Barton in the middle to slot home.
Jeffers had a late chance to add a third for the home side but he directed his effort narrowly wide as Lee Carsley's Under-21's side record an impressive victory.
Teams
Coventry City: Burge (GK), Phillips (c), Hussey, Daniels, Henderson, Brown (Haynes), Roberts, Lobjoit, Jeffers (Rankin), Barton, Baker-Richardson (Maund).
Subs: Haynes, Finch, Lawton, Rankin, Maund.
Birmingham City: Lucas (GK), Higgins, Gordon, Bouba Diop, Ibanez, Packwood (c), Castelen, Reilly, Hendry-Francis, Gnahore, Hancox.
Subs: Ntambwe, Preston, Hawker, Deaman, Delfouneso.