Norwich City claimed their first win of the Championship season by beating Coventry 1-0 at the CBS Arena.
Borja Sainz scored the decisive goal for the Canaries, who recovered from a poor 45 minutes to defeat Mark Robins' side.
The visitors dominated possession early on, but it was Coventry who had the bulk of the first half's chances. First Jack Rudoni was denied by Shane Duffy's clearance, then Ellis Simms dragged wide before Haji Wright fired straight at Angus Gunn.
There was a headed effort from Duffy amid the flurry of Sky Blue opportunities, but Norwich largely struggled in the final third.
They made two changes at the break, however, and within four minutes of the restart were ahead. The opener came slightly fortuitously via a poor clearance and a deflection, but Sainz's instinctive strike marked a significant increase in intent from Johannes Hoff Thorup's men.
After 15 minutes of uncertainty, the hosts then began to come back into the game, enjoying a series of corners and half-chances at an equaliser. But they couldn't make the most, instead allowing the away side to let the game peter out.
It meant an important win for the yellow and green mood going into next week's international break, with Swansea next up on Saturday, September 14.
COVENTRY CITY:
Substitutes:
13. Wilson
3. Dasilva (on for Bidwell, 69)
4. Thomas
8. Allen (on for Torp, 78)
10. Mason-Clark (on for Sakamoto, 45)
15. Kitching
23. Thomas-Asante (on for Wright, 78)
30. Tavares
37. Bassette (on for Simms, 58)
Manager: Mark Robins
Bookings: Latibeaudiere (45+2), Binks (63), Bassette (70), Eccles (82)
Goals:
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
8. Gibbs (on for Nunez, 84)
20. Slimane (on for Forson, 45)
25. Hernandez (on for Sainz, 90)
29. Schwartau (on for Crnac, 45)
33. Cordoba (on for Chrisene, 86)
35. Fisher
40. Hills
41. Forsyth
Head Coach: Johannes Hoff Thorup
Bookings: Sainz (63), Slimane (90+2), Gunn (90+3)
Goals: Sainz (49)
KEY MOMENTS
2 - Rudoni flicks Sakamoto's low cross goalward before Duffy clears.
7 - A ball in behind finds Simms through on goal, but he pokes wide under pressure from Doyle.
9 - Duffy meets Nunez' corner in the centre of the box, heading over from 10 yards.
11 - Coventry counter quickly and Wright finds room for a shot, but fires straight at Gunn with his left foot.
26 - Sakamoto cuts inside and drags wide of the near post.
29 - Simms ghosts into the near post and sees his flick saved by Gunn.
34 - Nunez picks out Stacey in the box and he cuts in before seeing his shot deflected wide.
40 - Simms climbs above Doyle but heads over.
43 - Forson finds Stacey through on goal, but the right-back can't get the ball out of his feet.
Half time: Coventry City 0-0 Norwich City
46 - Duffy's clearance breaks for Rudoni inside the box, but he totally mishits his shot.
49 - GOAL NORWICH (Sainz): Nunez pokes wide to Stacey, whose cross is cleared as far as Sainz to fire beyond Dovin via a deflection.
68 - Coventry seize on Duffy's poor pass and Mason-Clark shoots, but Gunn gets down well to turn behind.
71 - Duffy slides in to turn the ball just wide of his own post.
90+5 - Eccles can't beat Gunn from a tight angle.
Full time: Coventry City 0-1 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7, Stacey 8, Duffy 7, Doyle 8, Chrisene 8, McLean 8, Nunez 7, Forson 5, Crnac 4, Sargent 7, Sainz 8. Subs: Slimane 7, Schwartau 6, Gibbs 6, Cordoba 6, Hernandez 6.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 43pc-57pc
Shots: 13-8
On target: 4-1
Corners: 11-9
Fouls: 4-3
Added time: 3 mins/5 mins
Attendance: 27,353
Referee: Andy Davies
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here