Post Match Reaction - Coventry City 3 Sunderland 1

That's better! City go to 16th in the table, 2 points ahead of Manure and 3 points off 7th after Tats, Rudy and Awoniyi bag all 3 points against Sunderland.

Here's your post match centre including The LAST Word, MOTM vote, highlights, reaction, stats, vlogs and opposition view.

The LAST Word

Well, well, well. What a difference a week makes and a few changes to the team. City, so passive and devoid of energy last week against Fulham, were rejuvenated and, Super Frankly, looked a completely different side.

In four ways, they were a different side. Grimes was dropped to the bench, as many City fans had been calling for, and so were BTA and Cherif. With Thomas injured, Mfuni slotted into the back four, Torp came into the middle, Awoniyi was restored up front and Gboho came in on the left.

It was clear from the start that the changes were working. City had more get-up-and-go and more positivity. There was one early pass from Torp that he sprayed down the right to Tats that Grimes wouldn't have played. It put us on the front foot with intent.

Sunderland had a couple of chances, but City opened the scoring on 17 minutes. A fantastic ball from Rushy found MVE on the right, who crossed the ball in. The Sunderland defenders made a right hash of it, one kicking the ball against the other, and the ball broke to the edge of the box. Up stepped Tats with his left foot to bury the ball in the far corner. What a great finish.

Brobbey should have equalised for Sunderland shortly after but dragged his effort wide when through on goal. City took the game by the scruff of the neck on 37 minutes with a goal from Awoniyi that was all his own making. O'Nien, who has now played 13 times against City, was robbed by Awoniyi, who drove towards the box, evaded two tackles and saw his deflected shot find the bottom corner. Cue him taking his shin pads off, with crosses on them, and covering his eyes for two minutes. Half-time.

City got the crucial third goal on 52 minutes when Torp squared the ball to Rudy. Rudy bought a ticket and won the raffle as his shot was deflected left while the goalie went right.

That should have been game over, but Sunderland's subs made an impact and changed the momentum of the game. Isidor played in Talbi, who shot wide in a similar fashion to Brobbey in the first half. City conceded on 67 minutes when O'Nien's shot hit Pinnock's outstretched arm and, after a lengthy offside and penalty VAR check, the spot kick was given. Le Fée smashed the ball past Rushy for 3-1.

O'Nien had another chance to make it 3-2, and his volley was heading for the top corner until Mfuni's head appeared from nowhere to send the ball out for a corner.

The game ended with Alderete being sent off for two shirt pulls in two minutes in the ninth minute of injury time. Probably not worth the suspension unless he's got other plans for next weekend.

This was so much better from City, and it's simple: this is the level of intensity and passion they have to show to get anything out of a single game in the PL. With virtually a quarter of the season gone, it's clear that we can compete and give ourselves a good shot at staying up if we maintain these levels.

SFL's changes worked. Torp gave us more impetus, Gboho started to show why City paid £14 million for him, and Awoniyi gave us some experience and muscle up front. Rudy, Yirenkyi, Pinnock and Tats showed that they are mainstays in the side now.

The star for me, though, was Mfuni, who was composed, had amazing match awareness and showed real quality with the ball in only his second Premier League start.

And he's 18.

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