by Mark Denham, from Cardiff City Stadium

Snapshot

Anthony Gerrard's first goal for Cardiff  City after five minutes of play set City on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Cardiff City Stadium.

Gerrard headed home a pin-point Mark Kennedy return cross after Peter Whittingham's corner just evaded the head of Jay Bothroyd.

Coventry enjoyed a ten minute spell midway through the half but in truth it was their only period of dominance throughout the entire game.

City continued their sharp, attacking football after the interval and doubled their lead on the hour mark. Jay Bothroyd was fouled inside the area by Stephen Wright, leaving Whittingham to step up and fire home his ninth goal of the season.

Chronological Report

Coventry City kicked off on a wet Tuesday evening at Cardiff City Stadium, attacking the Canton End. Early pressure led to a corner for the away side, though Jay Bothroyd, excelling in his defensive duties successfully cleared the danger.

It took just five minutes for the Bluebirds to break the deadlock when Anthony Gerrard powered home a superb header to register his first goal for the club. Adam Matthews and Chris Burke had initially earned City a corner on the right hand side that Peter Whittingham aimed flat and accurately towards the head of Bothroyd; the striker couldn't get to the ball, though his defensive colleague Gerrard had no such difficulty in heading home from Mark Kennedy's return ball.

GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 Coventry City (Gerrard, 5mins).

City continued to play neat attacking football following the goal, though Coventry came so close to equalising on nine minutes through Clinton Morrison. Freddy Eastwood broke superbly down the left wing before crossing powerfully and accurately towards Morrison at the far post; the former Crystal Palace striker kept his head down and struck low, only denied by a superbly athletic save from David Marshall.

Another superb Matthews run almost brought about a second for the Bluebirds after fourteen minutes, the youngster breaking in to the box with guile and determination to get on the end of a delightful Bothroyd ball. Matthews cut the ball back towards the centre of the area for the tightest of angles, though neither Chopra, Whittingham nor Ledley could get the crucial touch.

Coventry began seeing more of the ball as we approached the hour mark, though their neat one-twos and accurate, directional running were causing little threat to the Cardiff back four.

Chris Burke had two half chances for the Bluebirds before Michael Chopra looked to have latched on to a length of the field pass from Matthews. Ben Turner brought the striker down, though Referee Russell saw fit to only show yellow to the defender despite him arguably being the last man. Bothroyd's free-kick was off-target, though City had the bit between their teeth at this stage.

Concerted City pressure continued towards the interval and the Bluebirds won a free-kick central to the box, twenty-five yards from goal on the stroke of half time. Whittingham struck over, though Coventry looked a rattled side, desperate to hear the half time whistle.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 COVENTRY CITY

Coventry came out with more spirit and endeavour following the interval and may have equalised had it not been for a superb Mark Hudson challenge on Leon Best inside the opening five minutes. Conditions made for a fast paced, unpredictable affair; the midfield was congested with play at times loose and frenetic.

On fifty-eight minutes, a bizarre moment led to a Bluebirds penalty kick. Michael Chopra evaded the attention of Martin Cranie to run clear at Kieron Westwood. Westwood got down brilliantly to save low from Chopra, though Bothroyd was bundled over by Coventry's Stephen Wright as the rebound fell to him, causing the Referee to point to the spot and book the devastated Sky Blues defender. Peter Whittingham stepped up and coolly slotted home is ninth goal of the season.

GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 2-0 Coventry City (Whittingham, Pen. 60mins).

Substitution, Coventry City: David Bell for Leon Best (65 mins).

Substitution, Coventry City: Chris Hussey for Patrick Van Aanholt (68 mins).

Despite a promising start to the second period for the visitors, Coventry's first real chance didn't come until the sixty-ninth minute of the game. Welsh international Freddy Eastwood raced free of the Bluebirds defence and in to the penalty area, his fine low shot equalled only by David Marshall's expert save.

Coventry's chance seemed to rattle the Bluebirds and Chopra almost made it three in the very next attack. Burke found time and space coming in from the flank before freeing the striker inside the area; Chopra beat the attention of Chris Hussey, but his shot struck the bar as it darted past the flailing Westwood.

Anthony Gerrard found himself unmarked in the penalty area on eighty minutes with a golden opportunity to head home his second of the night. Unfortunately the ball fell kindly for Westwood, despite it taking a direction changing deflection from the lurching Bothroyd. It was the last action of a comfortable Cardiff victory, keeping them in third position in the Championship, now just a point off top spot.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 2-0 COVENTRY CITY