Carlisle United 0-1 Coventry City
Coventry City: Burge, Willis,(Hyam 17), Stokes, Grimmer. Davies, Doyle, Devon Kelly-Evans. Shipley, Bayliss, McNulty. Beavon.(Nazon 46, Biamou 54), Subs: O'Brien, Haynes, Stevenson , Ponticelli.
Carlisle: Bonham, Grainger, Liddle, Parkes (O'"Sullivan 61), Jones, Hope (Shaun Miller 70), Devitt, Bennett, Brown, Hill, Lambre (Etuhu 76), Subs: Tom Miller, Cosgrove, Ellis, Bacon.
Goals Marc McNulty 49
Att 5,807
Coventry City made the trek to Cumbria and in a bruising encounter, won 1-0.
The day before New Year's Eve and some of the Sky Blue Army were on the road or on the train, well before it was light, bound for the border city of Carlisle.
With Rod McDonald still awaiting the birth of his child, Mark Robins dropped Max Biamou and started with Stuart Beavon on a cold but dry afternoon with no snow around and the Brunton Park pitch looking in good condition for this time of year.
The City support, which included supporters who had travelled from Brighton and Germany, were again in good numbers after having to swap their terrace tickets for stand seats, which delayed some from getting into the stadium.
The game started with Lee Burge busy early on taking catches before the Sky Blues were forced into a 17th minute change when Jordan Willis limped off and was replaced by Dominic Hyam, who had been added to City's bench.
Again Tom Bayliss was creative in midfield along with Jordan Shipley who drove wide and followed by a Carlisle corner that came to nothing and Grainger firing over in the 27th minute.
Nine minutes later ands a great move saw Doyle play the ball out to Devon Kelly-Evans who hit a shot on the right which Bonham parried away.
Both sides were displaying a lack of quality in the final third, although Carlisle did cause some concern with three corners before three minutes of stoppage time were announced.
Stuart Beavon took a knock and he was replaced at the break by Duckens Nazon to the delight of some of the City support, who had been less than impressed with the first half fare.
However, that was all to change as in the fourth minute of the second half. Marc McNulty got through to a long ball over the top and stroked it into the net.
The goal was duly celebrated both by McNulty and the 847 strong City support who watched as half time substitute Duckens Nazon went down and held his right hip and had to be replaced by Max Biamou after being on the pitch for less than ten minutes of the season half.
Some of the City support thought it was two when McNulty sent a 57th minute back-heeler.
However, it was ruled out for offside, so City, now looking far more positive went looking for a second goal with Tom Bayliss having a 68th minute shot pushed away before former City striker Shaun Miller came on for the Cumbrians.
In the 74th minute, McNulty played a sublime ball to Jordan Shipley who was tripped as he cut into the area and the referee awarded a penalty.
Up stepped McNulty but the keeper guessed correctly and saved the spot kick to the cheers of the home support stood on the the terrace behind the goal and in front of the three seated areas which make up the main stand at Brunton Park.
Carlisle had run out of ideas and tackles started to fly in with Jack Grimmer requiring a bandage around his head after one nasty challenge..
A great run and shot by Devon Kelly-Evans won City an 85th minute corner but that yielded nothing and the Cumbrians had a free kick which was blasted into the Warwick Road terrace as six minutes were added on.
City saw that time out and took a deserved win to go in to 2018 fifth in the League Two table.