It was a disappointing night for the Sky Blues as Bristol City deservedly made their way through to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
Goals in each half from Lee Johnson and Enoch Showunmi earned the Robins a win as the struggling Sky Blues failed to make a real game of this Third Round replay.
Michael Doyle came straight back into the starting line-up replacing Stephen Hughes who started on the bench while Ben Turner was awarded his home debut, returning to the defence in place of Adam Virgo.
Backed by an extremely vocal home support, City made all the early running but were nearly caught out in the seventh minute when Lee Johnson got the first sight of goal, hitting a half volley over the bar from 15 yards out after Enoch Showunmi's knock-down at the far post.
The Sky Blues continued to play good football and in the 18th minute Andrew Whing played a great ball down the flank for Leon McKenzie. His deep cross was headed back to Kevin Kyle who hit a sweet shot from 25 yards just wide of the target.
Just after the half hour mark, a neat move between McKenzie and Stern John resulted in the latter getting a shot on goal but Robins keeper Adriano Basso was equal to it.
Just as it looked as if the first half would end goalless, the visitors took a 39th minute lead through Scott Murray, who hit a low curling shot from just outside the penalty area that Luke Steele could not get a hand to.
Micky Adams made a half time switch, introducing Kevin Thornton for Isaac Osbourne, as he looked to instigate a comeback which would keep the Sky Blues in this season's FA Cup.
But disaster struck in the 54th minute when Showunmi headed Bristol City into a 2-0 lead, leaving City with a vast mountain to climb to stage a comeback.
A double switch was made just before the hour mark, as Micky threw caution to the wind, bringing on Dele Adebola for Kyle and Chris Birchall for Tabb.
As City threw men forward, they were always liable to be caught in the counter attack and on 66 minutes Steve Brooker produced a fine save from Steele with a 25-yard volley.
Unfortunately, with 20 minutes left on the clock, City were being pegged back by their opponents when the scoreline would lead you to suggest they would be throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the Robins. For whatever reason though Coventry were unable to keep hold of possession as the visitors passed it around them.
A good run from Adebola saw him hit his shot into the side netting on 75 minutes, before Doyle pulled a rasping shot wide as the Sky Blues tried to salvage something.
In the 89th minute the impressive Thornton went on a mazy run before forcing a save from Basso but it was clearly not going to be City's night, leaving them struggling in the league, out the FA Cup and in need of a serious pick-me-up.
Coventry: Steele; Whing; Hall; Page; Doyle; Kyle (Adebola 59); John; McKenzie; Osbourne (Thornton 46); Tabb (Birchall 59); Turner. Subs (not used): Hughes; Virgo
Booked: Doyle (77)
Bristol City: Basso; Orr; McCombe; Carey; Murray; Brooker (Keogh 82); Jevons (Myrie-Williams 42); Skuse (Russell 46); Showunmi; McAllister; Johnson. Subs (not used): Weale; Fontaine
Referee: N Miller
Attendance: 13,055 (2,606)
