WOLVES boss Mick McCarthy was expecting a birthday present as his high-flying Wanderers came to the Ricoh.
In the end he was left pondering the missed chances - particularly a last-minute penalty miss - which cost his side dear.
“I suppose I will be having a drink to commiserate rather than celebrate now,” lamented the 50-year-old Yorkshireman.
“I
think we deserved to get out of jail for that second-half performance
but we didn’t deserve to get out of jail for the way we defended again.
As
it was, Coventry made sure their visitors missed out on the chance to
push on at the top of the Championship after being hit by goals from
Michael Doyle and Leon McKenzie.
A consolation goal by substitute Sam Vokes was largely against the run of play.
But
it was the last minute which was particularly pleasing for the City
fans when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake – who has found the back of the net 20
times this season – was brought down by Ben Turner.
Sky Blues keeper Keiren Westwood pulled off the heroics of the day to save the spot-kick.
From
the kick-off, the portents didn’t look good for Chris Coleman’s men -
Wolves, bolstered by an impressive travelling contingent of 4,700 fans,
had the first real chance of the afternoon after just nine minutes when
Stephen Ward exposed City’s left flank to set up Matt Jarvis but he
couldn’t quite get through the defensive wall.
For
a good 20 minutes Coventry could barely get into the action but, the
deadlock was soon broken on 24 minutes when Morrison got the wrong side
of Richard Stearman only to see his shot rebound under keeper Wayne
Hennessey and off the post. Michael Doyle pounced to slam home his
second goal of the season.
Berra
forced a save from Westwood before Vokes came on for Iwelumo and
stabbed the visitors level in the 73rd minute from a Kightly corner –
his seventh goal of the season.
The
Sky Blues had more to say on proceedings, however, as, twice, McKenzie
threatened but a minute later his persistence paid off after hesitation
by Hennessey. Dangerman Henderson set him up for a simple tap-in to
spark euphoria of cup-winning proportions.
McCarthy’s
birthday celebrations meanwhile were further spoiled in the dying
minutes when Ebanks-Blake saw his spot-kick saved with a heroic stop by
Keiren Westwood. | 
