Match ends, Colchester United 2, Coventry City 1.
ColchesterColchester United2CoventryCoventry City1
Colchester picked up their first win in seven games at the expense of Coventry in League One.
Freddie Sears opened the scoring early on for the hosts when he confidently slotted past goalkeeper Joe Murphy.
Gavin Massey doubled the lead with a low finish from David Wright's long pass, while Sam Walker kept out Chuba Akpom's effort at the other end.
Callum Wilson squeezed a low strike into the far bottom corner for the Sky Blues, but missed two late chances.
Colchester United manager Joe Dunne told BBC Essex:
"We're very pleased for everybody - pleased for the fans that stuck with us. It was a great win all-round.
"Freddie [Sears] took his goal exceptionally well, he looked sharp. It was a good finish, a good run in behind.
"We wanted to get the ball wide and get in behind their back four and use the pace. We played a bit more direct and the goals and chances we created were testament to that.
"We have a robust defence and a threat going forward to hit on the counter-attacks if we need. Second half, defensively we were excellent."
Coventry City manager Steven Pressley told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire:
"If you take away the opening 20-minute period and our defending in it, we actually did quite a lot of good things.
"We worked really hard and created a lot of really good chances.
"I thought our two strikers were excellent today, and in the end I think we should have had the point.
"We have to come to these places and get the points and that's the bottom line.
"We've making life far too difficult for ourselves. We have to be far more aggressive in our defending. We had three big chances away from home and we're feeling that we should have got something from the game."
Line-ups
Colchester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 44Walker
- 20WilsonBooked at 85mins
- 3Dickson
- 15Bean
- 4Okuonghae
- 18Eastman
- 21MasseySubstituted forVoseat 83'minutes
- 2Wright
- 9MorrisonSubstituted forBonneat 78'minutes
- 11SearsSubstituted forEastmondat 63'minutes
- 7Sanchez Watt
Substitutes
- 1Cousins
- 6Eastmond
- 12Sanderson
- 23Olufemi
- 25Vose
- 39Sesay
- 41Bonne
Coventry
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Murphy
- 19Willis
- 24Clarke
- 6ThomasSubstituted forMcGeouchat 85'minutes
- 15Seaborne
- 4WebsterSubstituted forDelfounesoat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 27Petrasso
- 7Fleck
- 20Wilson
- 9Akpom
- 3AdamsSubstituted forMoussaat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Christie
- 10Delfouneso
- 11McGeouch
- 13Burge
- 14Moussa
- 16Barton
- 26Marshall
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 4,426
Match Stats
Home TeamColchesterAway TeamCoventry
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 2, Coventry City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Coventry City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Booking
Nathan Delfouneso (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Sanchez Watt (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dylan McGeouch (Coventry City).
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Franck Moussa.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sanchez Watt (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Craig Eastmond (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Franck Moussa.
Post update
Dominic Vose (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Franck Moussa (Coventry City).
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Dylan McGeouch replaces Conor Thomas.
Booking
Brian Wilson (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Brian Wilson (Colchester United).
Post update
Chuba Akpom (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Sanchez Watt (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Callum Wilson (Coventry City).
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Dominic Vose replaces Gavin Massey.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Brian Wilson.
