The Sky Blues marked their return to Coventry with a last gasp win with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in their opening match of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Simon Moore would be the first ‘keeper brought into action, saving midfielder Joe Lolley’s curving shot five minutes into the match.
The next opportunity would come City’s way when Callum O’Hare dragged his shot wide of Brice Samba’s goal after he charged through the Forest backline.
Lyle Taylor would fire an effort wide of Moore’s goal before the Sky Blues would go straight up the other end of the pitch, but debutant Maatsen couldn’t quite get the contact he would have wanted on the ball after some good build up play by Ben Sheaf and O’Hare.
Fankaty Dabo’s cross field ball to Maatsen would be the source for the next chance with a well-hit cross that Samba managed to collect on this occasion.
As the Sky Blues looked to build momentum, O’Hare found himself in space, but his cross to Julian Dasilva at the back post could only see the defender head his effort towards
But it would be the away team to break the deadlock when Brennan Johnson’s low cross found Lyle Taylor at the back post to slot the ball into the far corner.
City’s initial response would come through Viktor Gyokeres with the forward picking up the ball just inside the Forest half but his effort from range was saved by the diving Samba.
In first half injury time Moore did brilliantly to get down low to deny Forest a second as Johnson managed to get a shot away with the City defence closing in on him.
HALF TIME: SKY BLUES 0-1 FOREST
The Sky Blues would start the half on the front foot as Sheaf’s curling pass was taken down by Maatsen who fired his shot just over the crossbar.
Sheaf collected the ball in just outside the box and a quick one two with O’Hare opened up a great opportunity for City to equalize, but Sheaf’s effort slammed against the bar.
Next Taylor earned his name in the book after hacking down Gustavo Hamer, with Martyn Waghorn’s free kick going just over the top of Samba’s goal with City edging closer.
Dom Hyam’s well timed pass found O’Hare, who turned to set up Waghorn, but the striker could only fire his shot straight at Samba.
With 20 minutes remaining, Jodi Jones and Tyler Walker were introduced into the action, with the former making his first Sky Blues appearance since January 2020.
On a rare foray into City’s half, Forest would earn themselves a corner but despite the ball bouncing in the six-yard box Hamer was on hand to clear away.
And with nine minutes to go on the clock, City got what they deserved.
The energetic O’Hare got past Jack Colback in the corner to find Sheaf whose shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to Gyokeres to fire the Sky Blues level.
With six minutes of stoppage time added, there would still be time for one last attack for City...
In the final minute of stoppage time Kyle McFadzean would be on hand to squeeze his effort in past Samba after Gyokeres had his effort initially blocked.
Moments later the final whistle blew as the Sky Blues earned a deserved three points on their return to Coventry!
FULL TIME: SKY BLUES 2-1 FOREST
SCORERS: Viktor Gyokeres (81’), Kyle McFadzean (90+6'); Lyle Taylor (36’)
CARDS: Ben Sheaf (34’), Kyle McFadzean (49’), Ian Maatsen (55’), Gus Hamer (61’); Lyle Taylor (58’)
ATTENDANCE: 20,843
Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Kyle McFadzean (C), Martyn Waghorn (Tyler Walker 69’), Callum O'Hare, Ben Sheaf, Dominic Hyam, Viktor Gyokeres, Ian Maatsen (Jodi Jones 70’), Fankaty Dabo, Julien Dacosta (Michael Rose 46’), Gustavo Hamer.
Subs: Ben Wilson, Michael Rose, Jodi Jones, Jamie Allen, Josh Pask, Tyler Walker, Jordan Shipley.
Forest XI: Brice Samba (GK), Loic Mbe Soh (Figueiredo 45’), Jack Colback, Gaetan Bong, Alex Mighten (Phillip Zinckernagel 74’), Brennan Johnson, Ryan Yates (C), Joe Lolley, Scott McKenna, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, Lyle Taylor (Cafu 88’).
Subs: Ethan Horvath (GK), Tobias Figueiredo, Joao Carvalho, Phillip Zinckernagel, Cafu, Tyrese Fornah, Finlay Back.