The Sky Blues endured a disappointing afternoon in the East Midlands when they were comprehensively beaten by Leicester City.

First half goals from Andy Johnson and a brace from Geoff Horsfield condemned City to defeat and the Foxes to local bragging rights. Coventry faired better in the second half but lacked that killer instinct in front of goal.

Adrian Heath made one change to side that drew 2-2 with Cardiff, Stephen Hughes replaced Michael Doyle who returned to Ireland for family reasons.

Hughes missed the match against the Bluebirds through illness and partnered Isaac Osbourne in the centre of midfield.

Andrew Whing was passed fit after being forced off against Cardiff through injury.

The trip up the M69 came a little too early for Marcus Hall and Elliott Ward.

The Midlands derby got off to a ferocious start with the Foxes enjoying the majority of the possession. Leicester had the first opportunity of the match when Jason Jarrett had his shot from the edge of the area smartly blocked by Dele Adebola on seven minutes.

The Sky Blues went a 1-0 down four minutes later when Levi Porter delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area which was met by Horsfield, who looped his header over Andy Marshall. The ball seemed to take an age to cross the line and David McNamee tried in vain to hook it back but to no avail.

The goal gave the Foxes confidence and Rob Kelly's side doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Johnson powerfully headed home an Iain Hulme cross.

Horsfield was proving to be a real handful for City's defence and the former Leeds United man found himself on the edge of the six-yard box with plenty of room to turn and pick his spot to score his second goal of the game on 26 minutes.

Moments later Leon McKenzie had Coventry's first opportunity of the afternoon when he directed a header inches wide of the Leicester goal.

Marshall produced an excellent save just before half-time to deny Mark Yeates from the edge of the penalty area, the Sky Blues custodian did well to push the powerful shot round the post.

City made one change at half-time with Kevin Kyle replacing Michael Mifsud, the change saw the Sky Blues revert to a three pronged attack with Adebola and McKenzie.

Adrian Heath's side began the second half brightly when Adebola forced Henderson into a top draw save as the former Crewe player turned and shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Henderson again denied the Sky Blues on 54 minutes when the keeper blocked McKenzie's near post header. The striker connected with Kyle's cross but could only direct his header straight at the keeper's body.

Coventry were certainly looking brighter after their poor first-half performance and McKenzie came close to getting a goal back when he tried his luck from range and Henderson pushed the shot round the post.

From the resulting corner, a goal mouth scramble emerged with both Kyle and Page having efforts cleared off the line.

With just over 20 minutes left Chris Birchall replaced Stephen Hughes and the Trinidad and Tobago international combined well with McKenzie who whipped in a teasing cross into the area for Adebola who fired a bullet header agonisingly wide.

The Sky Blues made their final substitution of the game with Adam Virgo coming on for Adebola with nine minute remaining on the clock.

Leicester made their first change of the afternoon with Richard Stearman replacing Yeates and the change nearly had an instant impact when the youngster failed to connect to a teasing ball across the penalty area.

With less than a minute remaining Osbourne tried his luck from the 25 yards but the weak shot summed up the disappointing afternoon for the Sky Blues.

Leicester City: Henderson; Maybury; McAuley; Kisnorbo; Johansson; Yeates (Stearman 81); Jarrett; Johnson; Porter; Hulme (Cadamarteri, 84); Horsfield (Hammond, 90).

Subs not used: Logan; Kenton

Coventry City: Marshall; Whing; Page; Hawkins; McNamee; Hughes (Birchall, 69); Osbourne; Mifsud (Kyle, 46); Tabb; Adebola (Virgo, 81); McKenzie.

Subs not used: Steele; Bunce

Bookings: McNamee (23), Page (87) 

Attendance: 25, 816 (2,578 Coventry fans)