Substitute Marcus Haber headed his first goal for Stevenage as they came from behind to leave relegated Coventry City still without a win in League One.

Coventry took the lead on 10 minutes when David McGoldrick turned sharply to curl home from 25 yards.

But either side of the Sky Blues having goals disallowed, Stevenage equalised when Robin Shroot's shot was allowed to stand despite home appeals for offside.

And Haber powered home from close range on 71 minutes to snatch three points.

Unbeaten Stevenage climb to third in the table, while managerless Coventry stand 19th, with just three points from their first five games.

Sunday match stats

  • Coventry City are now without a home league win at the Ricoh since beating Portsmouth on 24 March
  • Stevenage, beaten by Sheffield United in last season's play-offs, are now unbeaten in 11 regular season League One matches since 6 April

And, after drawing their first three games under Andy Thorn, it was a second successive league defeat for the caretaker managerial team of Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley.

The Sky Blues could have gone in front early on through defender William Edjenguele and then McGoldrick, who had an eighth-minute effort ruled out for a push by Stephen Elliott on visiting keeper Chris Day.

But the home side only had to wait three more minutes before on-loan Nottingham Forest man McGoldrick brought the ball down well just outside the corner of the area, jinked to his right and curled home a right-footed effort to which Day could only get his fingertips.

Stevenage then levelled when Luke Freeman's shot was parried by Joe Murphy and Shroot followed up to convert, although the home keeper complained bitterly that Patrick Agyemang was in an offside positon.

Coventry had further cause for complaint on 27 minutes when Elliott netted from a tight angle, but was harshly judged to have been offside.

But, after making three second-half changes, one paid dividends when Haber headed powerfully home to secure Stevenage's third straight away win.

VIEWS FROM DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage manager Gary Smith told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I think the players knew that this was going to be an extremely tough game, possibly the toughest of the season so far.

"This (Coventry) is a club that feels like they ought to be in the Championship and when you look at the calibre of the players they have to choose from, you expect a really tough task.

"It was a fabulous strike from them for the opener but I thought the response was very good.

"It was very important to score before half-time, which we did, and the second period opened out in a completely different way and I thought we actually played the game how we wanted to, which was to win the midfield area and counter-attack."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)

Coventry City

  • 01 Murphy
  • 02 Clarke
  • 03 Hussey (McDonald - 75' )
  • 24 Wood
  • 25 Edjenguele
  • 08 Baker Booked
  • 12 Jennings Booked
  • 15 Kilbane Booked
  • 16 Barton (Thomas - 71' )
  • 14 Elliott Booked (Ball - 85' )
  • 31 McGoldrick

Substitutes

  • 13 Dunn
  • 35 Brown
  • 04 Thomas
  • 09 McDonald
  • 11 McSheffrey
  • 17 Ball
  • 27 Daniels

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 02 Gray Booked
  • 04 Charles
  • 05 Ashton (Ngala - 46' )
  • 14 Roberts
  • 07 Grant
  • 08 Dunne
  • 32 Shroot (Risser - 46' )
  • 11 Akins
  • 15 Freeman
  • 24 Agyemang (Haber - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Arnold
  • 22 Comminges
  • 29 Ngala
  • 06 Tansey
  • 23 Lopez
  • 25 Risser
  • 09 Haber
Ref: Pawson
Att: 9,458

Match Stats

Shots

16 10

On target

10 8

Corners

9 6

Fouls

16 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:08 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +3:38

Centre by Kevin Kilbane, clearance by Luke Freeman.

90:00 +0:50

Anthony Grant decides to take a short corner.

87:04

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Freeman from the right by-line, William Edjenguele makes a clearance.

86:28

The ball is delivered by David Gray, William Edjenguele makes a clearance.

84:22 Substitution

Substitution Callum Ball comes on in place of Stephen Elliott.

83:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Freeman on Conor Thomas. Direct free kick taken by Jordan Clarke.

83:00 Booking

Booking Stephen Elliott is shown a yellow card.

82:33

Foul by Stephen Elliott on Oliver Risser, free kick awarded. Oliver Risser restarts play with the free kick.

80:37

Corner taken by Carl Baker from the right by-line.

79:59

Corner taken by Carl Baker from the left by-line played to the near post, Bondz N'Gala makes a clearance.

79:35

James Dunne takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

79:14

Marcus Haber is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jordan Clarke.

78:55

Richard Wood takes a shot. Clearance made by Mark Roberts.

78:16

Corner taken short by Carl Baker.

76:38

Lucas Akins is ruled offside. William Edjenguele takes the indirect free kick.

76:38

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

76:10

Luke Freeman fouled by Steven Jennings, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Roberts.

74:43 Substitution

Substitution Cody McDonald on for Chris Hussey.

73:14

David Gray restarts play with the free kick.

73:14 Booking

Booking Steven Jennings booked for unsporting behaviour.

73:07

Lucas Akins fouled by Steven Jennings, the ref awards a free kick.

72:33

Chris Hussey crosses the ball, Darius Charles manages to make a clearance.

70:10

James Dunne concedes a free kick for a foul on William Edjenguele. Steven Jennings takes the free kick. The assist for the goal came from Darius Charles.

70:10 Substitution

Substitution Conor Thomas is brought on as a substitute for Adam Barton.

70:10 Goal scored

Goal - Marcus Haber - Coventry 1 - 2 Stevenage Marcus Haber grabs a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Coventry 1-2 Stevenage.

69:29

Corner taken by Luke Freeman from the left by-line,

69:03

Darius Charles takes a shot. Save by Joe Murphy.

68:29

Effort on goal by Marcus Haber from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

68:02

David McGoldrick concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Grant. Direct free kick taken by Mark Roberts.

