City cruised into the second round of the Carling Cup with a comprehensive victory over Notts County.
All three goals came during a strong second-half performance with strikers Dele Adebola, Leon Best and substitute Robbie Simpson all on target.
But the Sky Blues had to recover from a slow start which almost allowed the League Two outfit to take a shock early lead.
Less than a minute had passed on the clock when Hector Sam headed over an Austin McCann cross from the left with the goal gaping before a smart save from Andy Marshall denied Lawrie Dudfield after the striker was played in behind the City backline.
At the other end, the home side registered their first effort on goal when Adebola, one of seven changes to the City side, fired an angled drive straight at County's former Manchester United 'keeper Kevin Pilkington.
Striker Best, who began his career as a trainee with the Magpies, was showing some neat touches and went close to scoring when he dragged a low effort wide after latching onto a pass from Stephen Hughes and twisting away from his marker.
Gray was next to try his luck with a powerful volley at the back-post which was well saved by Pilkington, but the 'keeper could do nothing in the 35th minute as Best coolly slotted into the net, only to be flagged offside.
Summer signing Ellery Cairo, making his Sky Blues debut after recovering from a groin injury, almost grabbed a goal on the stroke of half-time when his right-footed free-kick on the edge of the box beat the wall, but not Pilkington who scampered across to gather.
However, it took the Sky Blues just 57 seconds of the second period to pierce County's stubborn resistance.
Robert Page slotted the ball through to Adebola, who turned inside his man before firing over Pilkington's dive and into the far corner with his left-foot.
The big Nigerian then nearly turned provider as he laid the ball off for Best to fire a low drive which Pilikington beat away from danger before blasting another effort high and wide after finding himself unmarked in the area.
The ball was in the net again in the 56th minute as Cairo squared for skipper Michael Doyle to sweep home, but the linesman's flag was aloft again and the 'goal' didn't stand.
There was no sign of a flag, though, eleven minutes later as Best sprung the offside trap and lobbed Pilkington despite the 'keeper getting a touch to ball before it bounced over the line.
Young striker Simpson replaced a tiring Adebola with seventeen minutes remaining for his Football League debut and he immediately set about showing his credentials.
His first touch was to win an aerial battle and almost flick the ball into a goalscoring area, while his second ended with a third goal.
Best held up substitute Jay Tabb's pass into the box before Simpson took the ball in his stride and confidently fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
He almost another moments later when a curling shot was saved, while the Magpies fluffed a great chance to grab a consolation late on when Jason Lee side-footed over from close-range.
MATCH FACTS
Coventry City 3 Dele Adebola (47), Leon Best (67), Robbie Simpson (78)
Notts County 0
Coventry City: Marshall; Osbourne, Page, Hawkins, Borrowdale; Cairo (Birchall, 64), Doyle (c), S Hughes, Gray (Tabb, 70); Best, Adebola (Simpson, 73). Subs: Konstantopoulos (GK), Ward.
Notts County: Pilkington; Canoville, Tann, Hunt, McCann; Smith, Butcher, MacKenzie; Sam (Weston, 62), Dudfield (Weir-Daley, 76), Lee. Subs: Sandercombe (GK), Somner, Silk.
Bookings: Adebola (Coventry), Butcher (Notts Co)
Attendance: 6,735 (606 Notts Co supporters)
