A late, late goal by David Thompson settled an incredible seven goal thriller in which the Sky Blues three times took the lead only to be pegged back each time by Kevin Keegan’s vibrant outfit.

The play swung breathtakingly from end to end with chances falling thick and fast to both teams. It all left the defenders and the fans gasping for air and at the final whistle the scenes were a stark contrast to the previous home game against Grimsby.

After that match, the manager Gordon Strachan and his coaches Garry Pendrey and Jim Blyth, needed burly escorts as irate fans, hurling abuse, tried to get at them. Within 24 hours all three had left the club.

This match was important for a number of reasons. Coventry certainly needed the points after failing to register a win in their last three at home and it was important for the new manager Roland Nilsson to kick off his reign with a first victory in front of the home fans.

The final whistle was greeted by a roar of relief and the players and new management walked off to a standing ovation. It was heady stuff.

Stuart Pearce, the former Coventry player scored the first goal in the 16th minute, trouble was, it was in his own net. He had no chance to avoid Lee Carsley’s shot which ended a magnificent passing move, and the ball ricocheted into the net off his body.

Manchester City drew level on the half hour when Gary Breen failed to win a header against Paulo Wanchope and the ball broke to Ali Benarbia who ran on to beat Magnus Hedman with a low shot.

Play flowed thrillingly in all areas of the pitch but the vital third goal was Coventry’s in the third minute of first half stoppage time. Breen lobbed a free kick towards the edge of the penalty area and Manchester’s goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was hopelessly stranded as Mo Konjic headed in his first goal for the club.

The ground was buzzing at the restart and it was clear that more goals would follow. They began in the 57th minute when Youssef Safri foolishly got himself booked at a free kick.

The referee took the kick forward ten metres and the ball was quickly knocked to Kevin Horlock who rammed it into the net.

It was not a time for those of nervous disposition and the fans leapt to their feet in the 65th minute when Lee Hughes collected Richard Shaw’s pass and crashed in a shot which deflected into the net for his first home goal.

No one was leaving the ground now and there was an air of dread when, with the clock showing 72 minutes, Danny Granville fired across a centre of such threat that Marcus Hall had to stretch for it and succeeded only in putting it through his own goal.

There was no holding back by either side at this late stage and incredibly Coventry twice saw the ball kicked off the line as Manchester defended heroically. Lee Carsley then missed a close range sitter, before the little man Thompson scooted after Hughes’ flick header to lash a low shot home.

It was a fitting finale to a wonderful match that brought Coventry their third victory in eight days.

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2):
Hedman; Shaw, Breen, Konjic, Hall; Thompson, Carsley, Safri, Chippo (O’Neill 71); Hughes, Bothroyd (Delorge 84)
Subs not used: Quinn, Martinez, Goram

MANCHESTER CITY (3-5-2):
Weaver; Edghill, Wiekens, Pearce; Tiatto (Horlock 45), Howey, Etuhu (Colosimo 45), Benarbia, Granville; Wanchope, Goater
Subs not used: Huckerby, Toure, Murphy

GOALS:
Coventry - Pearce og 16, Konjic 44, Hughes 65, Thompson 89
Man City - Benarbia 30, Horlock 57, Hall og 72

REFEREE: Roger Furnandiz (Doncaster)

BOOKINGS:
Coventry - Thompson (dissent), Safri (dissent), Konjic (foul)
Man City - Etuhu (foul), Wanchope (foul)

ATTENDANCE: 18,804