This is how it played out as Sunderland fall to back-to-back defeats at Coventry City

The winger had briefly given Tony Mowbray’s side hope in stoppage time at the end of what had been a bitterly frustrating afternoon, with goals from Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres allowing the hosts to move within one point of the Black Cats in the table.

Mowbray had reverted to the XI who had faced Bristol City at the Stadium of Light last weekend and the pattern of the game looked relatively well set from early on.

Sunderland were controlling possession and asking questions, but the hosts were clearly a major threat on the break and twice created good openings as Kasey Palmer burst through midfield. Still, the Black Cats were having some good moments and Hume almost caught Wilson out when he fired a long-range effort from the edge of the box.

From a free kick that followed shortly after, Roberts floated an excellent cross the into the box. Danny Batth was there to meet it but his header just wouldn’t drop in time, bouncing off the crossbar and clear.

It had been an encouraging start but Coventry began to build their way into it, and should have scored when Amad slid a poor pass right into the feet of Gyokeres. He should have done better, shifting the ball onto his right foot before firing over the bar. The reprieve wouldn’t last long.

Sunderlan stopped with two players on the floor, hoping the referee would give a foul. He didn’t, and when Alese couldn’t connect with his attempted interception, Gyokeres was again free inside the box. This time he cut a pass across the box, and Allen was there to meet it with a calm finish.

Sunderland were losing the physical battle and Gyokeres was the main beneficiary, twice going within inches of scoring again before the break. Hamer also went close when a cross dropped for him at the back post, his volley just over the bar.

Though Sunderland had improved slightly from a poor period after the goal, they were second best in the contest. They had been left frustrated bu the refereeing and a number of niggling fouls being let go, but it was also true that their opposition had been smarter and better.

Sunderland’s attempts to build some rhythm were stymied by Palmer twice needing lengthy treatment on a hamstring injury before finally being withdrawn. The Black Cats were at least controlling possession in advanced areas and drew a decent stop from Wilson when Amad cut a shot towards the near post.

Mowbray rang the substitutions as he looked to find an equaliser and in truth his side were dominating the game, just strugglign to carve out big chances. When they did, they passed them by. Hume could have done better when Pritchard’s corner in the box, his header too easy for Wilson to palm over the bar. Not long after O’Nien released Amad with a brilliant switch of play and though the winger found Roberts at close range, his first effort was blocked and his second rolled agonisingly wide. With just over ten minutes to play, it was a big chance missed.

The Black Cats continued to push but those misses proved key as they were caught on the counter just before stoppage time, the visitors caught of position and allowing substitute Godden to gather the ball on the right flank. He crossed low to Gyokeres, who edged in front of Ballard and was left with a simple finish.

Amad set up a tense finish when capitalised on Bennette’s good work to leave Wilson with no chance of saving, but the hosts survived the flurry of attacks that followed to take the points.

Sunderland AFC XI: Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese (Bennette, 81); Neil (O’Nien, 74), Michut (Ba, 70); Roberts, Amad, Clarke (Pritchard, 70) ; Gelhardt (Ekwah, 70)

Subs: Bass, Lihadji

Coventry City XI: Wilson; McNally, McFadzean, Doyle (Rose, 80); Norton-Cuffy, Hamer, Eccles, Palmer (Wilson-Esbrand, 50), Allen, Bidwell (Godden, 80) ; Gyokeres

Subs: Moore, Maguire, Walker, Dabo

Bookings: Neil, 22 Palmer, 38 Eccles, 45 Amad, 45 Wilson, 86

Attendance: 21,437