City held Southampton to a goalless draw in a nervy affair which could have gone either way but for excellent performances by both goalkeepers.
The Sky Blues lined-up unchanged for the match against Southampton at a bitterly cold St Mary's Stadium and with the two teams scrapping for survival the opening exchanges were somewhat scrappy with some fierce challenges going in from both sets of players.
Saints' Jason Euell got the first shot of the game in the 10th minute but thankfully his 20 yard drive was pulled well wide.
It wasn't long until the fierce wind brought squally snow showers, which made the conditions even harder to play in.
In the 18th minute the referee waved away Southampton claims for a penalty when Stern John was brought to the floor under a challenge from Kasper Schmeichel and a minute later the City shot stopper did well to race off his line and clear danger as Vincent Pericard was played through on goal.
The former Stoke man then wasted a better opportunity in the 27th minute, blazing high and wide when he should have at least tested Schmeichel.
Southampton were doing the most pressing without really testing the City goal and the Sky Blues had to wait until the 38th minute for their first shot on target when Michael Doyle attempted and audacious 35-yard volley which rolled harmlessly into Richard Wright's arms.
Right at the death before half time, John went close for the Saints but Schmeichel saved well.
The on loan custodian made an even better stop just after the restart, blocking Mario Licka's well struck shot at full stretch.
But having switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation, the Sky Blues were showing more as an attacking side and Mifsud was seeing more of the ball - the Maltese international forcing a save from Wright with City's best attempt so far in the 56th minute.
Chris Coleman made his first switch in the 65th minute, introducing Julian Gray for Kev Thornton and it was the winger who went closest to scoring when he produced a fine one handed save from Wright after bursting into the area and curling a shot on the outside of his right foot.
Entering the final ten minutes the game was finely poised and could have gone either way and in the 82nd minute, City were grateful to Schmiechel once again when he produced a top notch point blank save from John.
Next up it was Wright's turn to save his side, producing an excellent tip over to deny Gray once more in what was the final opportunity of tense 90 minutes which did little for either side's hopes of clawing their way out of trouble.
Coventry: Schmeichel; Osbourne; Ward; Dann; Fox; Doyle; Thornton (Gray 65); Hughes ©; Mifsud (Simpson 81); Best; Tabb. Subs (not used): Marshall; Borrowdale; Duffy
Booked: Hughes (58); Best (60); Ward (90)
Southampton: R Wright; J Wright; Thomas; Powell; Vignal; Viafara; Safri ©; Euell; Licka; Pericard (Wright-Phillips 71); John. Subs (not used): Davis; Hammill; Surman; Ostlund
Referee: Mr C Penton
Attendance: 22,014 (1,602)
