JODI Jones’ deflected injury time effort handed Coventry City a 2-1 win at 10 man Southend United this afternoon.

The Sky Blues were on top for the majority of the first half and took the lead when Jordy Hiwula fired home from close range.

However, substitute Tom Hopper seemed to have secured a share of the spoils for the Shrimpers before Simon Cox was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 79th minute and the visitors bagged a stoppage time winner with Jones’ cross deflected in off Michael Turner.

Before the late drama unfolded, Blues momentarily threatened at the start of the game with Timothee Dieng heading Dru Yearwood’s right wing cross straight at Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge before Dieng curled a long range effort wide of the right post.

But, with six minutes on the clock, the visitors came even closer to taking the lead when Tom Davies’ from Michael Doyle’s right wing corner being cleared off the line by Theo Robinson.

The visitors were adamant the effort had crossed the goal-line and Doyle was booked for taking his protests too far.

However, Coventry were not to denied for long as the visitors broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, with Jordy Hiwula on target, The striker reacted sharply after Jonson Clarke-Harris had headed down Doyle’s left wing corner and poked the ball home from close range.

The visitors remained on top with an unmarked Clarke-Harris heading Doyle’s left wing free-kick over the crossbar before Blues boss Chris Powell opted to make a change at half-time with the fit-again Harry Bunn replacing Ben Coker.

The alteration saw the Shrimpers switch to a 4-4-2 formation but it was the visitors who still looked threatening with Luke Thomas having a well-struck shot tipped wide of the right post by Mark Oxley.

Blues replied with a second change in the 61st minute as Tom Hopper replaced Robinson in attack and seven minutes after his introduction, the striker equalised for the Shrimpers.

Hopper latched onto Simon Cox’s through ball and darted into the left hand side of the penalty area before drilling a low, left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The Shrimpers soon made a third change with Jason Demetriou replacing Sam Mantom.

But, with 79 minutes on the clock, Blues were reduced to 10 men with Cox being shown a second yellow card for a foul on Tom Davies.

The Sky Blues look to take advantage with Jordan Shipley having a header tipped over by Oxley before the visitors secured all three points right at the death with Jones cutting in off the right flank and unleashing a low effort which deflected in off Turner.

However, the Shrimpers still nearly managed a late leveller with Stephen Hendrie firing over from close range after a goalmouth scramble.