The Sky Blues score a superb win over promotion-chasing Sheffield United thanks to first half goals from Gary McSheffrey and Dele Adebola.
Micky Adams made just one change for the visit of the Blades as McSheffrey returned from suspension to replace Andy Morrell in the starting line-up and Coventry's top scorer made an electric start, scoring the opener after just six minutes.
Craig Short failed to get anything on a back header following former Blade Robert Page's throughball and McSheffrey nipped in to stab the ball past Paddy Kenny to get City off to a flier.
It was Coventry's second clearcut opportunity of the match - Adebola had been put clean through moments before the opener but failed to get a shot away - and in the 15th minute McSheffrey was presented a chance six yards out but did not connect with his attempted backflick from Stern John's knockdown.
While the Sky Blues certainly ha the better of the opening 20 minutes, United fought their way back into the match and went close on a couple of occasions as Neil Shipperley and Danny Webber both sent shots narrowly wide.
But City were defending stoutly with Page and Shaw marshalling the backline superbly and Hall and Whing harnessing any threat down the flanks. With United playing a triple-pronged attack, Blades certainly had plenty of fire power.
Coventry were playing like a team full of confidence and in the 32nd minute they doubled their lead through Adebola. Marcus Hall whipped a terrific low cross from the left and the powerful striker finished superbly, tucking the ball into the far corner with a crisp, right-footed strike.
McSheffrey then forced Kenny into a smart save with a similar shot from a Dennis Wise corner as City went for the kill. Right at the death Stern John produced an even better stop from Kenny but with a two-goal lead at the break, things were looking great for the Sky Blues.
On the downside, Wise collected his tenth yellow card of the season for a rash challenge which means he will miss City's next two games through suspension.
Neil Warnock made just one change at the interval as Rob Kozluk replaced Gary Flitcroft, with his promotion-chasing side facing a tough task to get back into the match. The visitors certainly threatened inn the opening 15 minutes of the second period, pegging the Sky Blues back, but once again some fine defending ensured that Fulop was not really tested.
The lack of goalmouth action led Warnock into another switch with the ineffective Ade Akinbiyi replaced by Steve Kabba and it was not long until United's best opportunity presented itself as Phil Jagielka went through but pulled his shot wide of the goal. The Blades manager ten played his final card as Geoff Horsfield came on for Shipperley for the final 17 minutes.
With no goal conceded, Micky Adams had the advantage of being able to start making his tactical switches for the final quarter of an hour and the first substitution saw Don Hutchison replace the excellent McSheffrey who had shone on his return to the starting eleven, not only scoring but showing excellent movement along with a couple of moments of exceptional skill.
Andy Morrell came on for Stern John - who had ran his socks off throughout the match - for the closing minutes as the Sky Blues rounded off a thoroughly professional performance with no major scares.
Coventry: Fulop; Whing; Hall; Page; Doyle; Adebola; McSheffrey (Hutchison 75); Scowcroft; John (Morrell 86); Shaw; Wise (Thornton 90). Subs (not used): Ince; Williams
Booked: Wise (45); Adebola (85)
Sheff Utd: Kenny; Flitcroft (Kozluk 46); Short; Morgan; Jagielka; Akinbiyi (Kabba 66); Shipperley (Horsfield 73); Webber; Montgomery; Armstrong; Geary. Subs (not used): Dyer; Lucketti
Referee: K Stroud
Attendance: 23,506
