Leo Ostigard’s second half goal secured a crucial three points for the Sky Blues as they beat Rotherham United 1-0 at the New York Stadium on Thursday night.
The defender netted from close range to put City into a deserved lead having created several scoring opportunities throughout the contest in South Yorkshire.
City held on to complete just their third away win of the season which lifts the Sky Blues six points clear of the drop zone with five matches left to play.
Mark Robins made three changes from the side beaten by Bournemouth at the weekend with Ben Wilson, Julien Dacosta and Dom Hyam coming into the starting line-up in place of Marko Marosi, Josh Eccles and Josh Pask.
City almost took the lead within the first minute when Liam Kelly fired a sensational volley from just outside the right-hand edge of the penalty area against the crossbar via a fingertip save from Rotherham keeper Viktor Johansson.
The Sky Blues continued to cause the Millers problems from set-pieces when a free-kick wide on the left came through to Kyle McFadzean at the back post only for the defender to miscue his effort wide of the target.
The chances continued to come City’s way when the ball deflected kindly into the path of Callum O’Hare who was denied by Johansson from close range before Matty Godden fired the rebound effort over the crossbar.
Rotherham burst into life on 23 minutes when Lewis Wing’s drilled effort cannoned back off the post having taken a slight deflection off a Sky Blues defender.
City wrestled back control of the game and created a half chance just before the half an hour mark when Godden fired over from 25-yards out.
The Sky Blues were once again denied by a stunning save by Johansson when Tyler Walker’s header was kept out from close range after the hosts failed to deal with Sam McCallum’s long throw from the left.
HALF-TIME: ROTHERHAM UNITED 0-0 SKY BLUES
After a closely fought opening to the second period the first real chance of the half fell the way of the Sky Blues when Walker challenged fairly with Millers keeper Johansson before slicing his effort wide of the goal.
The Sky Blues took a deserved lead with 20 minutes left to play when Ostigard headed home from close range after a delightful cross from Matty James from the left edge of the penalty area.
Rotherham struggled to create a clear cut chance throughout the 90 minutes as the Sky Blues comfortably saw out the final few minutes, claiming a league double over the Millers in the process.
FULL-TIME: ROTHERHAM UNITED 0-1 SKY BLUES
Goals: Ostigard (70’)
Yellows: Wing (46’), Wiles (56’), Biamou (86’), Wood (90’+2)
Rotherham United XI: Viktor Johansson (GK), Matt Olosunde (Giles 60’), Michael Ihiekwe (Sadlier 87’)), Richard Wood (C), Angus MacDonald, Wes Harding (Robertson 77’), Jamie Lindsay (Ogbene 77’), Lewis Wing, Ben Wiles (Ladapo 60’), Matt Crooks, Michael Smith
Unused Subs: Jamal Blackman (GK), Shaun MacDonald, Daniel Barlaser, George Hirst
Sky Blues XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Julien Dacosta, Leo Ostigard, Kyle McFadzean, Dom Hyam, Sam McCallum, Liam Kelly (C), Matty James, Callum O’Hare (Hamer 77’), Tyler Walker (Biamou 70’), Matty Godden (Gyokeres 70’)
Unused Subs: Marko Marosi (GK), Michael Rose, Josh Eccles, Jordan Shipley, Jamie Allen, Amadou Bakayoko