The Royals kept their play-off hopes very much alive with victory - with goals from John Salako and Shaun Goater giving them a commanding lead before a strike from Gary McSheffrey - and the sending off of Steve Sidwell made the away side sweat.
Salako's opener came when his curling free-kick evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net - ending a period of total Coventry dominance.
Sidwell's cross was then converted by Goater to make it 2-0 and Coventry began to realise it was not to be their day.
The dismissal of Sidwell for a second booking spurred the home side on, and McSheffrey, uncharacteristically wasteful throughout, finally got City off the mark.
The striker converted after Calum Davenport had flicked on one of Bjarni Gudjonsson's top quality corners - but it was too little too late for The Sky Blues.
