City Under 21s fell to defeat in the Professional Development League against Peterborough United at the Alan Higgs Centre.
The Sky Blues were awarded a penalty three minutes into the game, as Marco Rus was brought down in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Justin Obikwu stepped up to take the spot kick, but he was unable to find the target, firing the ball over the bar.
City had started on the front foot and Kasey Palmer was dictating play in the middle, picking out passes and this time he found the run of Bradley Stretton, but his shot was saved well by Beau Hudd.
However, despite that early dominance, the Sky Blues were behind on ten minutes when Riccardo Di Trolio was adjudged to have brought down his man. Malik Mothersille would step up and Luke Bell produced a fine stop, but Mothersille would fire in the rebound to give the visitors the lead.
City were looking for a way back into the game and it was captain Marco Rus who tried his luck from ranged but Hudd was equal to it.
Peterborough doubled their lead two minutes later when Will van Lier struck an unstoppable effort from distance that flew into the top corner, leaving Bell with no chance.
The Sky Blues almost pulled one back through Fabio Tavares, as he cut inside onto his right and from outside of the area, his shot curled onto the post and came back out.
Tavares then turned provider, as he picked out the run of Obikwu and he beat the offside trap and raced through on goal, placing the ball into the bottom corner and halving the deficit.
However, Posh would grab a third of the game after a ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and the Peterborough Trialist smashed the ball in from close range.
There were plenty of chances in the first half and it almost ended with the games fifth goal, but Obikwu couldn’t keep his header down and it went narrowly over the bar.
HALF-TIME: Sky Blues 1-3 Peterborough United
The second half started with both sides looking to get the ball down and take control of possession.
John Dempster’s side were looking to get back into the game and they almost did that, but a Tavares strike from the edge of the area was well stopped.
Close to the hour mark, Dempster made a triple change, as the returning duo of Fabio Tavares and Kasey Palmer made way alongside Riccardo Di Trolio for MacKenzie Stretton, Aidan Dausch and Kai Andrews.
At the other end, the visitors thought they had their fourth of the game when Donay O’Brien Brady released a powerful strike from range, but Luke Bell produced a magnificent save.
Despite their best efforts, City were unable to get back into the game, as they suffered defeat at the Alan Higgs Centre.
FULL-TIME: Sky Blues 1-3 Peterborough United
Goals: Malik Mothersille, Will van Lier, Justin Obikwu, Trialist
Sky Blues Xl: Luke Bell (GK); Jayden Smith, Riccardo Di Trolio (M.Stretton 56'), Callum Perry, Dermi Lusala; Marco Rus (C), Evan Eghosa, Kasey Palmer (Andrews 56'); Bradley Stretton (Betjemann 71'), Fabio Tavares (Dausch 56'), Justin Obikwu.
Subs: Luis Lines (GK), MacKenzie Stretton, Elliot Betjemann, Kai Andrews, Aidan Dausch.