The Sky Blues have fallen to their first home defeat since August after Keanu Marsh-Brown's strike give Forest Green all three points.
Max Biamou and Jordan Ponticelli both came close in a game dominateed by City, but Marsh-Brown's long range effort was enough for the visitors to leave as winners.
Coventry started the game on top. Duckens Nazon came close to opening the scoring inside the first ten minutes when he charged onto a Marc McNulty through ball but his effort was blocked at the near post.
Despite the seige, it would be the visiting side who took the lead. Former Yeovil winger, Marsh-Brown was targetted as a potential threat before kick off and it was his long range effort that caught Lee Burge off guard to put his side one-up on the half-hour mark. Forest Green Rovers led at the Ricoh.
Biamou's dominance in the air made him a danger for Rovers all night and his most obvious chance came just after the break. Nazon played a pinpoint cross onto the Frenchman's head but the former Sutton striker could only nod the ball wide of the far post.
Coventry would come even closer moments later. Jones shifted the ball from right to left where he found Chris Stokes breaking into the area looking for Nazon with the cut back. Nazon's first effort was blocked brilliantly but bounced up for Biamou, who's acrobatic attempt looped wide.
With twenty minutes to go Ponticelli was introduced and almost made an instant impact. Jack Grimmer's cross from deep was attacked with force by the teenager asking for a strong save from Rovers' keeper Bradley Collins.
As the board went up for seven minuts added time, Ponticelli again came close to firing City level. Jones' quick change of direction managed to earn him some room down the left and his low cross was met by an on-rushing Ponticelli, but his shot went wide.
The Sky Blues would have one last chance in the final seconds. Nazon picked up the ball just a few yards inside the Forest Green half but after riding a number of challenges he could only drag his low shot wide. The last of the night's action.
City will face Colchester United next at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
Goals: Marsh-Brown (29')
Yellows: McDonald, Doyle, Marsh-Brown, Nazon, McNulty, Brown.
Reds:
Attendance: 6,366 (212 away)
Coventry City XI: Burge (GK); Grimmer, Willis, McDonald, Stokes (Shipley 70'), Kelly, Doyle, McNulty, Jones, Nazon, Biamou (Ponticelli 70').
Subs: O'Brien (GK), Davies, Vincenti, Stevnson, Beavon.
Forest Green XI: B.Collins (GK), Bennett, Laird, Traore, L.Collins (C), Marsh-Brown (Iacovitti 61'), Doidge, Cooper (Brown 76'), Fitzwater, Gomes (Bugiel 61'), Osbourne.
Subs: Russel, Wishart, Randall, James.
Referee: Simon Hooper.
Assistants: Adam Crysell and Daniel Robathan.
Fourth Official: Oliver Langford.