Coventry City fell victims of their own expectations at Highfield Road this evening as they were beaten by local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Sky Blues have been tipped to ease in to one of the promotion places since their opening day victory at Stockport last week, but their dreams came crashing to reality as Dave Jones’ men taught them a lesson in First Division football.

City were almost given a dream start by new boy Keith O’Neill, but his header from David Thompson’s inch perfect cross was cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott.

But Coventry surrendered the lead in the sixth minute, when Richard Shaw mauled Adam Proudlock to the ground 30 yards from goal. Shaw was duly booked by referee Uriah Rennie, but the punishment was much worse for the Sky Blues as Carl Robinson was left unmarked from the resulting free kick and volleyed home past Magnus Hedman in the City goal.

Hedman – who was in the side because of a knee injury to Chris Kirkland – denied Wolves a second just a minute later when Shaw was once again exposed by Proudlock.

The nippy striker outpaced the City centre half but fired his shot too close to the giant Swede who saved well with his legs.

The Sky Blues worked their way into the game midway through the first half but for all their endeavour they lacked the cutting edge in the final third of the field.

Thompson looked the most likely to breach the Wolves back line but strayed from the right hand side too often and left the Sky Blues looking unbalanced in midfield.

It was the former Liverpool man who set up Youssef Chippo, but the Moroccan midfielder’s shot was tame.

Moments later referee Rennie showed the inconsistency that saw him booted off the Premiership list when he let Shaun Newton off with a warning after he had brought down O’Neill on the edge of the box.

Hughes was inches away from equalising just before the break. Thompson struck a low shot from the edge of the box, but the £5,000,001 man couldn’t stretch far enough to direct the ball home.

Rennie continued to rile both sets of supporters as he booked former City player Cedric Roussel for a tame challenge on O’Neill early in the second half.

The Sky Blues went searching for an equaliser and City boss Gordon Strachan sent on striker Ysrael Zuniga and son Gavin to try and unlock the Wolves defence.

Hughes got his first sight of goal with five minutes to go, but he misdirected his shot wide of the post.

Centre back Paul Williams had the best opportunity to win a point for Coventry in the dying seconds.

The stocky defender got to Thompson’s corner ahead of everyone else but his header was deflected on to the bar and out for another flag-kick.

Wolves almost made it two in injury time, but Timori Ketsbaia’s effort rattled Hedman’s crossbar and flew to safety.

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2):
Hedman; Nilsson, Shaw, Williams, Hall; Thompson, Chippo (Gavin Strachan 69), Carsley, O’Neill; Hughes, Bothroyd (Zuniga 69)
Subs not used: Montgomery, Quinn, Edworthy

WOLVES (4-4-2):
Oakes; Muscat, Butler, Lescott, Naylor; Newton, Dinning, Robinson, Kennedy; Roussel (Ketsbaia 69), Proudlock.
Subs not used: Branch, Beresford, Pollet, Connelly

GOAL:
Wolves - Robinson (6)

REFEREE: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)

BOOKINGS:
Coventry - Shaw (foul, 5 mins), O’Neill (foul, 28) Carsley (foul, 70)
Wolves - Roussel (foul, 57)

ATTENDANCE: 22,902

COVENTRY MAN OF THE MATCH:
Roland Nilsson – impeccable as ever