The Sky Blues travelled to Lancashire looking to build on their four-game unbeaten streak as they took on an Accrington Stanley side who were looking to increase the distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
With only one minute on the clock, the Sky Blues came inches away from opening the scoring through Tom Bayliss.
Great play from Bayliss and Jordan Shipley set the midfielder up for a shot on goal, which he fired just inches wide of Dimitar Evtimov’s far post.
After a blistering start to the game from the Sky Blues, the home side soon found themselves on the front foot and created a number of half chances in the opening quarter of an hour.
The Sky Blue defence, though, stood strong and comfortably dealt with anything that the Stanley forward line threw at them.
City were fighting their way back into the game and a good move involving Shipley and Bakayoko nearly paid dividends.
Shipley chipped a neat ball into the box for Bakayoko to control and lay-off for the midfielder who was making a move into the Stanley area.
Shipley took a touch and tried to deliver a low ball across the box but his efforts were squandered.
Minutes later, Kelly played a crisp one-two with Hiwula and made his way into the box and tried to deliver a low cross. Similarly to Shipley, the home side comfortably dealt with his efforts.
With the half drawing to a close, the home side had a great chance to take the lead from a freekick from the edge of the box.
Stanley captain Sean McConville stepped up to strike the ball goalward from 20-yards, but all he could do is watch his effort fly just wide of Lee Burge’s top right corner.
With seconds left on the clock in the first half, the Sky Blues nearly took the lead.
Bright Enobakhare took the in-swinging corner kick and wrong-footed Evtimov in the Stanley goal who was anticipating a deep cross. However, Enobakhare saw the ‘keeper off his line and nearly swung it into the back of the net directly from the set-piece.
Evtimov acted quickly and clawed the ball off the line and away from danger.
HALF-TIME: Sky Blues 0 – 0 Accrington Stanley
The game struggled to get going again in the second half, but there was a breakthrough on the hour mark.
The ball was won back on the halfway line for the Sky Blues by Brandon Mason who the looked up and picked out Enobakhare, who beat two defenders before getting a shot off.
With the goal in his sights, the midfielder kept his composure and slotted the ball past the on-rushing Evtimov.
The game continued in the same vain as before the goal, with not much happening - the Sky Blues were the only team that were creating half chances though as they were in control since taking the lead.
With just under 15 minutes left, Luke Thomas nearly broke free of the last defender to knick the ball past Evtimov on the edge of the Stanley box from Bayliss’ cultured through-ball.
The only team looking threatening with five minutes left to play was the Sky Blues, and this time it was Thomas’ effort that was thwarted by Evtimov, as City earned a corner.
The corner was taken short to Enobakhare who delivered a deep cross that was met by Hiwula.
Hiwula climbed highest at the back post and nodded into the Stanley net.
However, as Hiwula was wheeling away in celebration, the linesman raised his flag to indicate that the ball went out on its way into the box and the Sky Blues’ second was scrubbed off.
City had enough time left to create one more wonderful chance, as Enobakhare played the ball across the Stanley box.
The ball was in acres of space, as was Luke Thomas who raced to the ball and smashed it goalward but Evtimov was equal to his effort ad palmed the ball away.
This was the last action of the game as City claimed all three points.
FULL-TIME: Sky Blues 1 – 0 Accrington Stanley
Sky Blues Xl: Lee Burge (GK), Dujon Sterling, Jordan Willis, Dom Hyam, Brandon Mason, Liam Kelly (C), Tom Bayliss, Jordan Shipley (Luke Thomas ’58), Bright Enobakhare, Jordy Hiwula, Amadou Bakayoko.
Unused Subs: Corey Addai (GK), Jack Grimmer, Tom Davies, Zain Westbrooke, David Meyler, David Bremang.
Accrington Stanley XI: Dimitar Evtimov (GK), Callum Johnson, Mark Hughes, Janoi Donacien, Jordan Clark, Sean McConville (C), Sam Finley (Scott Brown ’62), Dan Barlaser, Billy Kee, Liam Gibson (Offrande Zanzala ’80), Paul Smyth (Luke Armstrong ’62).
Unused Subs: Jonny Maxted (GK), Ben Richards-Everton, Harvey Rodgers, Kasom Shah.
Goals: Bright Enobakhare ’60
Yellow Cards: Liam Gibson, Callum Johnson
Attendance: 3,083 with 1,015 travelling Sky Blues.