The Sky Blues suffered their first away defeat of the season in heavy fashion against a clinical Ipswich side at Portman Road.
Stephen Hughes' first goal in nearly a year was scant consolation for Iain Dowie's men as first-half goals from Jason De Vos, Pablo Counago and Jonathan Walters put the Tractor Boys firmly in control before Counago put the result beyond doubt after the break.
Home skipper De Vos smashed open the deadlock in the 10th minute when he planted a downward header beyond Dimi Konstantopoulos after giving Arjan De Zeeuw the slip at the back-post.
Leon Best, one of two changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace in midweek along with right-back Isaac Osbourne, offered City's response as he headed over from a Gary Borrowdale cross.
But the home side could have extended their advantage in the 18th minute when Konstantopoulos beat away a powerful volley from striker Alan Lee.
Best then fired wide from 25-yards before winger Ellery Cairo followed suit after cutting inside from the right.
However, poor defending allowed Counago the time and space to fire home a second goal in the 24th minute - the Spaniard latching onto Walters' knockdown and twisting away from Hughes before slotting the ball into the net with his right-foot.
City were then indebted to Hughes as he hacked a 30-yard Daniel Harding pile-driver off the line, but Walters ensured a frosty reception from boss Dowie for City at half-time when he thumped Gary Roberts' left-wing cross into bottom corner with a header via the desperate hand of Konstantopoulos.
The lively Best almost pulled a goal back when his shot deflected just wide in first-half stoppage time.
And luck deserted the visitors again shortly after the break when referee Trevor Kettle waved play-on after Dele Adebola appeared to be pulled down by Alex Bruce after racing onto a weak back-pass from the defender.
Jay Tabb then sent a fierce long-range shot narrowly wide of the target before more disappointing defending put the game beyond City in the 57th minute.
A teasing cross from Owen Garvan was headed goalwards by Lee at the back-post and forced Konstantopoulos into a superb save but Counago was left unmarked to head home from the rebound.
But the Sky Blues continued to press forward in hope of unlikely fight-back and a moment of magic from Stephen Hughes offered them a glimmer of hope twelve minutes later.
The midfielder left Ipswich 'keeper Neil Alexander with no chance as he slammed a magnificent free-kick from 30-yards into the top corner for his first goal in more than eleven months.
Konstantopoulos then produced a good stop to deny a header from Lee, while at the other end, substitute Michael Mifsud dragged an effort wide.
Best almost pulled another goal back at the death, but headed a Robbie Simpson cross over.
Ipswich Town: Alexander, Wright, De Vos, Bruce (Casement, 79), Harding, Garvan, Miller, Roberts (Peters, 74), Walters, Lee, Counago (Clarke, 88). Subs (Not Used): Legwinski, Supple (GK).
Goals: Jason De Vos (10), Pablo Counago (24, 57), Jonathan Walters (40)
Coventry City: Konstantopoulos, Osbourne, De Zeeuw, Hall, Borrowdale, Cairo (Simpson, 84), S Hughes, Doyle, Tabb (Thornton, 79), Adebola (Mifsud, 56), Best. Subs (Not Used): Ward, Marshall (GK)
Goals: Stephen Hughes (69)
Booked: Best, Cairo (Coventry), Garvan (Ipswich)
