OXFORD United’s first big test of pre-season ended in defeat as Jonathan Panzo scored twice on his Coventry City debut.

The defender headed home either side of half-time to hand the Sky Bet Championship side victory at the Kassam Stadium on the day the U's launched their new kit.

It was United’s first friendly against English Football League opposition after five wins over non-league sides and Jerome Sinclair almost gave them an 11th-minute lead when he struck the post.

But they were unable to consistently threaten and will hope an early injury to Elliott Moore is not serious as they continue their pre-season preparations against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

Karl Robinson revealed before kick-off that he hoped to have three signings through the door by then, but there were no new faces in the line-up to face the Sky Blues.

Matty Taylor was ruled out through illness, so Sinclair led the line after missing the midweek games against Hungerford Town and Eastleigh. Simon Eastwood replaced Jack Stevens in goal in the other change.

Sam Long, Alex Gorrin and Sam Baldock were all unavailable again, with Robinson warning that the latter’s injury was ‘extensive’.

Coventry made all the early running and it set the tone for the half, although they suffered a setback when captain Liam Kelly sustained an injury just eight minutes in. The midfielder walked down the tunnel and Callum O’Hare came on. Both sides had big chances in the minutes that followed, with United going close first.

Sinclair and James Henry linked-up neatly on the edge of the penalty area and the striker looked for the far corner, only to see his low effort come back off the post.

It was as good as it got for the U’s before the break as Coventry went straight up the other end to spurn two golden opportunities.

Viktor Gyokeres crossed from the byline and Eastwood stuck out a leg to save Matty Godden’s header, with Jake Bidwell somehow sending the rebound wide.

The game settled down, but it was not long before Moore followed opposite number Kelly into the treatment room. The centre back went down after a corner and could not carry on, with James Golding replacing him.

Coventry made their pressure tell on the half-hour mark as Panzo marked his debut with a goal. The defender drifted to the back post as the visitors took a short free-kick on the right and nobody went with him, giving the Nottingham Forest loanee the easy task of heading in Jamie Allen’s cross.

The lively Gyokeres fired just past the far post as the visitors remained on top, with United unable to seriously threaten again before the break.

The hosts started the second half better than the first as Billy Bodin and Cameron Brannagan fired wide, before Eastwood made his second brilliant save of the afternoon.

Gyokeres headed across goal and the clearance ricocheted off Ciaron Brown, with the U’s stopper showing great reflexes to claw the ball off the line.

Eastwood could only prevent Coventry’s second for so long, though, as Panzo headed home again. Gustavo Hamer crossed from the visitors’ left and the debutant climbed highest to nod inside the far post.

It was Panzo’s last action as he came off for Josh Eccles, with Jack Burroughs replacing Fankaty Dabo.

Robinson made a triple substitution midway through the half as Jodi Jones came on against his old club, with Tyler Goodrham and Oisin Smyth also entering the fray. Henry, Sinclair and Marcus Browne went off.

Jones immediately won a corner and the U’s took it short, with Brown timing his run to head goalwards and force Ben Wilson to tip over.

The game petered out as the substitutions continued, but Goodrham and Jones both looked bright and Slavi Spasov headed straight at Wilson late on.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Forde (Sade 84), Moore (Golding 26), Brown (Mousinho 79), Seddon, Henry (Smyth 67), McGuane (Davis 84), Brannagan (Johnson 79), Bodin (Spasov 79), Sinclair (Goodrham 67), Browne (Jones 67).

Unused subs: Stevens, Owens.

Booked: None.

Coventry City (3-4-1-2): Wilson, Hyam, Rose, Panzo (Burroughs 60), Dabo (Eccles 60), Hamer, Kelly (O’Hare 12), Bidwell, Allen, Gyokeres (Tavares 81), Godden (Walker 72).

Unused subs: Moore, Reid, Palmer.

Booked: None.

Referee: John Busby.

Attendance: 2,689.