Gordon Strachan’s future as Coventry City manager looks in doubt as the Sky Blues slumped to another Highfield Road defeat against Grimsby.

It leaves City with just four points from their opening five games and goalless at home so far this season.

Around 200 City supporters stayed behind after the game to voice their lack of faith in the Coventry boss and chairman Bryan Richardson over the dismal start to the season and the sale of Chris Kirkland to Liverpool this week.

To make matters worse, it was an error from goalkeeper Magnus Hedman that gifted the Mariners all three points. The Swedish number one looked to dribble past striker Phil Jevons on the edge of the box early in the second half, but the former Everton man snatched the ball from the keeper and chipped the ball into the empty net.

Julian Joachim, Gary Breen and John Eustace all started for the Sky Blues but their presence was not enough to stop City falling to their third loss of the season.

Grimsby should have taken the lead on nine minutes when the impressive Alan Pouton played Jevons through, but the striker was foiled by Hedman in the City goal.

Irishman Keith O’Neill had two great chances to put City one up from Lee Carsley corners. But the hugely disappointing winger headed wide on both occasions early in the first half.

Welsh international keeper Danny Coyne presented a golden opportunity to Jay Bothroyd on 18 minutes when he misplaced a free kick, but the 19-year-old striker hit a tame shot which Coyne saved as he back peddled.

Grimsby had the ball in the net moments later when Rowan hit home from five yards but he was clearly offside and the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.

City fell behind on 58 minutes when Mo Konjic and Hedman failed to deal with a long ball and the Coventry keeper decided to dribble his way out of trouble.

But Jevons stopped the Swede in his tracks to chip home a truly comical winner for the Mariners.

The Sky Blues rallied and almost forced an immediate equaliser but Youssef Chippo’s effort smacked on to the post and seconds later Carsley, who was easily Coventry’s best player, volleyed on to the bar from a long through ball.

Carsley got on to the end of another long ball from Breen but the former Derby man headed wide.

The Sky Blues left the field to a chorus of boos and several hundred fans stayed behind to protest.

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-1-1):
Hedman; Nilsson, Breen, Konjic, Hall; Chippo (Zuniga 74), Eustace (Safri 76), Carsley, O’Neill (Thompson 57); Joachim, Bothroyd
Subs not used: Goram, Quinn

GRIMSBY TOWN (4-4-2):
Coyne; McDermott, Groves, Beharall, Gallimore; Pouton, Butterfield, Willems, Campbell; Jevons (Burnett 77), Rowan (Jeffrey)
Subs not used: Ermes, Chapman, Allen

GOAL: Jevons (58)

REFEREE: Paul Armstrong (Thatcham)

BOOKINGS:
Coventry - none
Grimsby - none

ATTENDANCE: 14,982

COVENTRY MAN OF THE MATCH:
Lee Carsley - here, there and everywhere and always available to receive a pass