Image source, PA Media

Sunderland meanwhile, have umpteen class and quality, and plenty of energy too, but deeper midfielders Dan Neil and Edouard Michut have not quite taken control of the engine room.

We saw flashes of Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke and Amad Diallo, but the fortunes of striker Joe Gelhardt probably sum up Sunderland's half.

He's seldom if at all touched the ball in the Coventry penalty area, and that's all you need to know about their afternoon thus far.

Image source, Rex Features

Phew. That was eventful. One you couldn't turn away from for long, or you'd miss something.

Coventry grew into the game, after a basketball-style start which saw both teams swarm up and down the pitch in open fashion.

Josh Eccles and Gustavo Hamer had established control, Kasey Palmer was linking midfield and attack and Viktor Gyokeres has done all but score.

Mark Robins will be chuffed with the intent, just not all the execution.

Image source, Rex Features

They're also reached the interval at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford are heading towards a seventh League One defeat in their last eight.

A Scott Sinclair penalty and Aaron Collins goal has Bristol Rovers moving into the top half as things stand.

Image source, PA Media

Coventry got the breakthrough in this game through Jamie Allen's goal and it's deserved on the balance of power.

Viktor Gyokeres might well have added to their tally with a series of chances, as he ransacked the Sunderland defence on occasions without reward.

Sunderland had early possession and chances themselves, with Danny Batth hitting the bar with a header.

However, Tony Mowbray's side have an artisan midfield rather than an agricultural one and at times they've been outmuscled and overpowered.

Wresting control needs them to get superiority there, somehow.

Patrick Roberts tries to catch out Ben Wilson from the free-kick, a la Ilias Chair at Boro-QPR last weekend, but there was no change out of the Coventry keeper there.

Image source, Rex Features

Amad Diallo picks up a loose Ben Wilson clearance for Sunderland to attack, and takes on the whole team seemingly with a hack down the back of the legs for his trouble on several occasions.

The last challenge sends the attacking midfielder flying and results in a free-kick, with a bit of afters too.

Josh Eccles I think was booked in that. As is Diallo, for his reaction.

Two minutes added on.

Kasey Palmer arcs a tricky free-kick into the box curling across the defenders scrabbling back, but it sails behind just. Sunderland under the pump.

Before that Kyle McFadzean and Dan Ballard were involved in a mini-tussle, which following a referee's word, ends with smiles and a laugh.

Coventry still pushing before the break.

Viktor Gyokeres is racking up the chances, and this was a beauty.

Again, Coventry bypass the Sunderland midfield as Kasey Palmer picks him out on the edge of the box, and the Swede's curling shot is only helped wide of the target by Dan Ballard's block.

The corner is tame.

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford boss Karl Robinson is under intense pressure after a poor run of form - this won't be helping.

Having scored the first, Scott Sinclair picks out Aaron Collins - who nonchalantly finds the net.

Bristol Rovers now in control.

Danny Batth meets a free-kick flush on his forehead, but the Sunderland defender can't truly trouble goalkeeper Ben Wilson as it soars over the top.

Coventry goal-kick.

Patrick Roberts is halted by a snapping challenge by Coventry's Kasey Palmer and the Sky Blues man is booked.

Sunderland almost concede again, having tossed away possession in midfield.

It was a Jamie Allen cross that wasn't cleared sufficiently, and Gustavo Hamer whacks a volley just over the top from the apex of the penalty area.

Searing effort.

Coventry get a free-kick midway into the Sunderland half after Dan Ballard gets a hold of Kasey Palmer.

It's rolled wide to Arsenal loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy, but he's swamped and Sunderland are eventually awarded a free-kick as he tries to win the ball back.

Coventry roll a loose pass into midfield, Sunderland swoop on it, but the ball forward for Patrick Roberts is immediately swiped back.

Sunderland gain possession and seek inroads down the left and then the right, but they're playing in front of Coventry rather than getting in behind.

With just 33 goals conceded this season, you can see why the home side are such a defensively solid team.

Nice switch by Patrick Roberts gets Jack Clarke into space, he, Edouard Michut and Amad Diallo try to unlock the defence, but Coventry are not moved.

The cross is eventually cleared.

Coventry haven't been tempted into anything rash around the box, holding their ground and frustrating the visitors.

Trai Hume and Kasey Palmer exchange a few words and a bit of physical on the touchline, but it's eventually simmered down.

Back under way we go. But it's a testy atmosphere out there.

Sunderland are being run ragged, the fluid forward line of the Sky Blues with the likes of Kasey Palmer and Jamie Allen, backed by the midfield axis of Gustavo Hamer and Josh Eccles, calling the shots.

They clear their lines eventually, but they are being made to sweat.

Again Sunderland cede possession in midfield and again Coventry set Viktor Gyokeres free against a back-pedalling defence.

The Swede bores his way into the box, but his low shot skims just wide of the far post with Anthony Patterson stranded.

Visitors right under the pump.

Image source, Rex Features

There's also been a goal in the other early game in the EFL.

Oxford had been having the better of things against Bristol Rovers, but the visitors lead from the spot.

Lamare Bogarde is brought down in the box and former Swansea and Aston Villa forward Scott Sinclair converts the penalty.