The Sky Blues were knocked out of the Carabao Cup after suffering defeat against Northampton Town in a hard-fought encounter at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Wednesday evening.
Coventry began the match on the front foot with debutant Josh Reid and Bright Enobakhare linking up well on the left-hand side and creating a couple of opportunities that the Northampton defence just about dealt with, inside the first three minutes.
And with that bright start, the home side’s early pressure would be rewarded, as the Sky Blues took the lead, with a slice of good fortune ten minutes later…
Jordan Shipley’s well-timed cross was initially mis controlled by Jamie Allen in the six-yard box but the ball fell kindly to Tyler Walker, who was on hand to smash the ball past Jon Maxted to give the Sky Blues the lead.
City almost had a quick-fire double moments later when Allen played in Shipley, but the midfielder could only put his shot over the bar with Maxted bearing down on him.
Northampton’s first real chance came through Sam Hoskins, who ran down the wing before putting in a dangerous cross, only for the outstretched foot of Kion Etete to be inches away from making contact with the ball.
The 24-minute Danny Rose turned in the box before snatching at his shot to see his shot hit the outside of the post.
Etete wasted another chance after Ben Wilson’s initial save fell fortunately to the forward, but he could only put his effort wide of the far post.
In an end to end half Walker was brought down by Sid Nelson and earned a free kick as City went on the counter, with Michael Rose’s header narrowly going wide off Jodi Jones’ pinpoint delivery.
HALF TIME: SKY BLUES 1-0 NORTHAMPTON TOWN
City thought they had doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Julien Dacosta found Walker at the back post but as the forward tapped into an empty net the assistant referee raised his flag.
However one minute later the ball would be in the back of the net again, but this time it was for the away side as Etete equalised with an acrobatic effort on the half volley.
Coventry went in search of the lead again with Shipley firing just wide before Dacosta’s effort required Maxted’s strong hand to keep the score level.
A goal mouth scramble saw Northampton take the lead when Scott Pollock’s flick on found Etete, who netted his second of the match, after his goal bound effort was adjudged to have crossed the line.
City went in search of an equaliser with the best opportunity coming through from a looping Reid cross that Dacosta attacked at the back post with Maxted standing strong to deny the defender.
From the resulting corner Maxted was called into action again after Waghorn’s set piece was deflected off Horsfall goal bound but Maxted prevented an own goal and with that City’s last chance of the night.
FULL TIME: SKY BLUES 1-2 NORTHAMPTON TOWN
SCORERS: Tyler Walker (13’); Kion Etete (52’), (70’)
CARDS: Sid Nelson (36’)
ATTENDANCE: 5,284 (903 AWAY)
Sky Blues XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Michael Rose (Josh Pask 63’), Jodi Jones, Jamie Allen (C), Bright Enobakhare (Martyn Waghorn 63’), Tyler Walker, Josh Reid, Jordan Shipley, Julien Dacosta, Declan Drysdale, Ryan Howley (Ian Maatsen 63’).
Subs: Simon Moore (GK), Martyn Waghorn, Josh Pask, Ian Maatsen, Fabio Tavares, Jonny Ngandu, Marco Rus.
Northampton Town XI: Jon Maxted (GK), Jon Guthrie, Fraser Horsfall (C), Sam Hoskins, Paul Lewis, Scott Pollock, Ali Koiki, Sid Nelson (Dylan Connolly 72’), Shaun McWilliams (Mitch Pinnock 56’), Kion Etete, Danny Rose (Nicke Kabamba 60’).
Subs: Liam Roberts (GK), Nicke Kabamba, Dylan Connolly, Mitch Pinnock, Benny Ashley-Seal, Joseph Mills, Caleb Chukwuemeka