Viktor Gyokeres scores the winner against Sunderland in his 100th Coventry game

Posted Saturday, February 25, 2023 by PA

Viktor Gyokeres marked his 100th Coventry appearance with the winning goal as the Sky Blues beat Sunderland 2-1 at the CBS Arena.

The Sweden international met Matt Godden’s cross in the closing stages to net his 15th Championship goal of the season as Coventry made it three wins on the bounce.

Gyokeres had earlier teed up Jamie Allen to set Coventry on their way before Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo grabbed a goal back for the visitors deep into stoppage time.

The Swede gave Sunderland’s back line a torrid afternoon as he latched on to Luke McNally’s forward pass, picked his head up and squared for Allen to slot high into the roof of the net before the half-hour mark.

It was Allen’s second goal in as many games as he and Gyokeres were on the scoresheet in Coventry’s 2-0 victory over Rotherham last time out.

Sunderland were pleading for a foul on Joe Gelhardt in the build-up to the opener, but Tony Mowbray’s men could themselves have taken the lead in the opening stages when Danny Batth headed Patrick Roberts’ free-kick against the crossbar after Ben Wilson had beaten away Trai Hume’s well-struck effort from distance.

Gyokeres came close to doubling Coventry’s lead when he left a host of Sunderland defenders in his wake as he charged into the box, but his effort whistled millimetres wide of the left-hand post.

It was not long before he came close again, but his curling shot was deflected narrowly wide.

Diallo also carelessly gave the ball to Gyokeres in acres of space and the former Brighton striker blazed over after working a nice angle for his effort.

It was a fiery first half in which referee Dean Whitestone dished out four yellow cards among multiple skirmishes on the pitch, and after the break Wilson was called into action again, this time by Diallo.

The loanee cut inside but his low drive was well-saved by Wilson as he sprawled to his left before tipping Hume’s header over the bar.

But Gyokeres finally grabbed his goal with a minute of normal time remaining when he slid into the six-yard box to divert Godden’s cross beyond Anthony Patterson and give Coventry breathing space.

It turned out to be much-needed breathing space as Diallo curled home beautifully to set up a nervy final two minutes for Mark Robins’ side, but the hosts held on to hand the Black Cats a second defeat in as many outings.