Roland Nilsson must be wishing he had never won the Manager Of The Month Award after suffering his first league reverse as Sky Blues boss.

The accolade is renowned for bringing a dose of bad luck in its wake – but this reverse had more to do City’s frailties than any poor fortune.

The Sky Blues came storming back into this game after being behind only to throw away the chance of points with two late slips. To top that misery, David Thompson was sent off in the final two minutes.

Nilsson had made two changes after the draw against Preston in midweek but they did not have the desired effect in a poor first half. City went closest to scoring with Jairo Martinez, in for the axed Jay Bothroyd, testing Tony Warner close to the break.

Millwall changed formation at half time and for a while City, with Bothroyd on for the poorly Lee Hughes, opened with a flourish. The former Arsenal youngster put Jairo Martinez through in the opening moments but his chest control let him down, Stuart Nethercott had to make a timely invention to prevent the Honduran scoring and David Thompson also went close.

But slowly the home side, themselves on an impressive run, started to press and 10 minutes after the restart they were ahead. Richard Sadlier saw his effort blocked from a corner but the ball fell nicely for veteran Steve Claridge who rifled it home.

The Sky Blues could easily have folded but within six minutes they were level. Thompson’s near post corner caused problems and Martinez was able to scramble the ball over the line.

Suddenly it was City in the ascendancy and it was no great surprise that they took the lead with the best goal of the game. Bothroyd, whose vision had pepped up the forward line, spotted a chance and from 20 yards powered in a low shot.

City should have been able to at least maintain the scoreline or, at best, increase their advantage but they came unstuck 11 minutes from time when Gary Breen was caught out by Claridge and then fouled the former Wolves and Portsmouth striker. Sub Christophe Kinet curled the free kick around the ball and inside a post.

Millwall were being urged on by their supporters and Thompson, who had been booked in the first half, allowed himself to get carried away with the atmosphere and, with two minutes left, went piling in to Tim Cahill after the whistle had gone and was, inevitably, red carded.

There was more to come. With the game in injury time, Claridge made a break down the left and delivered a dangerous cross. Nethercott managed to get his head to the ball and Sadlier, who had impressed throughout, was able to prod it into the net.

MILLWALL :
Tony Warner, Tim Cahill, Stuart Nethercott, Paul Ifill, David Livermore, Richard Sadlier, Darren Ward (Christophe Kinet, 46 (Robbie Ryan, 86)), Ryan Green, Sean Dyche, Ronnie Bull, Steve Claridge
Subs not used : Willy Gueret, David Tuttle, Giovanni Savarese

COVENTRY CITY :
Magnus Hedman; Richard Shaw, Muhamed Konjic, Gary Breen, Marc Edworthy, David Thompson, Lee Carsley, Youssef Safri  Laurent Delorge, Lee Hughes (Jay Bothroyd, 38), Jairo Martinez
Subs not used : Andy Goram, Barry Quinn, Runar Normann, Tomas Antonelius

GOALS :
Millwall - Claridge (55), Kinet (81), Sadlier (90)
Coventry - Martinez (60), Bothroyd (67)

REFEREE : K Hill (Royston)

BOOKINGS :
Millwall - none
Coventry - Thompson (26, unsporting behaviour), Breen (86, foul)

SENDING OFF :
Coventry - Thompson (88, second bookable offence)

ATTENDANCE : 15,748

COVENTRY LEAGUE POSITION : 4th with 31 points