Coventry-born Jamie Paterson scored his first Sky Blues goal deep into stoppage time to move them back into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth.
The midfielder joined on a free transfer in February after leaving MLS side Charlotte in August and his sumptuous volley earned Frank Lampard’s side a last-gasp victory.
Coventry dropped out of the top six after back-to-back defeats against promotion chasers Burnley and Sheffield United but Wednesday’s victory lifted them back above Middlesbrough into sixth place.
John Mousinho’s Pompey, who arrived at the CBS Arena with the second-worst away record in the league, remain three points clear of the drop zone with five games to play.
Portsmouth had thrashed the Sky Blues 4-1 in the reverse fixture in December and they almost struck first in the return when Regan Poole headed Josh Murphy’s corner off the underside of the crossbar.
The Sky Blues saw appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Gavin Ward and replays showed they had a strong case when Andre Dozzell blocked Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s cross.
Lampard, sent off after Coventry’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley at the weekend, made one change to his starting line-up as Victor Torp replaced Jamie Allen, but the Dane left the field on a stretcher after just 20 minutes following an ankle injury.
Coventry City’s Jamie Paterson celebrates scoring his side’s winner against Portsmouth
Jack Rudoni had two chances in a matter of moments to put the hosts ahead when his shot was acrobatically blocked by Connor Ogilvie, before the midfielder headed Milan van Ewijk’s outside-of-the-foot cross inches wide.
Haji Wright had scored four goals in his previous two home outings – including a hat-trick against Sunderland – but he could only get a toe on Rudoni’s driven cross.
The USA international also saw his low shot saved by Nicolas Schmid after wriggling his way into the box.
Rudoni’s delivery was causing problems from set pieces as both Bobby Thomas and Ben Sheaf headed over the crossbar, and it was to be his cross that set up the winner.
Brad Collins started in goal once again after he was involved in the mix-up that led to Burnley’s winner last time out, and he comfortably kept out Adil Aouchiche’s low shot from distance.
Murphy also flashed his shot narrowly wide after a pacey Pompey counter-attack.
Lampard brought on Paterson, Ellis Simms and Norman Bassette in the closing stages in search of a winner, but thought they would be left to settle for a point when Liam Kitching’s header came back off the post.
However, with time almost up, Rudoni picked out Paterson and his perfect volley into the far corner delighted the majority of supporters.
The managers
Coventry’s Frank Lampard:
To follow…
Portsmouth’s John Mousinho:
To follow…