The Sky Blues slipped to defeat at Preston as three second half goals ended their hopes of a first league win at Deepdale.
It was all going to plan at half time as Sammy Clingan's wonder free-kick had put them ahead but the home side came storming back after the break and two goals from Chris Brown and one from Neil Mellor won it for Preston.
City did have chances to get back into it but found goalkeeper Andy Lonergan in outstanding form before Clinton Morrison scored with virtually the last kick of the match.
Coventry manager Chris Coleman kept faith with the side that won at home against Sheffield United in midweek and his team started reasonably well and made most of the early running.
That said, the Sky Blues had not really threatened the Preston goal in the opening 18 minutes but when they finally hit a shot on target they took the lead in sensational style.
Jack Cork was fouled around 35 yards from goal in the 19th minute and Clingan stepped up to take the free-kick and arrowed it into the net via the underside of Andy Lonergan's bar.
Leon Best had a chance to double City's lead two minutes later but his header was well held by Lonergan.
Preston enjoyed a brief two minute spell of attacking pressure which saw Keiren Westwood called into action to deal with a couple of crosses.
But Coventry were quickly back into the ascendancy and Best had two glorious opportunities to double their lead.
On the first occasion, he was forced a little bit wide and was denied by a solid save from Lonergan in the 27th minute.
And sixty seconds later he was set-up by a great pass from Michael McIndoe and this time the Preston keeper had to make a fine save.
Ross Wallace hit a powerful shot from 25 yards in the 37th minute but it deflected just wide of Westwood's right hand post.
Preston hit back five minutes after half time when Chris Sedgwick, who had been quiet in the first half, crossed for Chris Brown. The striker controlled ten yards from goal and fired past Westwood, who was helpless to do anything about it.
And it got even worse for the Sky Blues after 55 minutes when Billy Jones crossed from the right and Mellor cracked home from the edge of the box.
Morrison came with an inch of drawing the Sky Blues level in the 61st minute when he diverted Isaac Osbourne's cross goalwards only to see it rattle the crossbar.
But the home side went 3-1 ahead in the 68th minute as City failed to deal with a corner and Brown was allowed to score from close range.
Best went close in the 82nd minute only to be foiled for the fourth time by a good save from Lonergan and Morrison got on to the end of a good pass from sub Freddy Eastwood but the keeper made another outstanding save.
Morrison notched his fifth of the season deep into stoppage time but it was too late for City to mount a comeback.
Preston (4-4-2): Lonergan; Jones, Collins, Chilvers, Nolan; Sedgwick, Carter, Chaplow (Shumulikoski 70), Wallace; Brown (Parkin 88), Mellor (Elliott 65). Subs: Hart, Mawene, Henderson.
Coventry City (4-3-3): Westwood; Cranie (Eastwood 84), Wright (Ward 70), Turner, Hall; Clingan, Osbourne, Cork (Cain 77); Morrison, Best, McIndoe. Subs: Ireland, Gunnarsson, Clarke, Grandison.
Referee: Darren Deadman
Attendance: 11,230
