Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres scored 17 goals in 45 league appearances for Coventry City last season
A superb late equaliser from Viktor Gyokeres earned Coventry City a deserved point at promoted Sunderland.
The Black Cats took an early lead when Jack Clarke headed home Lynden Gooch's deep delivery at the back post.
The away side grew into the match and Jonathan Panzo's ferocious 30-yard strike was brilliantly turned on to the crossbar by Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson before Matt Godden fired an excellent chance wide after the break.
Coventry continued to press though and were ultimately rewarded when Gyokeres picked the ball up centrally 25 yards out, came on to his right foot and smashed a wicked strike into the bottom corner.
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins was marking his 300th game in charge of the club and he will have been pleased with how his side came back at a raucous Stadium of Light.
Clarke, who joined permanently from Tottenham in the summer after a successful loan spell last season, headed in with Coventry goalkeeper Simon Moore stranded after making the decision to come for Gooch's deep cross and missing it.
The home side could not build on that early goal though and only Patterson's fingertip save from debutant Panzo's long range shot kept them in the lead at the break.
Godden should have levelled when Dan Neil was caught in possession 25 yards from his own goal but swept his shot wide of the post before Ross Stewart saw a decent effort saved by Moore at the other end.
Gyokeres, who scored 17 league goals in 2021-22, got off the mark for this campaign with a fine driven strike as the Sky Blues made their pressure tell with just over five minutes to play.
Alex Neil's men next face a trip to Bristol City on Saturday, while Coventry host Rotherham on Sunday.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSunderland
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Patterson5Ballard6Batth3Cirkin11Gooch4Evans24Neil20Clarke8Embleton21Pritchard14Stewart
- 1Patterson5BallardBooked at 76mins6Batth3Cirkin11Gooch4EvansBooked at 55mins24Neil20ClarkeBooked at 51mins8EmbletonSubstituted forO'Nienat 61'minutesBooked at 90mins21PritchardSubstituted forRobertsat 79'minutes14Stewart
Substitutes
- 9Simms10Roberts12Bass13O'Nien26Wright32Hume42Alese
Coventry
Formation 3-5-1-1
1Moore15Hyam5McFadzean2Panzo28Eccles8Allen14Sheaf38Hamer27Bidwell24Godden17Gyökeres
- 1Moore15Hyam5McFadzeanSubstituted forTavares Desidérioat 73'minutes2Panzo28EcclesSubstituted forDaboat 73'minutes8AllenSubstituted forPalmerat 62'minutes14Sheaf38HamerBooked at 20mins27Bidwell24GoddenSubstituted forWalkerat 73'minutes17Gyökeres
Substitutes
- 3Doyle4Rose13Wilson19Walker23Dabo30Tavares Desidério45Palmer
Referee:Darren BondAttendance:40,851Match StatsHome TeamSunderlandAway TeamCoventryPossessionHome38%Away62%ShotsHome10Away9Shots on TargetHome5Away2CornersHome4Away3FoulsHome16Away6Live TextPost update
Match ends, Sunderland 1, Coventry City 1.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Coventry City 1.
90'+4'Booking
Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jake Bidwell.
90'Post update
Foul by Kasey Palmer (Coventry City).
90'Post update
Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89'Post update
Foul by Fábio Tavares (Coventry City).
89'Post update
Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'Post update
Foul by Jake Bidwell (Coventry City).
88'Post update
Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86'Post update
Kasey Palmer (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'Post update
Foul by Corry Evans (Sunderland).
84'goalGoal!
Goal! Sunderland 1, Coventry City 1. Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jonathan Panzo.
81'Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Patrick Roberts.
79'Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
79'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Patrick Roberts replaces Alex Pritchard.
78'Post update
Foul by Fábio Tavares (Coventry City).
78'Post update
Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com