Bury v Coventry

Bury 0

FT 90 +5
HT 0-1

Managerless Coventry City made light of Mark Robins' midweek departure with victory for caretaker boss Lee Carsley against Bury at Gigg Lane.

Striker Leon Clarke found the bottom right corner to set them on their way in the third minute, with his fifth goal since arriving in January.

Bury's David Worrall tested Joe Murphy with a stinging volley before Andy Bishop missed a great chance to level.

But Carl Baker fired home from the edge of the box to seal victory late on.

Coventry, beaten at home in their previous two outings prior to Huddersfield-bound Robins' resignation, could have won by a bigger margin against struggling Bury.

The Sky Blues were ahead when Clarke shrugged off a challenge from Ashley Eastham before rifling a powerful finish through Trevor Carson's legs for his 15th League One strike of the campaign.

Stephen Elliott also blasted against a post, while James Bailey was denied on the line by Joe Skarz.

Home keeper Carson denied both Gary McSheffrey and Clarke after the break before Baker settled the outcome on 72 minutes with a low finish from 20 yards to help lift his side back to within five points of the play-offs.

Coventry had on-loan Watford defender Carl Dickinson making his debut at left-back, as Blair Adams faces a month out with a knee strain.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Bury assistant manager Peter Shirtliff told BBC Radio Manchester:

"It was a difficult one being 1-0 down after three minutes, and from a goal out of nothing really.

"After that, we got back in the game and always looked in the game, without really creating a clear-cut opening.

"We didn't test the keeper as much as we would have liked."

Coventry caretaker manager Lee Carsley told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

"The players have done themselves justice. They were outstanding.

"Today had nothing to do with me. It was about the players. You can see the quality we've got.

"It's felt a bit weird over the past few days. It's something I've been preparing for, something I wasn't expecting, but I've enjoyed today.

"We said it was a short term thing, so that's it. The players are playing to their potential, and they're selfish in the respect that they just get on with it which is what they've done."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Bury

01 Carson
03 Skarz Booked
06 Eastham
19 Regan (Jones - 61' )
24 Zubar
07 Worrall
08 Schumacher
32 Thompson
35 Soares (Carole - 78' )
10 Bishop
15 Ajose (Fagan - 86' )

Substitutes

30 Belford
34 Ebanks-Landell
09 Jones
13 Carrington
37 Carole
25 Healy
31 Fagan

Coventry City

01 Murphy
03 Dickinson
05 Cameron
21 Christie
24 Wood
08 Baker
12 Jennings (Thomas - 90' )
38 Bailey
11 McSheffrey Booked (Fleck - 87' )
14 Elliott (Moussa - 74' )
15 Clarke

Substitutes

13 Dunn
02 Clarke
25 Edjenguele
04 Thomas
10 Fleck
16 Barton
32 Moussa

Ref: Drysdale

Att: 3,745

Match Stats

Possession 48 52

Shots

14 17

On target

7 13

Corners

5 1

Fouls

9 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:11 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:15

Steven Schumacher takes a shot. Conor Thomas gets a block in.

90:00 +0:54 Substitution

Substitution Conor Thomas joins the action as a substitute, replacing Steven Jennings.

88:59

Foul by Craig Fagan on Richard Wood, free kick awarded. Joe Murphy takes the direct free kick.

87:54

Leon Clarke is adjudged to have handled the ball. Trevor Carson takes the direct free kick. Sebastien Carole takes a shot.

85:35

Indirect free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

85:35 Substitution

Substitution Gary McSheffrey leaves the field to be replaced by John Fleck.

85:35 Substitution

Substitution Craig Fagan is brought on as a substitute for Nick Ajose.