The Sky Blues took another big step in preparations for the season opener, as they wrapped up their pre-season campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday afternoon.
In a bright start for the Sky Blues, Vicktor Gyokeres beat Christian Marques to the ball and got in behind with his efforts earning Coventry the first corner of the match.
A few moments later Ruben Neves’ cross found Fabio Silva at the back post and the young forward tapped in to give the away side the lead.
Martyn Waghorn almost immediately replied but his chip went the wrong side of the post after beating John Ruddy to the ball.
In an end-to-end first half, Max Kilman’s run set up Ki-Jana Hoever, but the right back dragged his shot wide of Simon Moore’s goal.
Viktor Gykoreres almost equalized minutes later after Callum O’Hare beat two defenders to set up the Swede, but his shot went inches over the bar.
Debutant Ian Maatsen was proving to have a productive half with his pace a constant thorn in the Wolves’ back line and he was unfortunate to see his cross come to nothing just after the half hour mark.
The next chance would fall to Wolves as Adama Traore drove at the City backline but his through ball to Morgan Gibbs-White could only be fired into the stand by the young midfielder.
Waghorn’s determination earned City a corner on the stroke of half time, and Wolves could only clear as far as O’Hare, but he was quickly closed down as he tried to get his shot away.
Moore would be called into action in the final minute of first half stoppage time when he got down well to deny Traore as the visitors looked to double their lead.
HALF TIME: SKY BLUES 0-1 WOLVES
Wolves doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half, Neves was set up on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected past Moore.
City looked for a quick response and when Hoever brought down Waghorn in the box, referee Oliver Langford had no option but to point to the spot.
Waghorn took the penalty, with Ruddy guessing the wrong way as the forward stroked the ball into the corner to net his first goal for the Sky Blues.
Patrick Cutrone was brought on by the visitors and he fired a low shot that was well saved by Moore.
Next to go close for the Sky Blues would be Tyler Walker, introduced as part of a triple substitution just after the hour mark, but the forward couldn’t quite get his shot on target.
The last action of the half saw Coventry comfortably deal with two corners from the visitors, with the Sky Blues putting in a positive performance to end pre-season on with the season opener against Nottingham Forest now only a week away.
FULL TIME: SKY BLUES 1-2 WOLVES
ATTENDANCE: 9,062 (2,016 away)
SCORERS: Waghorn 57’; Silva 7’, Neves 55’
Sky Blues Xl: Simon Moore (GK) (Ben Wilson 87’), Kyle McFadzean © (Josh Reid 87’), Martyn Waghorn (Ryan Howley 77’), Callum O’Hare (Jordan Shipley 73’), Trialist A (Michael Rose 46’), Ben Sheaf (Jamie Allen 73’), Dom Hyam (Declan Drysdale 61’), Viktor Gyokeres (Tyler Walker 61’), Ian Maatsen (Trialist B 46’), Fankaty Dabo (Julien Dacosta 61’), Gustavo Hamer (Jodi Jones 73’)
Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Michael Rose, Jodi Jones, Bright Enobakhare, Tyler Walker, Josh Reid, Jordan Shipley, Julien Dacosta, Trialist B, Declan Drysdale, Ryan Howley
Wolves XI: John Ruddy (GK), Ki-Jana Hoever, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Christian Marques, Ruben Neves © (Pascal Estrada 90’), Yerson Mosquera (Hugo Bueno Lopez 33’) ((Chem Campbell 45‘)), Fabio Silva (Nelson Semedo 87’), Morgan Gibbs-White (Luke Cundle 77’), Leander Dendoncker (Joao Moutinho 87’), Adama Traore (Patrick Cutrone 61’), Max Kilman (Conor Coady 77’)
Subs: Jose Sa (GK), Fernando Marcal, Hugo Bueno Lopez, Chem Campbell, Raul Jimenez, Francisco Trincao, Conor Coady, Luke Cundle, Nelson Semedo, Patrick Cutrone, Pascal Estrada, Romain Saiss, Joao Moutinho