CITY slipped to their ninth defeat in 11 games as they lost 4-2 to Coventry tonight at Valley Parade.

Check out T&A reporter Simon Parker's game guide, including player ratings and match statistics.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Richard O’Donnell may have let in four goals but the keeper produced some excellent stops, most notably from two Jonson Clarke-Harris headers.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Jordy Hiwula breaking away to score against his former club, as he did last season for Fleetwood, and killing any comeback hopes.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

City gave themselves a mountain to climb by conceding from a bout of head tennis from Coventry’s opening corner.

TACTICS

Hope Akpan was thrown straight in for his first game under David Hopkin after his dislocated shoulder.

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: O’Donnell 7, McGowan 5, O’Connor 6, Knight-Percival 5, Wood 6, O’Brien 6, Akpan 5 (Gibson 68min), Wright 6, Miller 5, Doyle 5 (A Jones 69min; Ball 80min), Payne 6. Subs (not used): Isherwood, Riley, Goldthorp, Sykes-Kenworthy.

COVENTRY: Burge 6, Sterling 6, Hyam 6, Davies 7, Brown 6, Thomas 6 (Shipley 89min), Doyle 7, Bayliss 7 (Kelly 76min), Hiwula 7 (J Jones 68min), Chaplin 8, Clarke-Harris 8. Subs (not used): Grimmer, Bakayoko, Thompson, O’Brien.

REFEREE: Ross Joyce (Middlesbrough)

BOOKINGS: O’Connor, McGowan (City); Davies, Bayliss, Kelly (Coventry)

SENT OFF: Miller (City)

ATTENDANCE: 11,075

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 3 Coventry 10

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 9 Coventry 4

CORNERS: City 6 Coventry 6

FOULS COMMITTED: City 17 Coventry 14