67:41

David McGoldrick takes a shot. James Dunne gets a block in.

65:05

Effort from deep inside the area by Stephen Elliott misses to the left of the target.

63:05 Substitution

Substitution (Stevenage) makes a substitution, with Marcus Haber coming on for Patrick Agyemang.

62:38

Shot from just outside the area by Steven Jennings misses to the left of the target.

62:19

Darius Charles challenges Carl Baker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Carl Baker.

61:41

The ball is sent over by Carl Baker, Richard Wood produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

61:02

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Carl Baker from the right by-line.

60:50

David McGoldrick takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

60:31

Richard Wood takes a shot. James Dunne gets a block in.

59:52

A cross is delivered by Carl Baker, clearance made by Bondz N'Gala.

55:05

The ball is delivered by Kevin Kilbane.

53:36

Darius Charles delivers the ball.

52:43

Carl Baker takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by David Gray.

46:49

Patrick Agyemang is caught offside. Joe Murphy takes the indirect free kick.

45:44

Effort from deep inside the area by Carl Baker clears the bar.

45:19

David McGoldrick takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Roberts.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Oliver Risser joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robin Shroot.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jon Ashton goes off and Bondz N'Gala comes on.

45:00 +4:29 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +4:06

Steven Jennings challenges Luke Freeman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Grant.

45:00 +3:35

The official flags Robin Shroot offside. Indirect free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

45:00 +2:06

Carl Baker crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, David Gray manages to make a clearance.

45:00 +2:06 Booking

Booking David Gray receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

45:00 +1:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Gray on Steven Jennings.

45:00 +1:28

A cross is delivered by Jordan Clarke, blocked by Anthony Grant.

45:00 +0:06

The ball is sent over by Carl Baker.

44:16

Unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by David McGoldrick results in a free kick. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

43:06

Luke Freeman crosses the ball, James Dunne takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

42:46

Corner taken left-footed by Luke Freeman from the right by-line, Richard Wood manages to make a clearance.

42:29

The ball is delivered by Patrick Agyemang, blocked by William Edjenguele.

37:45

Corner taken right-footed by Robin Shroot from the left by-line, Jon Ashton takes a shot. Adam Barton gets a block in.

37:13

Steven Jennings challenges Robin Shroot unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Roberts.

36:49

Kevin Kilbane delivers the ball.

31:49

Corner taken left-footed by Luke Freeman, Foul by Jon Ashton on Kevin Kilbane, free kick awarded. Joe Murphy takes the direct free kick.

31:15

Patrick Agyemang takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

28:54

Carl Baker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darius Charles. A cross is delivered by Luke Freeman, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Jon Ashton misses to the right of the target.

28:03

A cross is delivered by Kevin Kilbane, clearance by Luke Freeman.

27:22

The assistant referee flags for offside against Stephen Elliott. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

26:51

Steven Jennings takes a shot. Blocked by Jon Ashton.

26:36

David McGoldrick takes a shot. Darius Charles gets a block in.

25:06

Corner taken right-footed by Kevin Kilbane from the left by-line, Patrick Agyemang manages to make a clearance.

24:30

Lucas Akins concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Wood. Joe Murphy takes the direct free kick.

23:54

David McGoldrick takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

20:38 Goal scored

Goal - Robin Shroot - Coventry 1 - 1 Stevenage Robin Shroot gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Coventry 1-1 Stevenage.

20:11

Luke Freeman takes a shot. Save made by Joe Murphy.

19:39

The ball is swung over by Luke Freeman, clearance by Richard Wood.

17:52

Adam Barton takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Roberts.

16:49

Mark Roberts gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David McGoldrick. Chris Hussey delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, save by Chris Day.

15:52

Direct free kick taken by Chris Day.

15:52 Booking

Booking Carl Baker receives a yellow card.

15:37

Carl Baker challenges Darius Charles unfairly and gives away a free kick.

13:48

Jon Ashton fouled by Stephen Elliott, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Day takes the direct free kick.

13:28

The ball is swung over by Luke Freeman, Adam Barton manages to make a clearance.

12:06

Luke Freeman crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by William Edjenguele.

12:06 Booking

Booking Kevin Kilbane goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

11:56

Kevin Kilbane gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Gray.

10:07

Assist on the goal came from Chris Hussey. Stephen Elliott concedes a free kick for a foul on David Gray. David Gray takes the direct free kick.

10:07 Goal scored

Goal - David McGoldrick - Coventry 1 - 0 Stevenage David McGoldrick fires in a goal from outside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Coventry 1-0 Stevenage.

9:36

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Carl Baker played to the near post, David Gray manages to make a clearance.

9:03

The ball is swung over by Stephen Elliott, Kevin Kilbane has an effort at goal. Blocked by Anthony Grant.

7:54

Steven Jennings fouled by James Dunne, the ref awards a free kick. Joe Murphy takes the direct free kick.

7:23

Carl Baker crosses the ball, free kick awarded for a foul by Stephen Elliott on Chris Day. Free kick taken by Chris Day.

6:32

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Carl Baker from the left by-line, Jon Ashton manages to make a clearance.

5:42

Unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by David McGoldrick results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by David Gray, Joe Murphy makes a save.

4:43

Short corner taken by Carl Baker from the right by-line, Effort from inside the area by William Edjenguele misses to the left of the target.

4:28

The ball is sent over by Chris Hussey, clearance by Jon Ashton.

3:45

Unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Chris Hussey results in a free kick. Luke Freeman delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance by Richard Wood.

2:17

Stephen Elliott concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Roberts. Chris Day takes the direct free kick.

1:30

Jordan Clarke sends in a cross.

0:30

Foul by Lucas Akins on William Edjenguele, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

0:00

The match begins.

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