BURNLEY fell to a controversial first half penalty as their unbeaten run came to a crushing end at the Ricoh Arena.
Referee Mike Thorpe was at the centre of the storm as he ruled that John McGreal fouled former Claret Dele Adebola on the half hour mark.
And despite the visitors' understandable protests, Colin Cameron ended Burnley's three game unbeaten run from the penalty spot.
It was tough luck on Steve Cotterill' side, who bossed the opening 45 minutes and should have been awarded a penalty themselves for a tug on Gifton Noel-Williams' shirt.
But City stepped up a pace after the break to keep the Clarets at bay and claim all three points.
It was as you were for the visitors following last week's 1-1 draw at Ipswich.
The only change to the 16 came on the bench, with Graham Branch stepping in for back-up goalkeeper Brian Jensen.
City started brightly and Wayne Thomas and James O'Connor both needed to be alert to make great defensive challenges from dangerous situations.
But Burnley should have taken the lead in the seventh minute when Steve Jones latched onto Chris McCann's smart flick and forced a fine save from Andy Marshall after a heavy first touch.
James O'Connor then picked up his fifth booking of the season a minute later, bringing a one-match ban for unceremoniously halting a City break.
However, Burnley were quickly finding their feet and Kyle Lafferty's goalbound shot from a John McGreal cross was hastily deflected for a corner.
And as the Clarets continued their assault on the City goal, Jones tried a cheeky curler to the far post that Marshall was equal to.
However disaster struck in the 30th minute when McGreal was penalised for a high foot on Adebola in his own penalty area.
The collision looked innocuous - especially as McGreal looked to have taken the ball cleanly. But after an initial shake of the head the man in black appeared to change his mind and pointed to the spot. And after lengthy and fierce protests, Cameron gratefully accepted the gift by sending Danny Coyne the wrong way from the spot.
Shrugging off the controversy, Burnley tried to bounce straight back and Lafferty again forced a fine save from Marshall with a low daisy-cutter.
And Lady Luck turned her back on Burnley again seven minutes form the break when Mr Thorpe had the chance to even the score.
Gifton Noel-Williams was clearly pulled as he strode clear of Robert Page in the City penalty area and, but the Clarets were again left awaiting their first spot kick of 2006!
Jones was twice inches off target as the half drew to a close, first with a fierce free kick from distance and then with a typical fizzing drive from the edge of the box.
Coventry certainly did not deserve their half time lead, but they were close to doubling it straight from the restart as Darren Currie curled a dipping drive just over Coyne's angle.
And Leon McKenzie was the width of the crossbar from making it 2-0 in the 56th minute, cutting in from the right and smacking the woodwork with a delightful dipping attempt.
A frantic game suddenly moved up several gears and Noel-Williams almost carved out the equaliser at the other end, seeing his effort blocked in the nick of time.
And as the pace continued, McKenzie's persistence carved out another clear goalscoring opportunity, which he blazed over the bar form an acute angle.
Stern John screwed yet another good attempt wide midway through the half as City pushed to make the game safe.
But with the game ebbing and flowing, Noel-Williams again saw his shot blocked after a neat spin ten yards from goal.
Graham Branch, making only his second appearance of the season, replaced Wade Elliott with 15 minutes remaining as Burnley went for broke.
But the Sky Blues still pressed and Robert Page saw his firm header turned superbly round the post by the athletic Coyne.
Alan Mahon joined Branch as the Clarets looked to earn a deserved share of the spoils.
But when Lafferty's late piledriver was turned around the post and Branch's chip was headed off the line in stoppage time the game was up for battling Burnley, who had Mahon booked after the final whistle for dissent.
BURNLEY: Coyne, Thomas, Duff, McGreal, Harley, Elliott (Branch 76), J O'Connor (Mahon 78), McCann, Jones (Foster 90), Noel-Williams, Lafferty.
Subs: Sinclair, Hyde.
Booked: J O'Connor 7, McCann 54, Harley 63, Mahon 90
COVENTRY: Marshall, Page, Ward, Doyle, Adebola, John, McKenzie (Kyle 90), Cameron, Duffy, Clarke, Currie (Hughes 83)
Subs: Birchall, Virgo, Bischoff
Booked: McKenzie 67
Ref: M Thorpe
