Match Report

A goal in each half by Anthony Gerrard and Peter Whittingham gave Cardiff City a comfortable win to keep the pressure up at the top of the table.

Cardiff showed just the one change with Stephen McPhail starting in place of Gavin Rae. He dropped to the bench while the visitors had Wales international Freddy Eastwood as one of two newcomers to the side that were beaten at Sheffield Wednesday.

The Bluebirds took the lead in the fifth minute from their first corner. The ball went out to McPhail who crossed back into the middle where Gerrard rose to send a powerful header into the roof of the net.

David Marshall was forced to push a Clinton Morrison shot around the post as the Sky Blues fought back.

A superb run by Adam Matthews in the 14th minute should have seen the Bluebirds going further ahead, but there was no-one in the middle to provide the touch needed.

Whittingham handled in a central position midway through the half but the Cardiff wall blocked Michael McIndoe's free-kick.

The Bluebirds looked the more dangerous going forward but they were unable to add to their lead by half-time.

Only a superb tackle by Mark Hudson prevented Leon Best from putting his side level six minutes after the break as the game began to open up.

In the 58th minute Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra had goalbound shots cleared off the line, but the referee awarded a penalty for handball by Coventry skipper, Stephen Wright.

Whittingham confidently smashed the ball home for his ninth goal of the season to double the lead.

A slip by Joe Ledley let Eastwood in on goal but Marshall went low to gather.

Michael Chopra then beat the offside trap, but his lob hit the crossbar and was cleared, but the Bluebirds were well on top and Keiren Westwood in the Sky Blues goal had to save from Bothroyd and Chris Burke.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides