COVENTRY City scored six goals in a game for the first time in almost three years as the Sky Blues romped to a 6-1 victory against Oxford United in the FA Cup third round.
Early goals from Joel Latibeaudiere and Ben Sheaf twice put City into the lead before Kasey Palmer’s thunderbolt increased the home side’s advantage before the break.
And Callum O’Hare’s penalty all but sealed City’s place in the next round before Matty Godden netted a late brace against the League One side at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Coventry are in the hat for the fourth round draw which takes place at approximately 7.50pm tonight (Monday, January 8) live on ITV1 prior to Wigan Athletic’s clash with Manchester United.
Mark Robins’s side took the lead after just eight minutes when Latibeaudiere’s header deflected in off Oxford defender Joe Bennett at the near post from Josh Eccles’ corner.
Oxford equalised just two minutes later as Mark Harris’s shot from 20-yards out deflected off Luis Binks and nestled in the left corner of the goal.
However, Coventry restored their lead almost straight from the restart after Ellis Simms did well down the left before cutting the ball back to Sheaf who fired home from eight-yards out.
The Sky Blues stretched their lead on 17 minutes when Palmer unleashed a venomous shot into the top right corner from 30-yards out to leave U’s goalkeeper Simon Eastwood with no chance.
City won a penalty five minutes into the second half after Ciaron Brown fouled Palmer in the box as O’Hare stepped up to coolly pass the resulting spot kick into the bottom right corner.
Oxford reduced the deficit on 79 minutes as substitute Tyler Goodrham fired a low effort into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area at the second attempt.
City scored their fifth goal on 84 minutes when Godden curled home from inside the box before the same player completed the scoring four minutes later both assisted by Jamie Allen.
Coventry are next in action at home to Leicester City on Saturday, January 13 with kick-off at 12.30pm at the CBS Arena.
