COVENTRY City’s play-off hopes took a blow after the Sky Blues were beaten 1-0 at home by Luton Town to suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
Elijah Adebayo scored the game’s only goal on 38 minutes, having also netted twice in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road back in September.
And the result means the Sky Blues are now 11th in the Sky Bet Championship table, six points behind Luton who occupy the final play-off spot.
Coventry started well at the Coventry Building Society Arena, as they looked to avenge their 5-0 defeat to the Hatters earlier this season, with Todd Kane’s miscued cross well held by Hatters goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
And Viktor Gyokeres then had an effort saved by Palmer from 12-yards out after he was played in down the left-hand side of the penalty area by Gustavo Hamer.
However, Luton took the lead seven minutes before the break when Palmer’s long kick up field was allowed to run all the way through to Adebayo, after Michael Rose had failed to intercept the pass, who came inside and finished into the bottom right corner.
The Sky Blues struggled to create a clear-cut opening all night with Kyle McFadzean heading over from Hamer’s delivery before Ian Maatsen blasted narrowly over from Matty Godden’s pass.
Luton almost sealed the win late on when City failed to properly clear a corner with Adebayo having a shot well-saved by Simon Moore before Dan Potts’ effort was ruled out for offside.
City had some late chances to snatch a point with Callum O’Hare denied by Palmer from 12-yards out before Maatsen headed into the side netting at the back post on the stretch.
Coventry are next in action at home to Sheffield United on Saturday, March 12 with kick-off at 3pm at the CBS Arena.
