Ryan Haynes scores twice as the Sky Blues recover from 2-0 down to win against the Chairboys...
The Sky Blues progressed in the Checkatrade Trophy as Group D winners after a fantastic comeback win against Wycombe Wanderers.
Having been 2-0 down, Ryan Haynes scored twice, George Thomas grabbed his first senior goal of the season and Gael Bigirimana hit his first Coventry goal to send Mark Venus’ side through as table toppers.
In a quiet opening with very little action in front of goal, it was the Sky Blues who looked to control possession. A high City press presented the first half-chance of the evening, with Ruben Lameiras nicking the ball off Marcus Bean but not able to beat Scott Brown, rolling the ball agonisingly wide.
Soon after, possession was won inside the Wycombe half, a smart Jack McBean flick found Lameiras, who in turn released Dion Kelly-Evans down the right. He teased a ball across the six-yard box but the oncoming Thomas slipped at the vital moment.
The home side went close to taking the lead midway through the first half. Scott Kashket picked up the ball on the edge of the area, found space, and bent an effort that clipped off the post before going out of play.
Wycombe came forward again with Myles Weston down the left hand side. His cross found the head of captain Garry Thompson, but Reice Charles-Cook did well to tip his effort over the bar.
It was a chance City would come to rue as Wycombe took the lead shortly after. A cleared corner fell to Stephen McGinn on the edge of the box, he struck an effort towards goal that found the bottom corner via a deflection.
The Sky Blues looked for an immediate response and should have been level through Thomas. Lameiras was once again the creator as he released the Welsh forward, but through on goal ‘keeper Scott Brown denied him.
City made a triple change at half time, as Bigirimana, Haynes and Jodi Jones replaced Andy Rose, Jamie Sterry and Lameiras.
It very nearly bought an immediate change of fortune as City's no.10 Jones went close. The attacker picked up the ball and drove at his defender, cutting inside and driving a shot towards goal, but Brown saved it comfortably.
The Sky Blues had started the second half on the front foot, but a defensive error gave Wycombe their second goal. Haynes’ poor back-pass was pounced on by Scott Kashket, who rounded Charles-Cook and tapped it into an empty net.
Just as it looked to be getting away from the Sky Blues, Haynes atoned for his earlier defensive error. The defender cut inside on his favoured left foot and bent an effort into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit.
In a frantic ten minutes, City were soon back level. Haynes again the goalscorer, as he latched onto a Jones cross to squeeze the ball through multiple bodies and into the far corner.
The turnaround was complete just minutes later. Jones yet again chased a lost cause, beat his man and smashed the ball across the goal for Thomas to get in front of his defender and score the Sky Blues’ third goal in just eight minutes.
After a remarkable City spell in the game, Wycombe looked to respond to force a potential penalty shoot-out, but it was the Sky Blues that continued to come forward. Jones, who was becoming a constant menace, hitting a shot just wide.
City wrapped up the victory late on through Bigirimana after some fantastic work from Haynes. The defender pulled the ball back into a dangerous area for 'Bigi' to score his first Coventry goal and secure the win.
Attendance: 912 (257)
Yellow: Harries, Bean
Coventry City: Charles-Cook (GK), Di. Kelly-Evans, Finch, Harries, Turnbull, Sterry (Haynes 45'), Maycock, Rose (C) (Bigirimana 45') (C), Lameiras (Jones 45'), Thomas, McBean.
Subs: Addai (GK), Page, Spence, Agyei.
Wycombe: Brown (GK), Harriman (Cowan-Hall 67'), Jombati, Stewart, Pierre, Thompson, Bean, McGinn, Weston, Freeman (O'Nien 82'), Kashket.
Subs: Richardson (GK), Bloomfield, Ainsworth.