Coventry survive Plymouth fightback to reach Carabao Cup third round

Coventry City advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-2 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Tuesday, surviving a home comeback after taking a two-goal lead inside five minutes. The Guardian reported that Ephron Mason-Clark put Coventry back in front before Victor Torp completed the scoring from the penalty spot.

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Frank Lampard made nine changes from the Coventry side that started Friday’s defeat at Arsenal, with Caleb Yirenkyi and Bobby Thomas the only players retained. Yirenkyi’s first-time flick released Taiwo Awoniyi in the third minute, and the striker finished to score his first goal for Coventry. Awoniyi then supplied Jack Rudoni, who doubled the lead with four minutes and six seconds played.

Plymouth responded rather than allowing the tie to drift away. Mathias Ross headed wide before Owen Irow, a Tottenham loanee who had signed 24 hours earlier, drove inside Joel Latibeaudiere and beat debutant goalkeeper Dan Bentley. The hosts nearly levelled after Bentley spilled Harvey White’s shot, but he recovered to turn Will Evans’s follow-up onto the post.

Tom Cleverley introduced Xavier Amaechi at halftime, and the substitute made it 2-2 in the 54th minute. Amaechi pressured Liam Kitching, won possession when the Coventry defender became tangled up and drove a left-footed finish inside Bentley’s near post. The equaliser completed Plymouth’s recovery and forced the Premier League visitors to find another response.

Lampard turned to Mason-Clark for his first appearance of the season following a hamstring problem. After Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s cross caused uncertainty in the Plymouth area, Torp collected the loose ball at the back post and squared it. Mason-Clark then poked in from close range to restore Coventry’s advantage.

Coventry secured the result after Plymouth substitute Joe Edwards caught Brandon Thomas-Asante while attempting to clear following a corner. Referee Elliott Swallow awarded the penalty, and Torp drove the spot-kick into the top corner. The result ended Plymouth’s latest attempt at a cup upset and sent Coventry into the next round after a match in which their rapid opening was followed by a sustained test from the hosts.