Frank Lampard’s Coventry City got their first win of the new season, sealing a 4-2 win at Plymouth Argyle to progress into the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Coventry – showing nine changes from last Friday’s defeat to Arsenal in their big Premier League return – made a fabulous start, racing into a two-goal lead inside five minutes in Devon. Taiwo Awoniyi was off the mark quickly on his full debut for the Sky Blues, racing on to a through pass and sliding the ball underneath the onrushing Argyle stopper James Storer.
And it got better barely a minute later when this time Awoniyi turned provider, flicking a ball around the corner for the onrushing Jack Rudoni to rush onto. Rudoni scampered towards goal and despite pressure from a Plymouth defender, he held him off, shifted centrally and tucked the ball past Storer for Coventry’s second.
Many would have thought Lampard’s side would then run away with the game but Plymouth had other ideas and Spurs loanee Oliver Irow reduced the arrears for the League One side when he cut in from the left and fired home past Dan Bentley in the City goal.
Awoniyi then fluffed a fine chance for the visitors to go 3-1 up before the break as he nodded wide from close range before Plymouth struck a post as Will Evans saw a shot delflected onto the woodwork by a scrambling Bentley.
Plymouth were slowly growing into the contest and not long after the restart they drew level to stun their Premier League visitors. Substitute Xavier Amechi netted it when he pinched the ball off a Coventry man, dashed forwards and picked his spot.
Coventry shuffled their pack in response and it would be substitute Ephron Mason-Clark – who had only been on the field five minutes – who propelled them back in front just before the hour mark. Mason-Clark tapped in from barely a yard out after City recycled it from a dangerous cross into the box.
Any hope of another spirited comeback was well and truly ended 12 minutes from time when Joe Edwards conceded a penalty when he up-ended Brandon Thomas-Asante. Victor Torp stepped up and rifled home an emphatic penalty to seal the victory.
They now await to see who they will face in round three when the draw is made on Wednesday evening.
