COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

First half collapse sees Sky Blues crash out of Carabao Cup



Coventry City crashed out of the Carabao Cup after suffering a first half collapse against Bristol City at the Pirelli Stadium

The Sky Blues were 3-0 down after half an hour and despite a determined fight-back that saw Jamie Allen pull one back just after the hour with a well-struck volley, the damage was already done.

City suffered an early setback when they conceded from a recycled 12th minute Bristol City corner, which was initially headed clear by Kyle McFadzean but when the ball was floated back into the box, centre-half Kal Naismith was allowed space to nod home.

Things went from bad to worse six minutes later when a Michael Rose clearance was intercepted by Han-Noah Massengo who played a pinpoint through ball to play Tommy Conway in behind for a simple finish past exposed goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

And it looked to be virtually game over by the half hour mark when Conway robbed Josh Eccles outside the box, pushed the ball forward and hit a hard and low shot that took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot the keeper and extend the visitors’ lead to 3-0.

Coventry started the second half with a lot more purpose and a triple substitution on the hour produced instant rewards as Jake Bidwell – who went on to replace Tayo Adaramola – sent in a lovely cross which Jamie Allen volleyed home from inside the box with a powerful finish. Robins’s men showed a vast improvement in the second half but had simply given themselves too much to do to get back into the tie, and conceded a fourth goal in the 94th minutes when Andreas Weimann beat Doyle for pace down the right and finished at the near post.

Bristol City cruise past Coventry in Burton



Bristol City recorded a routine win over fellow Championship side Coventry City, who moved the Carabao Cup first-round tie to Burton because of problems with their pitch.

The tie was played at the Pirelli Stadium, about 30 miles from Coventry, with the Coventry Building Society Arena deemed "unsafe" after hosting rugby sevens matches for the Commonwealth Games at the end of July.

Kal Naismith nodded home the opener from a set-piece for his first Robins goal, with Tommy Conway side-footing in a second after a neat pass from Han-Noah Massengo.

It was 3-0 before half-time as Nahki Wells stole the ball deep in Coventry territory and fed forward Conway, 20, whose shot deflected off a defender and dribbled into the corner.

Coventry, who gave debuts to summer signings Callum Doyle and Tayo Adaramola as they made eight changes to their side, scored a consolation when former Burton player Jamie Allen volleyed in Jake Bidwell's cross.

But Nigel Pearson's City had the final word, Andreas Weimann impressively finishing from a tough angle to seal their spot in the second round and a first victory of the campaign.

The Sky Blues, meanwhile, hope to be able to return to their home ground for the visit of Wigan on 16 August.