Coventry City 2-3 Shrewsbury Town
City: Burge, Grimmer,. Pearson, Hyam, Dion Kelly-Evans (Maycock 46), Doyle (Beavon 50), Stevenson (Shipley 39). Vincenti, Jones, Andreu,. McNulty. Subs: O'Brien. Thompson, Nazon, Biamou.
Shrewsbury: MacGillivray, Godfrey, Heckles, Whalley (Adams 73),, Gnahoua (Riley 73), Brown, Bolton (sent off 70), John-Lewis, Nolan, Nsiala, Payne. Subs Gregory, Morris, Dodds, Juiles, Rodman.
Goals Stefan Payne 29, Arthur Gnahoua 32, Tony Andreu 50, Marc McNulty 61 pen, Joe Riley 92
Att 1,968
Coventry City started their defence of the EFL Trophy with a late 3-2 defeat to Shrewsbury Town
For this season, the Sky Blues have been placed in the Northern Section and are in Group E along with Shrewsbury, Walsall and West Bromwich Albion U21's.
Shrewsbury were first up for Mark Robins side on a Tuesday night where temperatures had dipped from what had been the warmest Bank Holiday for fifty years.
Only the Main Stand was open and it was more populated than the away end for a game which saw Mark Robins name a side which fitted within the regulations of the competition.
With a number of scouts amongst the crowd, City attacked the South Stand for the first half and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area in the third minute which Andreu and Jones combined to cock up.
Stefan Payne, watched by a number of the said scouts, showed some early muscle for the visitors as did Jamie Pearson, who is not being paid by the Sky Blues, in conceding a fifteenth minute corner.
As John-Lewis wasted a good chance at the far post, Dion Kelly-Evans took a hefty whack as did Ben Stevenson who also needed treatment.
Gnahoua fired over in the 22nd minute in a half where both sides passed the ball round looking for an opportunity which came for the visitors in the 29th minute when Stefan Payne was allowed to turn and drive the ball into the net from six yards.
Three minutes later and more poor defending saw Burge save one with his legs and then watch his static defence stand there as Arthur Gnahoua fired into the net.
John-Lewis fired wide of Burge's right hand post for a City side which again had Ben Stevenson needing treatment and it came no surprise that Stevenson was replaced in the 39th minute by Jordan Shipley.
Burge made another save and Payne fired wide before Jones won a 44th minute corner that was missed by Vincenti.
Jones fired well wide before the Sky Blues were booed off the the break.
Callum Maycock, who has been doing well for City U23's, came on for Dion Kelly-Evans at the break.
The visitors had a free kick and a 49th minute corner. Burge caught that and threw the ball out to Jones who did well to evade a number of challenges and play in Tony Andreu who scored his first goal for the club and City's first in two and a half matches with a rasping shot which flew into the net from 12 yards.
Now, there was a bit of hope and the EFL Trophy holders sent on Stuart Beavon for Michael Doyle, who played despite having a knock and for longer than he should have done, straight after Andreu's goal.
In the 61st minute, City were awarded a penalty when Marc McNulty was sandwiched. McNulty stepped up to score and the Sky Blues were level.
Andreu was booked for a City team which won a 67th minute corner. Up rose Jamie Pearson who headed on to the bar with Jordan Shipley, who had an excellent game at left back, firing wide.
The City fans fumed at a reckless two footed challenge on Jodi Jones by James Bolton. There were shouts of "Off" and off he was as a red card was shown.
Jones took another clattering in the 74th minute but was ok to continue and it took a brilliant save from MacGillivray to deny him in the 78th minute.
Substituted Ebou Adams was booked for a tackle from behind on Vincenti in a game which heading to penalties,
Five minutes were added on and Burge saved well and in the third minute, the visitors were awarded a free kick. Joe Riley took it and the ball flew past Burge and City were beaten.