COVENTRY City suffered a second consecutive defeat on their travels after going down to the Bluebirds at Cardiff City Stadium.

Anthony Gerrard got the early opener for Dave Jones' side before Peter Whiitingham capped off the scoring from the spot with just over half an hour to go.

Gerrard placed a header inside Keiren Westwood's near post and off the underside of the crossbar from close range after just four minutes.

Both sides had opportunities to extend the goal tally in the first 45 minutes though, Adam Matthews and Chris Burke both causing problems for the Sky Blues but Leon Best and Clinton Morrison equally going close to opening the scoring for Coventry.

Coventry could have been level after eight minutes had it not been for a superb save from Cardiff 'keeper David Marshall.

Freddy Eastwood whipped in a second dangerous low cross from the left in as many minutes with Morrison turning his body to half-volley at goal, Marshall stretching and getting down low to turn the shot away.

Best went close two minutes later, Morrison floating a cross into the box for McIndoe who chested down into the path of Best with his resulting effort going just the wrong side of the near post.

Matthews caused Coventry some panic on 13 minutes, getting around the back four to the byline and cutting back a ball across the six-yard box which was played behind everybody.

Championship top scorer Michael Chopra also had a half effort on goal, Joe Ledley playing a ball across for him which he flicked straight at Westwood with the outside of his boot.

And Whittingham forced a solid save out of Westwood three minutes before the break, Chopra teeing him up from 15 yards but Westwood pushing the ball wide.

Best had a half-chance to get a shot away five minutes into the second half, Osbourne letting the ball run through his legs for the striker who did well to turn with his back to goal but could not pull the trigger.

Coventry were caught out just before the hour though, Ben Turner playing a short backpass to Westwood which Chorpra intercepted, shooting at goal and forcing a great save out of the Sky Blues 'keeper.

Two more efforts to put the loose ball in the net followed but in the melee, Wright was penalised for a foul in the area which earned him a yellow card, leaving Whittingham to convert from the spot for his ninth strike of the season.

The situation got worse for the Sky Blues on 64 minutes when Best was forced off with an injury, making way for David Bell to put in his first appearance since the first game of the season after a long injury lay off.

And Chopra nearly made it three for the hosts when his chipped effort beat Westwood but not his bar.

Eastwood broke back for Coventry though, dribbling from the halfway line and shooting early with Gerrard still to beat, Marshall getting down well to save.

Gerrard and Jay Bothroyd combined to nearly add another goal for the home side, Gerrard steering a header from a corner goalwards with Bothroyd getting a flick on towards the end, but Westwood remaining alert.

And Michael McIndoe claimed the final chance of note with seven minutes to go, his 25-yard effort whistling marginally past Marshall's post.

Attendance: 19,038

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Wright (c), Turner, Cranie, van Aanholt (Hussey 67), Eastwood, Cork, McIndoe, Osbourne, Best (Bell 64), Morrison
Subs: Konstantopoulos (GK), Ward, Madine, Grandison, Clarke

Cardiff City: Marshall, Kennedy, Hudson (c), Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd, McPhail, Burke, Gerrard, Ledley, Matthews
Subs: Enckleman (GK), Rae, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack