Sunderland 0-3 Coventry City: Sky Blues cruise to away win
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Sakamoto put Coventry ahead just before half-time
Michael Beale's reign as Sunderland boss began badly as Coventry cruised to victory at the Stadium of Light.
Beale, who succeeded Tony Mowbray earlier this week, watched his new side concede a scrappy goal to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto on the stroke of half-time.
The Sky Blues soaked up pressure after the break before stretching their lead through Callum O'Hare.
Substitute Kasey Palmer soon added Coventry's third as Beale's side missed their chance to climb to sixth place.
Beale made just a single, enforced change to the Sunderland line-up, replacing the unwell Alex Pritchard with Jobe Bellingham, whose elder brother Jude was among the crowd.
Beale was appointed Sunderland head coach earlier this week
There was little for the Real Madrid star to savour in terms of first-half goalmouth action, although Abdoullah Ba should have put the home side in front, blazing over from close range after Brad Collins parried Jack Clarke's drive.
At the other end, Anthony Patterson produced a superb double block to foil Haji Wright and O'Hare in quick succession - but the keeper was helpless to prevent the Sky Blues taking the lead just before the break.
Referee Matt Donohue allowed play to continue after Wright was brought down, with O'Hare galloping clear to send over a cross that Sunderland failed to clear and Sakamoto capitalised at the far post.
The home side started the second period strongly, with Bellingham and Jack Clarke both failing to make the most of opportunities and Trai Hume's attempt was charged down by Jamie Allen.
But Sunderland were hit on the counter-attack when O'Hare exchanged passes with Wright and curled a confident finish beyond Patterson to make it 2-0.
The contest was all but ended three minutes later as Palmer - who had only just come off the bench - wriggled free and the midfielder converted an easy tap-in after his initial attempt was spilled by Patterson.
Coventry's victory lifted them a place to 15th in the table, with Sunderland slipping to ninth, three points outside the play-off spots.
Sunderland head coach Michael Beale told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"I'm not going to make any excuses for losing 3-0 at home - I have to apologise to the fans. There was some naivety in our performance today we need to look at.
"Between the boxes we played some good football, we got into good areas and had as many, if not more chances than Coventry - but we can't concede three goals at the other end. It's not good enough.
"Early in the game we had the first big opportunity to score and we didn't take it. In the first half we had the majority of possession but it's fair to say we were sloppy at times.
"Other than the set-play, where Patti (Anthony Patterson) makes a great save, the first half was petering out and right on the whistle we go in 1-0 down. Our response to that at the start of the second half was actually very good but we created numerous opportunities and didn't take them."
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire:
"Both teams, I think, gave the ball away too cheaply, certainly in the first half, but chances were at a premium.
"They started the second half on the front foot and there were times when we threw bodies in front of the ball. We got good blocks in, we won the headers and defended corners really well.
"The first goal sort of ricochets off Tatsu (Sakamoto) and goes into the net but he's in the right place at the right time. That gives him a little bit of confidence and he's got our noses in front.
"Callum (O'Hare) certainly looked like he was tiring then he picks the ball up and sticks it in the back of the net with a brilliant finish, really calm. Then we start to get a lift in terms of energy levels."