Goals from Jon Macken and Alan Lee gave Town a third away win of the season and the first since October.

Macken prodded the ball over the line on the hour after Richard Naylor hit the post, then Lee headed in what turned out to be winner five minutes from time.

Michael Doyle gave Coventry a lifeline on 90 minutes and despite frantic Sky Blues' pressure, Blues held on for three important and deserved points.

Town boss Jim Magilton stayed with the same side that started against Stoke with the only change to the 16, Billy Clarke replacing Jaime Peters on the bench.

Darren Currie, on loan at Coventry from Blues, was left out of the Sky Blues' side as part of the agreement over the move with both teams looking for their first points of the festive season.

Colin Cameron had the first shot of note, sending the ball wide of Lewis Price's goal after good work by Leon McKenzie. Macken did likewise at the other end for Town in a tentative opening to the game.

Sylvain Legwinski picked up the first booking of the match and was quickly followed by Lee, who was judged to have dived after going down under a challenge from Mikkel Bischoff.

Blues claimed a penalty but referee Clive Oliver showed a yellow card to the Republic of Ireland international instead of pointing to the spot.

Coventry should have taken the lead on 23 minutes, McKenzie, whose pace caused Alex Bruce problems, set up Cameron but the Scot missed the target from eight yards.

Dele Adebola and Stern John linked up well but Adebola lost out to Jason De Vos inside the Town box, while at the other end Gavin Williams showed great skill to lose his player but scuffed his shot from the edge of the box.

Matt Richards replaced Dan Harding on 36 minutes, the summer signing from Leeds still troubled by an earlier clash of heads with Bischoff.

Williams did well to thwart Cameron at the far post as the game closed in on half-time, Stephen Hughes then shooting straight at Price.

McKenzie, who supplied most of Coventry's brightest moments in the first-half, went close with the final effort of the opening 45 minutes, hooking the ball over Price but just wide.

Town began the second-half the better side. Gary Roberts was more prominent, seeing one cross hacked clear by Elliott Ward, then a corner just evading the un-marked De Vos.

Williams tested Andy Marshall in the Coventry goal, Lee was unlucky not to get more purchase with a header then Owen Garvan saw his shot headed away five yards out.

Macken should have put Town ahead on the hour mark, Legwinski and Lee combining to set up the Palace loanee but his shot was deflected behind by Marshall 10 yards out. From Williams' corner Macken did strike though, forcing the ball in after Naylor had hit the post.

Chris Burchill and Kevin Kyle replaced Cameron and Adebola with Marcus Hall following soon after for Clive Clarke as Micky Adams used all three substitutes with 25 minutes to play.

Kyle was immediately in the action, finding McKenzie whose effort was brilliantly saved by the fast moving Price.

Kyle was then denied himself by another top class and point blank save from Price, who was fast emerging as the man of the match.

Former Sunderland striker Kyle should have done better with a header after De Vos and Naylor, for a rare time in the 90 minutes, lost their man.

Billy Clarke replaced Macken with 10 minutes left on the clock as Blues maintained a positive approach, De Vos almost getting on the end of Roberts' free-kick.

Clarke had a hand in the second and clinching goal five minutes from time, crossing for Lee to head in his 10^th goal of the season.

Simon Walton replaced Williams as Town wound the clock down but Naylor's clearance cannoned to Doyle, who fired past Price to set up a frantic three minutes of added on time.

Hughes went down on the edge of the box, Kyle had a shot blocked and then cleared by Lee as Coventry searched desperately for an equaliser, Price then producing another good save from McKenzie's header.

Goalkeeper Marshall joined the Coventry attack for a flurry of corners but Blues held on for three well deserved points and a confidence booster ahead of holiday games against West Brom and Birmingham.