COVENTRY City fall to their second consecutive Championship defeat after second-half goals from Bristol City's Jamie McAllister and Lee Johnson at Ashton Gate.

The Sky Blues lived by the skin of their teeth in the first half, relying on a goal-line clearance from Marcus Hall and a superb reflex stop from Keiren Westwood to ensure the game stayed goalless at half-time.

But McAllister finally broke the deadlock on 65 minutes with a 30-yard screamer, Johnson adding the second on 80 minutes after applying a simple finish to Gavin Williams' breakaway.

Coventry enjoyed the better start of the two sides, Freddy Eastwood breaking away in the second minute and firing a shot low straight at Robins 'keeper Adriano Basso.

Jordan Henderson then got a bit of joy down the right flank five minutes later, nutmeg-ing Liam Fontaine at the byline and cutting back across goal only for Basso to cut out the pass.

Michael McIndoe, arguably the most influential individual on the pitch for the first half, then had his first taste at goal after ten minutes, picking up the ball from the centre circle and getting as far as 25 yards away before firing at shot at goal palmed away by Westwood.

Bristol City top scorer Nicky Maynard then had arguably the best chance of the game up to that point two minutes later, combining well with ex-Sky Blue Stern John before shooting straight at Westwood from less than ten yards out.

Leon Best had a similar opportunity a minute before Maynard, receiving a ball from Clinton Morrison and running the defence but firing his shot at a wall of bodies.

And John had a half-chance on the half-hour mark, latching onto a tapped ball through the Coventry back line but toe-poking into Westwood's body.

Henderson broke free on the very next counter attack only to spread his crossfield ball to an unmarked Eastwood off target.

But just two minutes later Westwood pulled out a fantastic save from a Robins set-piece, McIndoe delivering a corner met by McCombe who powered a header at goal, Westwood displaying superb reflexes to palm the header away at close range and then recover to scramble the ball from danger.

The Sky Blues were infact the only side of the first half to actually put the ball in the net, Eastwood delivering a cross to Basso's back post for Hall who headed into the path of Best who put the ball in the back of the net only to be penalized for a foul.

And veteran Coventry right-back Marcus Hall was on hand to provide a vital piece of defending two minutes into injury time, beating a ball out of the goalmouth after a shot from John looped over Westwood and headed towards the net.

Morrison handed the Sky Blues a livener eight minutes into the second half following a great bit of interplay between Stephen Wright and Henderson, the latter playing through Morrison who fought off McCombe to flash a shot just wide of Basso's far post.

It was the Robins who finally breached the rearguard though after a well-worked corner five minutes after the hour mark.

A short corner was eventually played out to McAllister who fired from 30 yards and found the top corner of Westwood's net.

He had another effort a minute later, a half-volley palmed away by Westwood.

Turner then hit back with a shot for the Sky Blues shortly after, forcing Basso to turn the low effort around his near post.

But Johnson put the game all but beyond Chris Coleman's side with ten minutes to go, Williams breaking down the left and getting around Wright before cutting back to Johnson who applied a standard finish past Westwood from the edge of the six-yard box.

Second-half substitute Dele Adebola almost earned a late run at goal, pouncing on James McPake who miscontrolled a pass, the Scotsman then catching Adebola and earning a booking.

But that was the last mention-worthy event of the game as four minutes of added time passed with controversy or drama, leaving the Sky Blues empty handed.

Attendance: 15,706

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Hall, Turner, McPake, Wright, Doyle, Beuzelin, Eastwood (Bell 60), Henderson (Simpson 76), Best, Morrison
Subs: Marshall (GK), Ward, Osbourne

Bristol City: Basso, Carey, McCombe, Fontaine, Orr, McIndoe, Johnson, Williams, McAllister, John (Adebola 62), Maynard (Styver 62)
Subs: Weale (GK), Sproule, Wilson