A wonderful strike from Adam Hammill was enough for the hosts as City never really got into their stride...
Coventry City were beaten 1-0 by Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium.
A wonderful strike from Adam Hammill was enough for the hosts as City never really got into their stride.
Darren Murray's Under-21s side, captained by centre-back Dion Kelly-Evans, featured first team players Conor Thomas, Danny Swanson and Marcus Tudgay - and they could have taken the lead after just 15 seconds when Thomas released Swanson one-on-one, but the Scot’s chip from 20-yards flew wide of former Sky Blue Joe Murphy’s left-hand post.
But the hosts had the lead through a moment of brilliance on 16 minutes - Hammill cut inside from the left hand side and curled a magnificent effort from just outside the box into the top right hand corner.
Corey Addai was then called into action as he brilliantly denied Flo Bojaj, the ‘keeper clawed the striker’s effort from eight-yards away from his left-hand post.
The Sky Blues could have been level when Jacob Whitmore surged to the byline and crossed for Marcus Tudgay but his effort was well blocked from eight-yards.
City started the second-half on the back foot, and should have been two down when Duane Holmes crossed for Murray Wallace but he unbelievably missed a free header from six-yards out to let the Sky Blues off the hook.
Swanson was booked on 65 minutes for a late challenge on Phillip Billing and was replaced by Bassala Sambou five minutes later.
Sambou scored two against Huddersfield’s Under-18’s on Saturday and he was involved immediately as he raced to the byline, with his cross forcing Murphy into a save at his near post.
Huddersfield should have doubled their lead when substitute Rekeil Pyke raced in one-on-one - he should have squared the ball to Duane Holmes for a tap in, but instead headed towards goal which forced Dion Kelly-Evans into a great challenge.
The closest City came was with three minutes to go, when a well worked short corner eventually found Dion Kelly-Evans in space and his effort from 25-yards dipped inches over the bar.
That was the last real chance as the Sky Blues couldn't salvage a point.
Teams
Coventry City: Addai (GK); Whitmore, Maycock, Dion Kelly-Evans, Barnett, Devon Kelly-Evans; Spence, Thomas, Shipley, Swanson (Sambou 71); Tudgay.
Subs not used: N/A
Huddersfield Town: Murphy (GK); Boyle, Wallace, Gerrard, Hanson; Holmes, Billing, Tronstad; Hammill (Atkinson 81), Lolley (Wilkinson 75), Bojaj (Pyke, 45).
Subs not used: Allinson, Wright.
Yellow Card(s): Danny Swanson.