Taiwo Awoniyi off mark as Coventry overcome Plymouth in Carabao Cup

Premier League new boys Coventry survived an EFL Cup second-round scare at League One Plymouth before easing through 4-2 at Home Park.

City had showed their class by racing into a 2-0 lead within five minutes courtesy of goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Jack Rudoni but Argyle fought back to level nine minutes into the second half thanks to debutant Danny Irow and Xavier Amaechi.

Second-half substitute Ephron Mason-Clark scored City’s third goal within five minutes of his 62nd-minute introduction before Victor Torp wrapped things up with a 78th-minute penalty.

Awoniyi fired City ahead on three minutes, picking his spot after a brilliant flick-on by Caleb Yirenkyi.

Yirenkyi’s sublime pass on the spin from skipper Liam Kitching’s through ball set striker Awoniyi on his way to goal and he had time to pick his spot to beat home goalkeeper James Storer with a side foot finish.

Within two minutes City increased their lead following a lightning break down the right. Awoniyi set Rudoni racing on his way to goal and he made no mistake, again beating Storer with a clinical finish, this time from the edge of the box.

Jake Bidwell came close to making it 3-0 on the 18th minute, heading just past the post from Joel Latibeaudiere’s pinpoint cross to the far post.

Argyle responded in the 21st minute through Irow, who cut in from the left and beat Latibeaudiere, before sending a low shot past City keeper Daniel Bentley into the far corner.

Midfielder Harvey White had sent Irow – who has just joined Plymouth on loan from Tottenham – away down the left with a superb pass from his own half after spotting the winger out wide.

The unmarked Awoniyi could have doubled his tally on 27 minutes but headed wide from six yards from Latibeaudiere’s deep