Leon McKenzie grabbed his first goals since signing for the Sky Blues, scoring a second half brace against nine-man Sheffield Wednesday.
In an eventful first half, the visitors were reduced to ten men early on when Wade Small was red carded for a push on Michael Doyle. Wednesday then went ahead through Chris Brunt who scored straight from a corner before a Madjid Bougherra own goal made it one apiece.
Brunt then saw red before the interval for a professional foul and McKenzie scored twice in quick succession at the start of the second period to seal the win for City.
Micky Adams was forced into two changes with Chris Birchall and Dele Adebola returning to the starting line-up. Birchall replaced Stern John in the side after City's top scorer picked up an injury while on international duty in midweek while Adebola started in place of Elliott Ward who has a back strain.
As a result Marcus Hall slotted in at centre-back, Clive Carke returned to his normal position at left-back with Birchall on the right of midfield and Jay Tabb on the left.
After three straight defeats it's fair to say that this game was a vital one for the Sky Blues with two tricky away matches up next.
Their opponents came to Coventry in a fine run of form having won four of their last five fixtures and there was bad news for City in the 12th minute when Don Hutchison was stretchered off after he went in for a challenge with Marcus Tudgay. The experienced midfielder instantly signaled at the bench after going down awkwardly and was clearly aware that he could not continue.
Colin Cameron came on in a straight swap and just 60 seconds later Wednesday were down to ten men when Wade Small was shown a straight red card for pushing Michael Doyle.
But in the 21st minute it was the Owls who went 1-0 up as City's nemesis when they met Wednesday last season, Chris Brunt, scored straight from a corner. Andy Marshall was incensed that Chris Birchall had not cleared the ball at the near post as the Northern Irish international whipped in a wicked delivery which evaded everybody and went in at the far post.
But it was only three minutes until the Sky Blues were level thanks to an own goal from Bougherra who could do nothing as John Hills' attempted clearance from a McKenzie cross struck the defender and rebounded into the goal.
City were inches away from going 2-1 ahead on the half hour mark when Jay Tabb hit a cracking half volley from the corner of the penalty area which clipped the outside of the post.
Colin Cameron then forced a fine save from Mark Crossley with a crisp 25-yard effort, The 37-year-old shot stopper showed the agility of somebody half his age with a superb one-handed tip around the post.
An unbelievable first half took one final twist in the 36th minute when Brunt joined Boughherra for an early bath when he too was shown a red card for a professional foul, taking down Birchall as he raced through on goal.
Brian Laws made one switch at half time, taking off Dean Burton and introducing Burton O'Brien and from the off, the visitors were on the back foot as City looked to make the numerical advantage tell, which they did in the 51st minute when McKenzie scored his first goal for the Sky Blues. The striker was the first to react when Crossley parried a long range effort from Birchall and he calmly tucked the rebound away.
Number two was not far behind for McKenzie as he made it 3-1 in the 55th minute, this time finishing a precise square ball from Birchall to give City a welcome cushion. The Trinidad and Tobago international came close to grabbing a goal himself moments later, producing another excellent save from Crossley after good work down the left by Clarke.
If the Sky Blues needed a warning not to take their opponents too lightly just because they were two men short, it came with 20 minutes left on the clock when substitute Graham Coughlin forced Andy Marshall into a superb one handed save with a powerful header.
All credit to the visitors who, having conceded twice during a barrage of Coventry pressure early in the second period, came back at City and refused to give up.
Micky Adames made a double substitution in the 74th minute replacing Chris Birchall and Dele Adebola with Wayne Andrews and Kevin Kyle.
The Sky Blues continued to create chances but failed to take them. At half time City fans would have expected nothing but the three points going against nine men and the players went about their task professionally to pick up a vital victory.
Coventry: Marshall; Duffy; Page; Hall; Clarke; Birchall (Andrews 74); Hutchison (Cameron 14); Doyle; Tabb; McKenzie; Adebola (Kyle 74). Subs (not used): Gonzalez; Bischoff
Booked: Hutchison (12); McKenzie (79)
Sheff Wed: Crossley; Bullen; Lunt; Tudgay (MacLean 82); Burton (O'Brien 46); Brunt; Hills; Small; Simek (Coughlin 56); Bougherra; Folly. Subs (not used): Adamson; Spurr
Booked: Hills (84), MacLean (90)
Sent-off: Small (15); Brunt (36)
Referee: Mr N Swarbrick
Attendance: 19,489 (4,154)
