FT: Coventry City 0-2 Brentford
Coventry slipped to a first defeat at Sixfields at the hands of Brentford, after goals either side of half-time.
Clayton Donaldson gave the Bees the lead with a well-taken finish in the 21st minute before Martin Taylor added a second with a close range header midway through the second half.
City weren’t short on effort but lacked quality when it counted.
Manager Steven Pressley made just one side to the team that lost at Port Vale last week with Adam Barton replacing the injured Carl Baker.
And it was Barton who fashioned the first chance in the 11th minute, drilling low across goal after strong play by Franck Moussa and Cyrus Christie. But no-one could connect with his dangerous centre from the right.
Christie’s left-footed ball from the same flank found the head of Wilson moments later but he couldn’t make a firm enough connection to his the target.
City’s best opportunities were coming from the wide areas and Leon Clarke worked Bees keeper Richard Lee for the first time in the 21st minute. It was a tame, left-foot shot however, failing to match the great work of Moussa down the left.
Within 30 seconds the Sky Blues were behind. A lofted ball over the top held up in the wind and Christie missed his kick when attempting to clear, allowing Donaldson the time and space to place into the corner from 10 yards with only Joe Murphy to beat.
Chances were few and far between after that as the hosts enjoyed most of the possession without creating any clear openings.
In fact, Donaldson could have doubled the lead in the 41st minute but the striker fired straight at the feet of Murphy from close range after capitalising on some slack defending to get in behind.
Mathieu Manset took Barton’s place for the second half and made an early impact. His ability to run at defenders helped make the space for Leon Clarke to fire in a powerful left-foot shot at the near post from 15 yards – but Lee did well to beat it away.
City were attacking with more intent but Brentford still threatened.
Will Grigg headed over from six yards in the 57th minute after Donaldson crossed from the right before Murphy had to be alert to deny Donaldson and Martin Fillo, as both snuck in behind in the space of a minute.
The game was starting to stretch and Wilson had perhaps City’s best chance in the 66th minute. The pacey striker latched on to Blair Adam’s ball forward and tried to lift the ball over Lee. But the keeper spread himself well to stop it.
But in-keeping with the rest of the game, Brentford bit back. The Sky Blues failed to clear a corner allowing the taker, Sam Saunders, another chance to deliver – and this time his in-swinger from the left was headed in by Taylor.
Teams
Coventry (4-4-2): Murphy; Christie, J Clarke, Webster, Adams; Barton (Manset 46), Thomas, Fleck, Moussa; Wilson, L Clarke.
Subs not used: Burge, Phillips, Willis, Garner, Haynes, Rankin.
Brentford (4-4-2): Lee; Logan, Dean, Taylor, Craig; Fillo (Saunders 61), Forshaw, Diagouraga, McCormack (Reeves 84); Grigg (El Alagui 70), Donaldson.
Subs not used: O’Brien, O’Connor, Teixeira, Trotta.
Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire)
Attendance: 2,651