Plymouth Argyle's players were left incensed by Haji Wright's goal for the hosts
Haji Wright's controversial goal helped Coventry City beat Plymouth Argyle and move above the Pilgrims in the Championship table.
Coventry had the better of a goalless first half in which Ben Sheaf missed a couple of decent chances.
Argyle improved after the break as they went close through Finn Azaz, Luke Cundle and Lewis Gibson.
The goal came with 15 minutes to go as Milan van Ewijk broke down the right and got to the byeline, where the ball appeared to go out of play just before he pulled it back to Wright, who blasted home from close range.
The goal was given despite Argyle's protestations as Coventry scored at home for the first time in almost two months.
The Sky Blues move from 20th to 15th in the table, while Argyle replace them two places above the relegation places as Steven Schumacher's side still hunt for a first away win of the season.
- Re-live Tuesday night's Championship action
Sheaf's blocked shot after seven minutes was the best attempt of an even opening half hour that Coventry slightly edged.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden's deflected cross from the right forced Coventry goalkeeper Brad Collins into a smart save 12 minutes before the break while Collins beat out a Morgan Whittaker free-kick soon after.
Sheaf had two great chances to break the deadlock in the space of two minutes just before half-time - first he curled an effort narrowly wide, before he pulled away at the far post and did well to control Jake Bidwell's floated free-kick, but his close-range effort was well saved by Michael Cooper.
The Pilgrims started the second half better as Ben Waine, Azaz and Cundle all had efforts in the opening 10 minutes before Gibson blazed a volley over the bar from a 69th-minute corner.
But Wright's goal will be the talking point of the night. It would surely have been chalked off had there been VAR, and it brought on a glut of home chances as Argyle chased an equaliser.
Substitute Ellis Simms twice missed good opportunities while a dangerous Callum O'Hare pass across the face of goal was cleared off the line by Gibson as Coventry got a first home win since 4 October.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsCoventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
40Collins27van Ewijk4Thomas15Kitching21Bidwell28Eccles14Sheaf7Sakamoto8Allen11Wright24Godden
- 40Collins27van EwijkSubstituted forLatibeaudiereat 81'minutes4Thomas15Kitching21BidwellBooked at 90mins28Eccles14Sheaf7SakamotoSubstituted forO'Hareat 64'minutes8AllenSubstituted forAyariat 81'minutes11Wright24GoddenSubstituted forSimmsat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Binks3Dasilva5McFadzean6Kelly9Simms10O'Hare13Wilson22Latibeaudiere26Ayari
Plymouth
Formation 4-3-3
1Cooper29Kesler-Hayden5Pleguezuelo17Gibson8Edwards28Cundle4Houghton18Azaz10Whittaker23Waine2Mumba
- 1CooperBooked at 76mins29Kesler-Hayden5Pleguezuelo17GibsonBooked at 83mins8EdwardsSubstituted forGallowayat 86'minutes28CundleSubstituted forRandellat 69'minutes4HoughtonBooked at 76mins18AzazSubstituted forWrightat 69'minutes10Whittaker23WaineSubstituted forBunduat 68'minutes2MumbaSubstituted forWrightat 55'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Scarr7Butcher11Wright15Bundu16Warrington19Wright20Randell21Hazard22Galloway
Referee:Andy DaviesAttendance:22,790Match StatsHome TeamCoventryAway TeamPlymouthPossessionHome48%Away52%ShotsHome13Away13Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome7Away6FoulsHome10Away11Live Text Post update
Match ends, Coventry City 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
90'+6'Post update
Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+6'Post update
Foul by Yasin Ayari (Coventry City).
90'+6'Post update
Attempt saved. Ellis Simms (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
90'+5'Post update
Adam Randell (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+5'Post update
Foul by Ellis Simms (Coventry City).
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Adam Randell following a set piece situation.
90'+4'Post update
Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
90'+3'Post update
Offside, Coventry City. Josh Eccles tries a through ball, but Ellis Simms is caught offside.
90'+3'Booking
Jake Bidwell (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Julio Pleguezuelo.
90'Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Jake Bidwell.
89'Post update
Attempt blocked. Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Randell with a cross.
89'Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Jake Bidwell.
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Ellis Simms (Coventry City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Callum O'Hare following a fast break.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Brendan Galloway replaces Joe Edwards.
84'Post update
Attempt saved. Mustapha Bundu (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
83'Booking
Lewis Gibson (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card.
Page 1 of 6rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com