The Sky Blues' final home game of the season ended in a 2-1 defeat against Huddersfield Town this afternoon, as Viktor Gyökeres struck late to halve the defecit from Harry Toffolo’s curling effort and Faustino Anjorin’s penalty.
Backed by the immense roar of the Sky Blues faithful, City looked to mount some early pressure on the visitors when some neat interchanges between O’Hare and Gyökeres yielded a number of corners inside ten minutes. Dom Hyam’s audacious overhead kick within the penalty area from the set piece delivery caused the Terriers trouble, however City were unable to convert early on.
A clash between Michael Rose and Kyle McFadzean resulted in a stoppage while both players received treatment on 20 minutes, however both were deemed able to continue.
Soon afterwards, a quick move between O’Hare and Gyökeres got the home crowd off their feet once more when O’Hare’s effort was lashed narrowly wide, and soon afterwards a counter-attack led by Jordan Rhodes resulted in a Huddersfield corner which Ben Wilson rose highest to punch away.
An intelligent free kick delivery from Hamer at the edge of Huddersfield's box found Waghorn lurking at the far post and his header back across the face of goal was met by Hyam, but his effort was parried at point-blank range by Lee Nicholls on 38 minutes.
Amid a first half which saw both teams flex their defensive abilities it would take an impressive effort to break the deadlock, and despite the Sky Blues growing in stature throughout the contest, it was Huddersfield who struck first. A rapid counter-attack from the Terriers on 44 minutes culminated in Harry Toffolo unlocking the resolute City defence with his curling effort which sailed high into the far corner of the net.
Half-time: Sky Blues 0-1 Huddersfield Town
The first effort of the second half fell City’s way when a short corner was delivered to Hamer and, following his industrious efforts of the first half, he tried his luck from range but to no avail as Nicholls made an assured save.
Rhodes had a golden opportunity to double his side’s advantage when Holmes found space on the right flank and whipped a low cross into the path of the striker in the six-yard box, but his sliced effort bobbled past the goal mouth.
Young duo Josh Eccles and Fabio Tavares entered the field to applause at the Coventry Building Society Arena with 20 minutes remaining and Tavares looked to inject fresh energy into the frontline when he immediately worked to close down Huddersfield's possession in defence.
The Sky Blues looked condemned to a two-goal deficit when Terriers top goalscorer Danny Ward burst past City’s defence on 75 minutes, however his chance was scuppered by Wilson who made a fantastic stop.
However, Huddersfield doubled their lead only minutes later when Lewis O’Brien was judged to have been fouled by Wilson in the box and Faustino Anjorin stepped up to power the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
After a prolonged period of Sky Blues pressure, City clawed a goal back via Viktor Gyökeres in the final moments of the game when the Swedish striker powered home at point-blank range from a dangerous cross by O’Hare.
Despite the home crowd urging the Sky Blues’ valiant late efforts on into injury time, City fell to 2-1 defeat at the conclusion of this afternoon’s final home game of the season at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Full-time: Sky Blues 1-2 Huddersfield Town
Referee: Tony Harrington
Attendance: 23,828 (2,439 away)
Scorers: Harry Toffolo (44’), Faustino Anjorin (78’), Viktor Gyökeres (89’)
Yellow cards: Todd Kane (69’)
Sky Blues Xl: Ben Wilson (GK), Todd Kane (Josh Eccles 70’), Dom Hyam, Kyle McFadzean ©, Michael Rose, Jake Bidwell, Gustavo Hamer (Jodi Jones 76’), Jamie Allen, Callum O’Hare, Martyn Waghorn (Fabio Tavares 70’), Viktor Gyökeres.
Unused subs: Simon Moore (GK), Jake Clarke-Salter, Ian Maatsen, Jordan Shipley.
Huddersfield XI: Lee Nicholls (GK), Pipa, Harry Toffolo, Jonathan Hogg © (Naby Sarr 76’), Lewis O’Brien, Jordan Rhodes (Danny Ward 60’), Scott High, Duane Holmes (Faustino Anjorin 64’), Levi Colwill, Tom Lees, Jonathan Russell.
Unused subs: Jamal Blackman (GK), Josh Ruffels, Oliver Turton, Carel Eiting.