Max Biamou's second half goal has fired the Sky Blues into the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
MK Dons had the best of the first-half chances but a solid defensive display helped the earn City a well deserved cleansheet.
The Sky Blues grew in confidence when they were attacking the nearly 8,000 strong away end and Biamou's strike, assisted by Marc McNulty, was enough to give City the win.
The home side started by far the stronger, but Mark Robins’ side threw everything in the way of some early Dons pressure.
Max Biamou scored his first Sky Blues goal last weekend in the 3-1 win over Swindon and came close to opening the scoring early on. Michael Doyle did well in the area to find the Frenchman whose low shot was well saves by Lee Nicholls.
Marcus Tavernier was a constant threat for MK Dons, and came close to breaking the deadlock early on in the second half when he found his way inside and forced a strong block from Jack Grimmer.
McNulty has not stopped scoring since his good form began and almost found the corner with a spectacular effort in front of the 7,800 Coventry fans. The 25-year-old shifted onto his right foot before curling his shot around Nicholls but sadly just wide of the far post.
The home fans were beginning to feel like they were never going to score. Burge again wad made to work hard to keep the ball out of the net saving twice in quick succession from Kieran Agard and Osman Sow, but like against Swindon a week ago the Sky Blues could not be penetrated.
Up the other end Coventry went. Tom Bayliss did exceptionally well to beat a number of MK players and feed McNulty, who on the turn found Biamou to give the Sky Blues the lead. The away end erupted. City were ahead.
City began to look more confident. Biamou’s charging runs forward and link-up play with McNulty looked likely to double the Sky Blues lead. Chris Stokes’ drive from deep and long-range effort epitomised Robins’ side’s newfound confidence.
Tavernier came close to spoiling the party with ten minutes to go. One of the home side’s stand-out players, he saw his shot deflected which forced Lee Burge to quickly adjust his feet and tip the ball onto the roof of the net.
The Sky Blues had done it and were into the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Yellows: Doyle 4’, McDonad 65’ Tavernier 87'
Reds:
Goals: Biamou 62’.
Attendance: 14,925 (7,833 away).
Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Grimmer, Willis, McDonald, Stokes, Bayliss (Di.Kelly-Evans 80’), Kelly (Stevenson 76’), Doyle (C), Barrett (Shipley 59’), Biamou, McNulty.
Subs: O'Brien (GK), Hyam, Vincenti, Ponticelli.
MK Dons XI: Nicholls (GK), Williams, Lewington (C) (Ebanks-Landell 55’), Upson (McGrandles 76’), Wootton, Cisse, Sow, Agard (Nesbitt 66’), Tavernier, Gilbey, Ugbo.
Subs: Sietsma (GK), Muirhead, Rasulo, Brittain.