Coventry forward Ellis Simms scored on his 100th appearance for the club as the Sky Blues edged Luton 1-0 in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
The former Everton striker was making his first start of the season after being left on the bench by Frank Lampard in the Championship goalless draw against Hull at the weekend, but was in the right place to tap in and send Coventry through to round two.
Lampard made nine changes from Saturday’s stalemate against the Tigers, including handing Australian winger Raphael his first start for the club – he joined last summer – against their League One opponents.
It was the 21-year-old winger’s brilliance that created the goal as he picked out Haji Wright with a trivela before the United States international’s cross-come-shot was tapped into an empty net by Simms.
The tricky winger had almost created the opener earlier in the piece, when he drove down the right and cut the ball back for Simms, who fired over.
Substitute Jack Rudoni forced a smart save from Luton goalkeeper James Shea, with his low free-kick before Simms turned Brandon Thomas-Asante’s cross over the crossbar.
Recently-relegated Luton rarely threatened at the other end, but Jake Richards could well have sent the tie to penalties late in stoppage-time when he headed over from close range.
