Coventry City vs Gillingham. Sky Bet League One.
Ricoh ArenaAttendance27,306.
Friday 5 September 2014 23:26, UK
Coventry clinched the perfect return to the Ricoh Arena after they edged past Gillingham 1-0.
Ipswich loanee Frank Nouble scored a debut winner and the Sky Blues' first goal at the Ricoh since April 2013.
A crowd of 27,306 welcomed Coventry home as they officially ended their 13-month exile in Northampton after a rent dispute.
Jim O'Brien's overhead kick dropped wide before the hosts took the lead after just 10 minutes.
Ryan Haynes raced into the the area and cut the ball back for Nouble to stroke into the corner from 10 yards.
Gillingham had little answer to the Sky Blues' fevered start and Conor Thomas shot straight at Stephen Bywater.
And Coventry remained dominant without threatening as the early excitement wore off and Gillingham regrouped.
Kortney Hause headed over 10 minutes after the break for the visitors before Ryan Allsop scrambled to save the defender's second header three minutes later.
John Fleck's wonderful 40-yard lob almost caught Bywater out but Gillingham finished strongly and former Coventry striker Cody McDonald hit the side netting with five minutes left.
