The Sky Blues made it three wins on the spin at the Ricoh Arena with a deserved victory over high-flying Wolves.
Captain Elliott Ward grabbed the decisive strike nineteen minutes from the end to stretch City's unbeaten run under new manager Iain Dowie to five and bring the visitors' impressive record of six straight wins to a shuddering halt.
Dele Adebola put the home side ahead in the 26th minute after an frantic start to the game before a dramatic turn of events on the stroke of half-time saw Wolves' Jackie McNamara sent off before Michael Kightly equalised.
Michael Mifsud replaced the injured Leon McKenzie in Dowie's only change to the side which battled to a goalless stalemate at Colchester on Saturday.
The Maltese international immediately set about making an impression when a teasing run into the box was seemingly brought to a halt by a clumsy Jackie McNamara challenge, only for referee Peter Walton to wave away strong claims for a penalty.
The Sky Blues were enjoying a sprightly start and Michael Doyle went close moments later when he skewed wide under pressure from Gary Breen after being played in behind the Wolves backline by Dele Adebola.
But their award arrived in the 26th minute as the troublesome Adebola poked past Matt Murray from four yards after the visitors allowed a deep Stephen Hughes free-kick to bounce.
City continued to dictate the play as a last ditch tackle from Breen denied Adebola a quick-fire second before 'keeper Murray blocked a Mifsud shot after the front-man had nipped to the ball ahead of Neill Collins.
Murray then held Hughes' free-kick before Isaac Osbourne flashed a 25-yarder narrowly wide of the post.
However, a dramatic two-minute spell saw the game turn on its head as McNamara was brandished a second yellow card for a foul on Osbourne.
Then, just seconds later, Kightly rammed in an equaliser from the rebound after Seyi Olofinjana's header was denied by a brilliant save from Andy Marshall.
City strived to make their extra-man advantage pay dividends at the start of the second-half but struggled to break through a stubborn Wolves resistance.
But Mifsud remained a constant menace and on the hour forced Murray to claw his powerful drive from the edge of the box around for a corner before watching a similar effort cannon off Collins.
But the game's decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute when Hughes' corner was driven home at the back-post by skipper Ward.
The industrious Doyle then had two excellent chances to put the game beyond doubt.
The first, which arrived just three minutes later, was drilled into the side-netting after being set free by substitute Khalilou Fadiga before hooking Chris Birchall's centre into the arms of Murray with the goal gaping.
Mifsud could have capped a man-of-the-match display with a goal late on but slipped after once again springing the offside trap.
Instead, City's hero came at the other end as 'keeper Marshall turned away former Coventry star Jay Bothroyd's low free-kick deep into stoppage-time.
Coventry City (4-4-2): Marshall; Virgo, Hawkins, Ward (c), Hall; Osbourne (Birchall, 64), Doyle, Hughes, Tabb (Fadiga, 67); Mifsud, Adebola. Subs (Not Used): Steele (GK), Page, Cameron.
Wolves (4-4-2): Murray; Edwards, Collins, Breen, McNamara (sent-off, 45); Kightly (Clapham, 46), Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe (M Davies, 79); Keogh, Ward (Bothroyd, 73). Subs (Not Used): Budtz (GK), Craddock.
