Sky Blues rack up convincing win over Stanley at the Crown Ground
Coventry City got their pre-season preparations back on track at the Crown Ground with a concincing win over League Two Accrington Stanley.
Cody McDonald and John Fleck helped themselves to a brace each to give City the win with Stanley sub Karl Sheppard grabbing a consolation for the hosts.
It was the hosts that carved out the first half chance of the game after just seven minutes when Craig Linfield recieved a crossfield ball on the right before whipping in a cross that Richard Woood had to clear from the six-yard area.
Michael Liddle then tried to get his eye in for Stanley after 17 minutes with a 20-yard volley which he sliced, the ball flashing across City 'keeper Joe Muprhy and just past his far post.
City took the lead after 21 minutes though when McDonald was bundled over by Toto Nsiala while battling for a corner delivery, Fleck stepping up to smash confidently past Ian Dunbavin.
City were two up just two minutes later when a through ball from Fleck bounced up for McDonald in the area, the striker firing a half volley into the ground and past the Accrington 'keeper.
Liddle almost got one back for the hosts just after the half hour with a shot from the corner of the area which Murphy got down well to save.
Fleck's moment of the half though came four minutes before the break when he picked up a ball ten yards inside the Accrington half and firing a high half volley at goal, Dunbavin scrambling back to tip over his bar but having to watch as the ball crept just underneath.
City managed to maintain their first half tempo after the break and stretched their lead to 4-0 on 51 minutes thanks to a second from McDonald.
Gary McSheffrey cut in from the left side and got to the edge of the area before firing in a low ball at the near post which McDonald got just enough of a touch to to guide itpast the 'keeper and just inside his far post.
Accrington managed to get one back though with 20 minutes to go as substitute debutant Sheppard tried to run around Wood, in the process choosing to snatch a shot across goal which went through Wood's legs, past the fingertips of Murphy and just inside the far post.
Carl Baker was denied the opportunity to make it five for City with five minutes to go.
The midfielder was lurking at the back post and took a touch after receiving a long ball and fired a half volley at the top corner of the near post only for Dunbavin to pull of a stunning one handed save to tip the ball over the bar.
That was the last real opportunity of an entertaining game which brought City's run of four consecutive pre-season defeats to an end.
Teams
CoventryCity: Murphy, Clarke, Edjenguele, Brown (McSheffery 26), Wood, Kilbane, Baker, Fleck (O'Donovan 76), Daniels, McDonald, Cazarine (Ball 45)
Subs: Burge (GK), Malaga, Henderson
AccringtonStanley: Dunbavin, Lindfield (Amond 58), Nsiala, Winnard (Murphy 22), Liddle, Joyce (Wint 84), Miller, Barnett (Eckersley 54), Clark (Dixon 80), Chippendale (Hatfield 58), Gray
Subs: Molyneux (GK), Warner