A SUPERB solo effort from Dan Fox at Norwich City helped the Sky Blues to a third successive victory.
Fox's 73rd minute strike restored City's lead after Jonathan Grounds had levelled following Jordan Henderson's first-half opener.
Chris Coleman made three changes to the side that beat Blackburn in midweek, with captain Scott Dann, Guillaume Beuzelin and David Bell replacing Ben Turner, Freddy Eastwood and Michael Doyle.
The early period of the match was uneventful with the ball stuck in midfield for long spells.
The first notable attempt came in the seventh minute when a good turn of pace from Aron Gunnarsson left the Canaries midfield for dead. He raced 15 yards towards goal before unleashing a low drive - but his effort was just wide.
The Sky Blues started to enjoy a spell of pressure and former-Norwich man Bell went close in the 11th minute with a flicked header from a Fox free-kick.
Coventry then turned pressure into a goal after good passing play. Stephen Wright found Leon Best with a throw-in and he sprayed the ball wide to Bell. The winger used good footwork to free up space for a cross and found Henderson who smashed home a shot from eight yards out.
The celebrations could have been short lived. Jamie Cureton was played in with a long ball from the Canaries backline, but Elliott Ward put in a last ditch challenge to stop the chance.
The Sky Blues regained their composure and re-asserted their authority on the game. However, shots were few and far between - despite a series of corners in the 30th minute.
Norwich did come close on the stroke of half-time. Having won a corner, Jason Shackell rose to head the ball towards goal, but Keiren Westwood saved well.
In stoppage time, the Canaries broke again and Mark Fotheringham hit a shot towards goal, but Westwood gathered easily.
Bryan's Gunn half-time talk seemed to fire up his side and they dominated after the restart.
They should have leveled in the 50th minute when Jon Ostemobor broke into the box and played in Cureton four yards from goal - but the striker tried to score with a fancy flick and his effort trickled wide.
A minute later Norwich created another break into Coventry's box. The ball was played to Lee Croft six yards from goal but a last ditch challenge from Ward stopped a shot.
However, the home side made it third time lucky in the 53rd minute. Norwich swung in a dangerous corner and after a goalmouth scramble, Jonathan Grounds pounced on a half-clearance to send the ball past Westwood for the equaliser.
Norwich were in control but Gunnarsson created a chance from nothing to almost restore the lead. The Icelandic international picked up the ball in the centre-circle and dribbled past three Norwich players and into the area. He turned to shoot but laid the ball back to Clinton Morrison, who turned his marker but could not hit the target.
The Sky Blues started to get back into the match and Fox created a near identical chance. He dribbled down the wing and got past three yellow shirts before feeding Morrison in space - but his shot was deflected away from goal for a corner.
Fox decided to take matters into his own hands and scored a superb individual goal in the 73rd minute.
The left-back received the ball just inside Norwich's area and left Carl Cort in knots after three excellent turns. He then curled the ball to the top left-hand corner of the goal, the effort going in off the inside of the post.
Norwich could have hit back immediately through Fotheringham, after he received the ball inside the penalty box - but his shot was blocked by Ward on the line.
The Canaries failed to regain their momentum after the effort and Coventry held out well - and almost made it three with the last kick of the game, when Morrison turned Freddy Eastwood's cross onto the bar.
Teams
Coventry City: Westwood, Wright, Dann, Ward, Fox, Bell (Eastwood 84), Gunnarsson, Beuzelin, Henderson, Best (Simpson 86), Morrison. Subs: Marshall, Doyle, Hall.
Norwich City: David Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Doherty, Grounds, Croft, Clingan, Fotheringham (Russell 80), Hoolahan, Cureton (Daley 75), Cort. Subs: Nelson, Gow, Bertrand.
