The Sky Blues suffered their second successive defeat in the Championship as an early goal from winger Lee Martin settled a game of few chances at Home Park.

The on-loan Manchester United star struck in the 16th minute when he converted Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's cross at the front-post.

City struggled to breakdown a stubborn Pilgrims defence and their best chance arrived in stoppage-time when substitute Kevin Kyle headed agonisingly wide after beating goalkeeper Luke McCormick to a probing free-kick from Stephen Hughes.

Boss Iain Dowie handed recalls to Julian Gray and Michael Hughes in place of Dele Adebola and the injured Jay Tabb as City reverted to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation for the long journey south.

The experienced Barry Hayles headed over the first chance of the match for the home side after eight minutes before Martin jinked inside from the right and fired in a low shot with his left foot which Andy Marshall got down well to save.

But Marshall was left stranded by some static defending moments later as Martin ghosted in ahead of his marker to steer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's right-wing cross into the net at the front post.

City's response saw Stephen Hughes lash a free-kick into the wall after Krisztan Timar had bundled over Michael Mifsud on the edge of the area while David Norris blasted over when well positioned at the other end midway through the half.

Another effort from Norris then dipped just over the crossbar before a speculative volley from the influential Martin was tipped over by Marshall seven minutes before the break.

Captain Michael Doyle fired into the side-netting as the visitors went in search of an equaliser at the start of the second-half before a fierce drive from Mifsud deflected narrowly wide of the target.

Appeals for a penalty were then turned down by referee Keith Hill as Mifsud went to ground under pressure from Hayles in the box.

But City had Marshall to thank again on the hour when the 'keeper saved with his legs to keep out Ebanks-Blake before clawing a free-kick from Peter Halmosi around the post.

A long-range effort from full-back Gary Borrowdale was comfortable gathered by Luke McCormick and then substitute Dele Adebola headed over a teasing cross from Isaac Osbourne.

However, it was the home side who looked the most likely to score late on as Hungarian international Halmosi shot straight at Marshall from a free-kick before flashing another effort from long-range wide.

But the Sky Blues almost snatched a share of the spoils in the dying seconds when another substitute, striker Kevin Kyle, leaped above McCormick to meet Hughes' free-kick only for the ball to whistle narrowly past the far post.

Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Seip, Hodges, Norris, Halmosi (Sawyer, 90), Nalis, Martin, Hayles (c), Ebanks-Blake. Subs (Not Used): Buzsaky, Chadwick, Fallon, Gosling.

Goals: Martin (16)

Booked: Timar (foul), Norris (foul), Connolly (foul)

Coventry City: Marshall, Osbourne, Ward, Turner, Borrowdale (Kyle, 78), M Hughes, S Hughes, Doyle (c), Gray, Simpson (Adebola, 58), Mifsud. Subs (Not Used): De Zeeuw, McNamee, Konstantopoulos (GK)

Goals: None

Booked: S Hughes (foul)

Attendance: 11,576 (761 Coventry fans)