The Sky Blues eight-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
The Sky Blues eight-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
Tom Lees scored the game’s only goal on 67 minutes to condemn City to defeat in the league for the first time since early November.
City pressed for an equaliser late on, but couldn’t find the crucial goal they needed to rescue a point as they now turn their attention to Boxing Day and their clash with Stoke City.
Mark Robins made one change from the side that drew with Huddersfield Town in midweek, with the suspended Gus Hamer replaced by Max Biamou and Matty Godden coming onto the bench.
The Sky Blues made a quick start at Hillsborough when Biamou won possession inside the Sheffield Wednesday half before driving into the box and seeing his effort pushed behind by former City man Keiren Westwood.
Fankaty Dabo’s cross was then headed just wide of the left-hand post by Leo Ostigard as City presses for an early opener.
The chances continued to come City’s way when Sam McCallum’s long throw landed at the feet of Biamou inside the six-yard box only for Westwood to come out and smother the ball at the striker’s feet.
The hosts created their first chance of the game when the ball broke kindly to Adam Reach on the edge of the penalty area only to sky his effort well over the crossbar.
Shortly after, Ben Sheaf made a superb block to deny Josh Windass, diving in the way of the forward’s effort when he had just Ben Wilson to beat.
Tyler Walker then suffered an injury shortly before half-time with Amadou Bakayoko coming on in his place.
HALF-TIME: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0-0 SKY BLUES
City’s first chance of the second-half came from a Ben Sheaf free-kick 25-yards from goal which was comfortably held by Westwood.
The hosts responded when Windass tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area only to be denied by a fine stop from Wilson low down to his left.
The Sky Blues continued to cause problems down the left-hand side when McCallum’s cross turned shot forced Westwood into an acrobatic save.
City came close again when Sheaf’s cross was headed towards his own goal by Chey Dunkley, under pressure from Bakayoko, and tipped over the bar by Westwood.
The Sky Blues were then denied the opening goal when Ostigard’s powerful header from Allen’s cross was cleared off the line by Liam Palmer.
Sheffield Wednesday took the lead on 67 minutes when Bannan’s floated free-kick was turned home by Lees at the back post.
City responded with a free-kick of their own that was flicked on by Bakayoko and pushed away by Westwood before Ostigard turned the rebound into the side netting.
Robins made a triple change with just over 15 minutes left to play with Julian Dacosta, Ryan Giles and Godden all introduced as City chased an equaliser.
The home side worked a short corner to Reach 25-yards from goal with the midfielder once again wasteful with his effort.
Another McCallum long throw caused the hosts some problems with the ball dropping to Godden on the volley, but the striker wasn’t able to keep his effort down.
City were kept in the contest in the final minute when Wilson made an excellent save to deny Windass, standing tall when the forward was one-on-one.
FULL-TIME: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-0 SKY BLUES
Goals: Lees (67’)
Yellows: Pelupessy (50’), Ostigard (66’), Reach (79’)
Sheffield Wednesday XI: Keiren Westwood (GK), Liam Palmer, Tom Lees, Chey Dunkley, Liam Shaw (Rhodes 64’), Kadeem Harris, Barry Bannan (van Aken 83’), Joey Pelupessy, Adam Reach, Callum Patterson, Josh Windass (Kachunga 90’+3)
Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith (GK), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Matt Penney, Osaze Urhoghide, Izzy Brown, Alex Hunt
Sky Blues XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Fankaty Dabo (Dacosta 73’), Leo Ostigard (Giles 73’), Kyle McFadzean (C), Dom Hyam, Sam McCallum, Ben Sheaf (Kastaneer 83’), Jamie Allen, Callum O’Hare, Tyler Walker (Bakayoko 42’), Max Biamou (Godden 73’)
Unused Subs: Lee Camp (GK), Josh Pask, Jordan Shipley, Will Bapaga