Coventry 3 Town 0 - Report and pictures
Shrewsbury Town's unbeaten away record looks a thing of the distant past after their second defeat on the road in a week.
Three goals at Rochdale was followed by three at Coventry as Town's biggest away following of the season - 803 - was subjected to their heaviest defeat and arguably their poorest performance of the season.
On-loan Newcastle striker Adam Armstrong (26 and 65) struck either side of Marc-Antoine Fortune's penalty in first-half time added on.
And it was a desperately disappointing display from Micky Mellon's side, who failed to force a single serious save from league debutant keeper Reice Charles-Cook.
Many Shrewsbury players produced performances to forget on an afternoon where they were ran ragged by the Sky Blues' pacy trio Armstrong, Ryan Kent and Jacob Murphy.
Town made two changes from the side beaten 3-2 at Rochdale as former Sky Blues defender Jermaine Grandison and Liam Lawrence were recalled, relegating Mark Ellis and Jordan Clark to the bench.
They switched from a 4-1-2-3 formation to match City's 4-2-3-1, with Lawrence alongside Abu Ogogo in the midfield holding role.
Coventry (4-2-3-1): Charles-Cook; Ricketts, Martin, Johnson, Stokes; Vincelot, Fleck (Morris 77); Kent, Armstrong, Murphy; Fortune.
Subs not used: C Thomas, Lameiras, O'Brien, Tudgay, Haynes, Burge (gk).
Town (4-2-3-1): Halstead; Tootle, Grandison, Knight-Percival, Sadler; Ogogo, Lawrence; Kaikai, Cole, Akpa Akpro; Collins (Barnett 70).
Subs not used: Black, Brown, Ellis, McAlinden, Clark, Leutwiler (gk).
Referee: Chris Sarginson.
Mellon's side ended the first half a deserved goal down and it could have been more as the Sky Blues were on top, with four penalty appeals - one of which was given - and Halstead making two vital saves.
The visitors soon found themselves on the back foot as Coventry fans appealed loudly for a spot kick for Mat Sadler's challenge on Ryan Kent, which left the latter grounded.
It took until the 19th minute for any more serious goalmouth action when the Sky Blues had their second penalty appeal.
This time John Fleck tumbled under a sliding challenge from Lawrence as they chased an Armstrong through ball, but the referee indicated a corner.
Five minutes later, Grandison clearly shoved Armstrong as he prepared to shoot from an angle bearing down on goal and he could only prod the ball at Halstead.
But again Chris Sarginson waved play on, infuriating the home fans.
A rare effort from Town followed as Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro curled a couple of feet over cutting in from the left.
Yet that proved an extremely isolated attempt as Coventry took a deserved lead with their next attack.
Armstrong cut in from the right and exchanged passes with Fortune as Abu Ogogo missed his tackle then buried a low, left-foot drive into the bottom corner of the net.
It was the on-loan Newcastle striker's seventh goal in nine games and it gave Halstead no chance.
There was little let-up for Town and three minutes later, Kent, who had been causing trouble for the visitors all the half, was put through by Armstrong on the right side of the area to force a one on one with Halstead.
But the on-loan Liverpool youngster trod on the ball at the vital moment which caused a split-second delay and his shot was blocked by Halstead.
The loose ball dropped to Armstrong, who fed Jacob Murphy and he sidefooted wide first-time.
Halstead came to the rescue for Town again on 44 minutes, getting his body in the way of a shot to smother after Murphy was left with the keeper to beat after Armstrong split the defence again.
Worse was to follow for Shrewsbury as they finally conceded a penalty following a fourth Sky Blues appeal.
And there seemed little doubt as Nathaniel Knight-Percival was penalised for bundling Fortune to the ground as both wrestled for possession.
The former West Brom striker calmly sidefooted the ball home from 12 yards, the ball nestling to Halstead's left although he guessed correctly.
There was a quiet start to the second half with neither team able to threaten until Fleck's left-foot drive arrowed straight at Halstead in the 61st minute.
A minute later, Sadler, who was having an uncomfortable afternoon, was booked for dragging down Kent after the left back's own sloppy control had allowed the attacker to get away from him.
Town made a switch in the 70th minute, and there were some boos when Tyrone Barnett replaced Coventry-born Sky Blues fan James Collins rather than a midfielder to gamble going forwards.
And there were ironic cheers seconds later when the Shrews had their first shot on goal as Akpa Akpro turned and curled goalwards but it flew straight into the arms of Charles-Cook.
