Match ends, Coventry City 1, Port Vale 0.
CoventryCoventry City1Port ValePort Vale0
Substitute James Maddison's fantastic late strike earned Coventry a hard-fought victory over Port Vale.
The visitors had the best chance of the first half as Ajay Leitch-Smith's drilled shot cannoned off the post.
Sam Foley should have given Vale the lead but he ballooned his shot over the bar from close range.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Maddison danced his way past two Vale defenders before unleashing a shot into the net to seal the win.
Coventry remain unbeaten at home in League One this season.
Sky Blues manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"For the group it was a very important win. I think they knew how important it was, but they started the game like we'd all had too much turkey yesterday.
"It wasn't just me - there was a discussion at half-time to get us going, and the second half was a lot better.
"The points are important. The days when you don't play so well but get the points are always huge. On the second-half display, we deserved to take the three points."
Line-ups
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Charles-Cook
- 17Phillips
- 21Martin
- 18Ricketts
- 3Stokes
- 4VincelotBooked at 90mins
- 19Bigirimana
- 8LameirasSubstituted forMaddisonat 73'minutes
- 14ColeSubstituted forO'Brienat 73'minutes
- 25MurphyBooked at 72minsSubstituted forKentat 83'minutes
- 9A Armstrong
Substitutes
- 1Burge
- 10Maddison
- 11O'Brien
- 20Tudgay
- 26Haynes
- 32Fortuné
- 40Kent
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 21Alnwick
- 2PurkissBooked at 79mins
- 5McGivern
- 6Duffy
- 3Dickinson
- 19MooreSubstituted forBirchallat 73'minutes
- 8O'Connor
- 42GrantBooked at 90mins
- 11FoleySubstituted forIkpeazuat 86'minutes
- 14Daniel
- 20Leitch-SmithSubstituted forHooperat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Neal
- 4Streete
- 7Birchall
- 9Ikpeazu
- 15Hooper
- 16Yates
- 18Kelly
- Referee:
- Robert Lewis
- Attendance:
- 17,779
Match Stats
Home TeamCoventryAway TeamPort Vale
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away0
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 1, Port Vale 0.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Ryan McGivern.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Ryan McGivern.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Kent (Coventry City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Romain Vincelot (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Romain Vincelot (Coventry City).
Post update
JJ Hooper (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Ryan Kent (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Richard Duffy (Port Vale).
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Ryan Kent.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Kent (Coventry City).
Post update
Michael O'Connor (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Anthony Grant (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
James Maddison (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Grant (Port Vale).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Colin Daniel (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Uche Ikpeazu replaces Sam Foley.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Ryan Kent replaces Jacob Murphy.
