The Sky Blues are beaten by a goal to nil following a poor display against Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Richie Wellens' stunning first half strike was all that separated the sides but in truth the home side had a number of good chances to extend their lead and the Sky Blues now have to face a fortnight with no action on the back of a disappointing defeat.

Freddy Eastwood and Keiren Westwood both returned for the Sky Blues having recovered from injury and manager Chris Coleman was clearly on the offensive as City lined up in a 4-3-3 formation - Michael Mifsud joining Clinton Morrison and Freddy Eastwood up front.

But it was Doncaster who did the early pressing - Richie Wellens coming close to converting a deep cross from the right before he turned provider for the in-form Lewis Guy, whose shot was blocked by Marcus Hall.

City were showing very little as an attacking outlet, doing no more than forcing three corners in the opening stages, which came to nothing,

Doncaster, on the other hand, were playing crisp, lively football and continued to peg City back - Gareth Taylor going close on 26.

Three minutes later and Mifsud had the ball in the back of the net but he had long since been flagged offside.

City were pressing for the first time in the match and on 30 minutes, Freddy Eastwood was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance, blasting into the side netting from no more than 10 yards after Morrison laid a Jay Tabb cross back to him.

And the Sky Blues were instantly made to regret that missed opportunity when Wellens gave the home side the lead on 31 minutes in spectacular style. Picking the ball up some 30 yards from goal, no City man closed him down and he unleashed a ferocious drive into the top corner, leaving Westwood with no chance.

Slack play from City allowed James Coppinger to break from midfield but he blasted over from the edge of the box before Mifsud showed no composure, blazing well over after he had broken the offside trap.

Right at the end of the first half, Scott Dann came close to replicating his last ditch heroics against Newcastle, heading a Danny Fox corner towards the goal only for Doncaster skipper Brian Stock to clear off the line.

Coleman made no changes at the break, giving his players a chance to redeem themselves after a below par first 45 and on 50 minutes Mifsud fired narrowly over from the edge of the box.

Morrison was next to go close for City, but strong defending from Matt Mills prevented the forward getting a clean strike after he collected from a Mifsud cross.

Elliott Ward breathed a huge sigh of relief with half an hour left on the clock when his poor clearance allowed Lewis Guy a clear run on goal but the Doncaster man fired wide.

City broke and Mifsud brought a good save from Neil Sullivan but the game had become extremely stretched with Doncaster going close to scoring a second on the counter attack through Gareth Taylor.

Coleman made his first chance on 65 minutes, introducing fit-again Leon Best for a frustrated Eastwood who had failed to produce on his return from injury.

The Sky Blues boss didn't wait long to make his final two changes, bringing on Leon McKenzie for Clinton Morrison before Michael Doyle replaced Marcus Hall, with Aron Gunnarsson switching to right-back.

Amidst all the changes, Doncaster threatened to double their lead as substitute Martin Woods hit a low drive inches wide from 18 yards.

On 77 minutes, Gunnarsson unleashed his first long throw-in of the afternoon, finding McKenzie whose glancing header forced a fairly routine save from Sullivan.

With eight minutes remaining, Adam Lockwood replaced Gareth Taylor for Doncaster and he nearly scored with his first touch, heading over from close range.

There was to be no late drama in this match, City applying little pressure in the dying stages as Doncaster picked up a win they thoroughly deserved.

Doncaster: Sullivan; O'Connor; Mills; Guy (Woods 65); Stock; Hayter; Wellens; Chambers; Coppinger; Hird; Taylor. Subs (not used): Byfield; Heffernan; Lockwood; Wilson

Coventry: Westwood; Hall (Doyle 72); Fox; Dann; Ward; Tabb; Gunnarsson; Beuzelin; Mifsud; Morrison (McKenzie 70); Eastwood (Best 65). Subs (not used): Marshall; Turner

Referee: Mr R Shoebridge

Attendance: 11,806 (1,678 City fans)