They donned a mint green kit and Ange Postecoglou threw in a few fresh faces, but Tottenham struggled to shake off the musty smell that haunted them.
Just four days after the home defeat in the North London derby, on a day when Postecoglou reminded the world that he had always won a trophy in his second season, Spurs had to pull off a closing-stage rescue operation to avoid defeat in the Carabao Cup.
Coventry deservedly led after 88 minutes of play but Djed Spence equalised and Brennan Johnson equalised in the second minute of injury time with penalties looming.
It was heartbreaking for the Championship side, who had been the better side for much of the game and could even have been ahead until Brandon Thomas-Asante struck in the 63rd minute.
Spurs started with a squad costing almost £250million but had just brought in Heung-min Son and James Maddison when Thomas-Asante put them behind.
Brennan Johnson scored the winning goal for Tottenham in the 92nd minute against Coventry
The Welsh striker saved Tottenham from a humiliating Carabo Cup exit
Brandon Thomas-Asante’s goal left everyone in Coventry thinking a surprise was in the offing
Postecoglou then brought on Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenhem did not give up and Coventry eventually succumbed to the pressure.
Djed Spence replaced Udogie and Spurs started the second half with a better tempo, opening up the game as Coventry looked increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack.
Forster saved again from Bassette and then stormed out of his penalty area to bring down Bidwell. The ball fell to Haji Wright who couldn’t find the net. Davies slid forward to block. The surprise was that referee Darren England didn’t go back to punish the keeper for a foul but gave a corner. The home fans were furious
Ben Wilson made a fine save from a Davies corner but Coventry took the lead through Asante-Thomas who turned in a low cross from Bassette after a fine move down the left flank.