Nott'm Forest 2-0 Coventry

Nottingham Forest secured their first home victory since November at the expense of relegation rivals Coventry.

After a poor first half, Forest almost led when Chris Gunter's cross struck unwitting team-mate Dexter Blackstock but the ball came back off the post.

Garath McCleary then carried the ball from inside his own half, cut infield and squeezed a left-footed shot inside the near post from 18 yards out.

Substitute Robbie Findley slotted a shot under Joe Murphy for the second.

The defeat leaves Coventry, who have now lost their last nine away matches, five points behind fourth-from-bottom Forest after Portsmouth's deduction of 10 points dropped the south coast club into the relegation places.

For a long time a stalemate had looked inevitable and Forest were booed off at half-time by their supporters.

Forest boss Steve Cotterill responded with a double substitution, introducing Findley and fellow striker Blackstock, with Marcus Tudgay and midfielder Scott Wootton making way.

Findley was involved immediately, winning the corner from which McCleary shot wide, before Blackstock's accidental intervention from Gunter's cross.

Murphy's bravery denied McCleary as he dived at the feet of the Forest forward, while Gary Deegan went close for Coventry as he unleashed a shot that flew narrowly past the top corner.

McCleary continued to impress and his driven cross was flicked goalwards by Andy Reid, but Murphy somehow managed to turn it away.

However, there was little the Coventry goalkeeper could do to prevent Forest's opener from McCleary's surging run and shot.

And with four minutes remaining United States international Findley controlled Reid's cross on his chest before shooting past Murphy.