MAX UP FOR THE CUP!

THE Sky Blues saw off Bristol Rovers in sensational style in their FA Cup third round replay to set up a historic clash in the fourth round of the competition.

An early Max Biamou strike set the tone for a brilliant first half display at St Andrew’s where the Sky Blues dominated and should really have gone in at the break leading by a greater margin.

But the goals started flowing after restart as the outstanding Callum O’Hare was once again the architect as he sent Josh Pask clean through on the right to score a fine goal on his debut.

Biamou then added a third, and his second, when he turned in a Liam Walsh drive into the box from close range to put the tie beyond the visitors who were well beaten on the night by an outstanding attacking display – the result meaning City will face their groundshare landlords Birmingham

City who will be the away side at their own stadium.

Mark Robins’s men got off to the perfect start when Biamou timed his run to perfection to get in behind to receive a precise O’Hare through ball as City set out their stall early against their division rivals.

The popular Frenchman, who was in for the rested Matty Godden, steadied himself and picked his spot with a clinical finish past goalkeeper Jordi van Stappershoef to give the Sky Blues a fourth minute lead.

The goal game just two minutes after Liam Walsh had tested the Rovers’ stopper for the first time with a hard and low effort from outside the box, setting the tone for a dominant first half showing in which Robins’s men played some lovely football going forward.

Biamou almost doubled the lead on 22 minutes when the impressive wing-back Josh Pask sent a teasing cross in behind with the striker sliding in at the far post but just failing to connect, while Dom Hyam had a header cleared off the line from a corner.

The visitors were limited to counter attacking football as City were relentless in their attacking play, with Alex Rodman going closest when he headed onto the crossbar before Jonson ClarkeHarris headed inches over seconds later as they recycled the ball.

Coventry continued to boss the game to the break with Callum O’Hare one of a number of standout performers in an outstanding first half showing that just lacked a second goal to extend their advantage before the halfway mark.

But they went for the jugular early in the second half with O’Hare sliding another subline pass through to spring Pask down the right, with the wing-back driving forward and hitting a superb finish past the keeper at his near post with 50 minutes on the clock.

City then secured the tie six minutes later from a Jamie Allen corner that was played short to Walsh who drive the ball into the box where Biamou turned it in from the six-yard line.

It was 74 minutes before Marko Marosi was called into action, pulling off a good save to deny former City striker Clarke-Harris from a free-kick to ensure the Sky Blues kept a clean sheet.

They will get their foot in and compete but I thought we moved the ball quickly and some of our passing was sublime. Mark Robins