Godden strike sends Coventry top at Sunderland’s expense

Coventry City 1-0 Sunderland AFC, St Andrews, Sky Bet League One

A first-half Matty Godden strike was enough to send Coventry to the summit of the Sky Bet League One table against a stuttering Sunderland side.

Godden seized upon Jamie Allen’s deft through ball and smashed the ball past Jon McLaughlin to put the hosts ahead after just two minutes.

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson named an unchanged side from their 1-1 draw at home to Fleetwood Town, with Alim Ozturk continue to fill in for the injured Bailey Wright in defence.

And the Black Cats made the worst possible start inside the first two minutes when Godden put the hosts ahead.

Sunderland reacted well to the early goal and nearly drew level when Charlie Wyke pinched the ball from Coventry midfielder Liam Walsh and fired a volley narrowly wide of the post.

Perhaps the best chance for Sunderland to pull level came midway through the first-half after an in-swinging free kick from Chris Maguire found an unmarked Tom Flanagan at the back post, but the defender volleyed the ball comfortably over the bar from close range.

Sunderland did eventually have the ball in the back of the net, after Max Power’s deflected shot sent Marko Marosi the wrong way.

However, Sunderland’s celebrations were to be short lived after Luke O’Nien was deemed to be in an offside position as the ball deflected off him and in.

Coventry had a big chance late on to put the game beyond doubt after Sam McCallum lofted a ball over the Sunderland backline only for Godden to scuff his shot wide.