The Sky Blues have started their 2022/23 season with a draw on the road against Sunderland.
City had to come from behind to snatch a point late on with Viktor Gyokeres drawing them level with six minutes left on the clock.
The Sky Blues were unable to find a winner, however, with Mark Robins’ 300th game in charge ending as a draw.
Sunderland were the first to strike on twelve minutes when summer signing Jack Clarke got on the end of a Lynden Gooch cross to nod past Simon Moore at the back post.
The goal left City with work to do at a packed Stadium of Light - but the players slowly began to take control of possession.
The Sky Blues had chances before the break with Jonathan Panzo striking the crossbar from long range, denied only by an impressive Anthony Patterson save.
The game’s next chance fell to striker Viktor Gyokeres, who was played in on goal by side-kick Matty Godden. However, he was unable to get his shot away.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 1-0 Sky Blues
The break offered City a chance to regroup but it was Sunderland who came out on top, unlucky not to find the net after some good work from Clarke handed a shooting chance to Elliott Embleton. He fired over.
But the chances continued to flow for Mark Robins’ side when Gustavo Hamer’s interception put Matty Godden in front of goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he fired wide.
City then made changes with Fankaty Dabo, Fabio Tavares, Tyler Walker, Kasey Palmer all being introduced from the bench.
And then Gyokeres left his mark on the game, with only six minutes left to play. The Swede skipped past two Sunderland defenders before firing hard into the far corner with pace. His effort was unstoppable.
FULL-TIME: Sunderland 1-1 Sky Blues
Scorers: Jack Clarke (12’), Viktor Gyokeres (84').
Cards: Gustavo Hamer (20’), Jack Clarke (51’), Corry Evans (54’).
Attendance: 40,851.
Sunderland XI: Anthony Patterson (GK); Dennis Cirkin, Corry Evans, Dan Ballard, Danny Batth, Elliot Embleton (Luke O’Nein ‘62), Lynden Gooch, Ross Stewart, Jack Clarke, Alex Pritchard (Patrick Roberts 79’), Dan Neil.
Unused subs: Alex Bass (GK), Elliott Simms,, Bailey Wright, Trai Hume, Aji Alese.
Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK); Jonathan Panzo, Kyle McFadzean (Fabio Tavares ‘75), Jamie Allen (Kasey Palmer 65’), Ben Sheaf, Dom Hyam, Viktor Gyokeres, Matty Godden (Tyler Walker ‘75), Jake Bidwell, Josh Eccles (Fankaty Dabo 75’), Gustavo Hamer.
Unused subs: Ben Wilson (GK); Callum Doyle, Michael Rose.