Twice the Sky Blues were on the brink of knocking out their Championship opponents, but each time the Blues struck at the death – and then they held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out that followed.
After a goalless first half, the tie sprung into life when Amadou Bakayoko’s shot squirted home five minutes into the second half.
Max Biamou twice missed good chances to double the Sky Blues’ lead, but it still looked as though they had done enough to advance.
However, Harlee Dean headed home in the second minute of stoppage time to level things up and Birmingham almost won it only for Lukas Jutkiewicz’s header to crash against the crossbar in the final seconds of normal time.
In extra-time, League One Coventry surged ahead again when Biamou tucked home after being teed up by Callum O’Hare with six minutes left.
However, there was another sting in the tail in the final minute as Jeremie Bela’s speculative crosscum-shot from the right sailed over Marko Marosi and went in off the far post.
Rollercoaster
Buoyed by their reprieve, Birmingham triumphed 4-1 in the ensuing penalty shoot-out. Goalkeeper Lee Camp proved the hero, saving from Liam Walsh and Jamie Allen, while the Blues stuck away all their spot-kicks.
Relieved boss Clotet said: “Coventry made it very difficult for us and we struggled to create flow in attack but one thing we had was the ability to work harder to the end, believe in ourselves and take the game to a penalty shoot-out.
“We are very happy it went in our favour. It was a fantastic night.”
Coventry boss Mark Robins said: “I’m proud of the players. They’ve come out on the wrong side of a result and we had three good chances to put the game to bed in normal time that we didn’t take, which means you always run the risk.”
This story is from the February 09, 2020 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 09, 2020 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CALLUM GLEE AT 'CRAZY' SUCCESS
Pompey new-boy savours triumph
EVANS VOWS TO LIFT MILLERS
STEVE Evans has promised to bring \"confidence and swagger\" back to relegated Rotherham after completing a sensational return to the New York Stadium.
CHOUDHURY'S HEROICS SAVE DAY AS FOXES BACK ON TOP
The job is not done yet, says Maresca
DUTCH MASTER CRY IS THE KING
GRYSENCIO merville Sumbeat off some stiff competition to be named the Championship Player of the Season at the EFL Awards,
'THESE ARE THE DAYS TO SAVOUR AS A PLAYER'
THE last time Eoghan O’Connell won promotion from League Two, things didn’t go as he would have liked.
Brazilian lynchpin ticks all the boxes
ALI Al-Hamadi was not best pleased by his Ipswich teammate Sam Morsy's omission from the Championship Team of the Season.
Chris Dunlavy A FRESH TAKE ON FOOTBALL
Prem unlikely, but Sammie’s class act
'WE HAD NO HOPE, BUT NOW WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE'
As DAVE Challinor basks in the glow of Stockport County’s promotion to League One, he takes a moment to reflect on the day he joined the club as a player in 2002.
PARKY WON'T EASE UP JUST YET
WREXHAM boss Phil Parkinson admitted his team owed it to the \"integrity of the league\" not to take their foot off the gas after securing promotion.
BUCKINGHAM PANS OFFICIALS AFTER BORO FRUSTRATE U'S
DES Buckingham blamed another penalty decision for Oxford United’s failure to claim a vital victory as his play-off chasing side were held at home by manager-less Stevenage.