A superb late equaliser from Viktor Gyokeres earned Coventry City a deserved point at promoted Sunderland.
The Black Cats took an early lead when Jack Clarke headed home Lynden Gooch’s deep delivery at the back post.
The away side grew into the match and Jonathan Panzo’s ferocious 30-yard strike was brilliantly turned on to the crossbar by Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson before Matt Godden fired an excellent chance wide after the break.
Coventry continued to press though and were ultimately rewarded when Gyokeres picked the ball up centrally, 25 yards out, came on to his right foot and smashed a wicked strike into the bottom corner.
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins, who was marking his 300th game in charge of the club, will have been pleased with how his side came back in front of a raucous crowd of 40,851 at the Stadium of Light.
Clarke, who joined permanently from Tottenham in the summer after a successful loan spell last season, headed in with Coventry goalkeeper Simon Moore stranded after making the decision to come for Gooch’s deep cross and missing it.
The home side could not build on that early goal though and only Patterson’s fingertip save from debutant Panzo’s long range shot kept them in the lead at the break.
Godden should have levelled when Dan Neil was caught in possession 25 yards from his own goal but swept his shot wide of the post before Ross Stewart saw a decent effort saved by Moore at the other end.
Gyokeres, who scored 17 league goals in 2021-22, got off the mark for this campaign with a fine driven strike as the Sky Blues made their pressure tell with just over five minutes to play.
Alex Neil’s men next face a trip to Bristol City on Saturday, while Coventry host Rotherham on Sunday.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Patterson
- 5BallardBooked at 76mins
- 6Batth
- 3Cirkin
- 11Gooch
- 4EvansBooked at 55mins
- 24Neil
- 20ClarkeBooked at 51mins
- 8EmbletonSubstituted forO’Nienat 61′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 21PritchardSubstituted forRobertsat 79′minutes
- 14Stewart
Substitutes
- 9Simms
- 10Roberts
- 12Bass
- 13O’Nien
- 26Wright
- 32Hume
- 42Alese
Coventry
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 1Moore
- 15Hyam
- 5McFadzeanSubstituted forTavares Desidérioat 73′minutes
- 2Panzo
- 28EcclesSubstituted forDaboat 73′minutes
- 8AllenSubstituted forPalmerat 62′minutes
- 14Sheaf
- 38HamerBooked at 20mins
- 27Bidwell
- 24GoddenSubstituted forWalkerat 73′minutes
- 17Gyökeres
Substitutes
- 3Doyle
- 4Rose
- 13Wilson
- 19Walker
- 23Dabo
- 30Tavares Desidério
- 45Palmer
- Referee:
- Darren Bond
- Attendance:
- 40,851
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Sunderland 1, Coventry City 1.
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Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Coventry City 1.
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Luke O’Nien (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Luke O’Nien (Sunderland).
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Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jake Bidwell.
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Foul by Kasey Palmer (Coventry City).
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Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Fábio Tavares (Coventry City).
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Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jake Bidwell (Coventry City).
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Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Kasey Palmer (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Corry Evans (Sunderland).
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Goal! Sunderland 1, Coventry City 1. Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jonathan Panzo.
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Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Patrick Roberts.
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Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
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Substitution, Sunderland. Patrick Roberts replaces Alex Pritchard.
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Foul by Fábio Tavares (Coventry City).
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Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
