Coventry City's Championship title charge stuttered as they were defeated 2-1 by play-off hopefuls Southampton.

Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki scored for Southampton, who capitalised on Coventry's poor finishing at the other end to remain within three points of sixth-placed Wrexham, while Frank Lampard's side saw their lead at the top cut down to seven points.

Cyle Larin had the first clear chance in the ninth minute, firing wide on the turn after Coventry failed to clear their lines from a corner, as both sides were slow to find their rhythm at The Coventry Building Society Arena.

The hosts grew as the first half wore on, though they could not break the deadlock. Luke Woolfenden and Haji Wright both failed to test Daniel Peretz, who made an incredible save to deny Liam Kitching's glancing header.

Southampton's opener then came three minutes after the break. Carl Rushworth tipped Matsuki's cross onto the left post, but Downes reacted quickest to poke into the back of the net.

Wright sent a header from close range straight at Peretz just after the hour mark, but the visitors grabbed a second with five minutes to go as Matsuki, perhaps unknowingly, flicked the ball past Rushworth from James Bree's corner.

Victor Torp set up a nervy finish after winning and scoring a penalty in the second of seven additional minutes, and Southampton just about held on as Brandon Thomas-Asante struck at Peretz in the dying seconds.

Data Debrief: Matsuki makes the difference

There was little to separate the two sides in the scoreline, while Coventry's wastefulness was clear to see in the expected goals (xG) battle. They produced 2.48 xG from 18 shots to Southampton's 1.85 from eight attempts.

Matsuki's goal proved to be the difference, with the winger enjoying a strong showing against the league leaders. The 22-year-old registered the most shots for his side (three), touches in the box (five), won the most tackles (four) and eight of his 13 duels.

Peretz,  meanwhile, made five saves, doing so in back-to-back games after his impressive display against West Brom last time out.