Brandon Thomas-Asante’s second half goal was enough to give Coventry a 1-0 win over Bristol City at the CBS Arena.
The Sky Blues ended a run of three games without victory and created some breathing room between themselves and the Sky Bet Championship relegation places, denting the Robins’ play-off hopes in the process.
The visitors started on the front foot and enjoyed plenty of early possession, with Nahki Wells seeing his shot pushed around the post by Oliver Nnonyelu Dovin in the Coventry goal after 10 minutes.
The hosts responded well and could have opened the scoring themselves moments later when Milan van Ewijk blazed his shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Coventry felt they should have been awarded a penalty after 19 minutes when Jay Dasilva appeared to be brought down in the box but his appeals were waved away.
Frank Lampard’s team grew in confidence and dominated for large periods of the first half with Van Ewijk and Jack Rudoni both seeing long-range efforts go close.
And the hosts could have gone into the interval ahead when Ellis Simms created space in the centre of the box before firing his shot straight at goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
At the other end, Wells found an opening but saw his effort drift harmlessly wide of the upright to ensure the half ended goalless.
After the break Simms continued to cause problems for the Robins’ defence. His goal bound effort was blocked immediately after the restart while his left footed strike from a narrow angle flashed past the far post moments later.
Just when it seemed like the Sky Blues would be punished for their carelessness in front of goal, Thomas-Asante latched onto Rudoni’s pass before rifling the ball high into the net from a difficult angle to make the decisive breakthrough in the 62nd minute.
The visitors went in search of an equaliser and came close through Sam Bell, who saw his close range shot well saved by Dovin after being played through by Max Bird.
Bird then come close when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area, only for him to scoop his effort through a mass of bodies but over the crossbar.
With 10 minutes remaining the away side were calling for a penalty when substitute Sinclair Armstrong felt he was hauled to the ground in the area.
The visitors went all-out for a leveller, the home side looked to counter, and Jamie Allen could have put the game to bed in the closing minutes, only to fire straight at O’Leary.
The result leaves Lampard’s side 14th in the table, six points above the drop zone, while Bristol City are now five points off the play-off spots in ninth.
