The Sky Blues began their Checkatrade Trophy defence with defeat after a 2-3 loss against Shrewsbury Town at the Ricoh...
Tony Andreu and Marc McNulty helped the Sky Blues recover from 2-0 down at half-time, but Joe Riley hit a fantastic winner in added time.
In what was a cautious start to proceedings with both teams battling for a foothold in the contest, a blocked Jodi Jones effort and a Lennel John-Lewis volley was the only action of note in the opening twenty minutes of play.
Despite the lack of chances the visitors found themselves with a first-half lead in the 30th minute. Jon Nolan's cross from the right was flicked on into the path of Stefan Payne. The Barnsley loanee took one touch before powering it past Burge to give his side the advantage.
One soon became two as Shrewsbury doubled their advantage just minutes later. Lee Burge produced a fine save to deny Arthur Gnahoua, but the winger pounced on the rebound to score at the second attempt.
In a rare attack for the Sky Blues Tony Andreu stole it off the toes of Aristote Nsiala with seemingly only Craig MacGillivray in the Shrewsbury goal to beat. However, the defender atoned for his mistake to make an inch-perfect tackle to deny City's number 19.
The home side should have halved the deficit a minue before half-time through Peter Vincenti. Recalled to the starting XI, the midfielder rose highest at the back post but guided a header narrowly past the far post and out for a goal kick.
The Sky Blues started the second half the better of the two sides and were rewarded inside five minutes. Jodi Jones led a counter attack, bursting forward to find Tony Andreu. The midfielder took once touch before curling a wonderful effort into the top corner to score his first City goal and halve the deficit.
The comeback was complete shortly after with the Sky Blues scoring a quickfire double of their own. Marc McNulty was brought down inside the area after a nice passage of play and stepped up from 12-yards to confidently roll the ball into the bottom corner.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Sky Blues went in search of a winner and came within inches of the lead. James Pearson rose highest from a corner but through a combination of Junior Brown and the crossbar, the defender was denied his first City goal.
Things soon got worse for the visitors as they were reduced to ten men. Jones' neat footwork drew the tackle from James Bolton, with the referee showing no hesitation in dismissing the Shrewsbury man.
Despite the extra man, the Sky Blues were cruelly defeated in injury time. Joe Riley, on as a second half substitute curled a wonderful free-kick into the top corner leaving Burge with no chance.
Attendance: 1,968.
Yellow: Andreu, Payne, Adams.
Red: Bolton.
Teams:
Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Grimmer, Pearson, Hyam, Di. Kelly-Evans (Maycock 45'), Doyle (C) (Beavon 51'), Stevenson (Shipley 39'), Vincenti, Andreu, Jones, McNulty.
Coventry City Subs: O'Brien (GK), Thompson, Nazon, Biamou.
Shrewsbury Town XI: MacGillivray (GK), Godfrey, Beckles, Whalley (Riley 73'), Gnahoua (Adams 73'), Brown, Bolton, John-Lewis, Nolan, Nsiala (C), Payne.
Shrewsbury Town Subs: Gregory (GK), Morris, Dodds, Jules, Rodman.