Julian Joachim's double and goals from Eric Deloumeaux and Gary McSheffrey
ensured Millwall's momentous week ended on a disappointing note.
The FA Cup finalists arrived at Highfield Road unbeaten in eight games but,
without player-manager Dennis Wise and skipper Kevin Muscat in their side, it
looked very much as though their exertions had taken a heavy toll and this
defeat was a big blow to the Londoners' play-off hopes.
Coventry had lost their last three games but from their first attempt at goal
in the sixth minute they took the lead. A short corner was played to Bjarni
Gudjonsson, who swung the ball in for Muhamed Konjic to knock it back to Joachim
and he converted from close range.
Three minutes later there was a positive response from Millwall as their FA
Cup hero Tim Cahill connected with Robbie Ryan's free-kick but his effort hit
the woodwork, and instead of equalising the Lions quickly found themselves two
goals down.
Again it came from a corner, Gudjonsson this time sending the ball over at the
first time of asking for Deloumeaux to head across goal and into the net to open
his goalscoring account for the club.
The Sky Blues were looking much more dangerous and Graham Barrett, restored to
the starting line-up, fired wide before David Livermore did likewise for the
visitors.
Barrett, playing down the left, forced Andy Marshall into a save with a
long-range strike and in the last meaningful action of the first half Deloumeaux
had a shot blocked by Marvin Elliott.
Millwall made all their three substitutions at the break with Andy Roberts,
Mark McCammon and John Sutton replacing Ryan, Cahill and Neil Harris.
After 10 minutes of the second period Sutton, brother of Celtic striker Chris,
could have reduced his side's arrears but headed Peter Sweeney's corner into the
hands of goalkeeper Scott Shearer and it proved a costly miss as Coventry went
down the other end and scored again.
It was a calamitous goal for the Millwall defence to concede as they were all
over the place with Marshall and Darren Ward getting into a terrible mix-up,
leaving Joachim to tap the ball home for his 11th goal of the season.
McSheffrey was sent on midway through the second half in place of Barrett and
three minutes from time netted his 20th goal of the campaign from the penalty
spot after Matt Lawrence had fouled Joachim.
Teams
Coventry: Shearer, Whing, Konjic, Davenport,
Staunton (Kerr 67), Barrett (McSheffrey 69),
Gudjonsson (Lowe 61), Deloumeaux, Warnock, Joachim, Olszar.
Subs Not Used: Ward, Doyle.
Goals: Joachim 6, Deloumeaux 12, Joachim 58, McSheffrey 87 pen.
Millwall: Marshall, Dunne, Lawrence, Ward, Ryan (Roberts 45),
Elliott, Sweeney, Livermore, Cahill (McCammon 45),
Harris (Sutton 45), Chadwick.
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Hearn.
Booked: Lawrence.
Att: 12,546
Ref: B Knight (Kent).
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