Coventry City 1-0 Cardiff City: Viktor Gyokeres sends Sky Blues into play-off places
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Viktor Gyokeres made his senior international debut for Sweden in January 2019
Coventry City moved into the Championship play-off places with a comfortable win over Cardiff City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Sky Blues' top scorer Viktor Gyokeres scored his fourth of the season 15 minutes in, curling a low effort past Dillon Phillips into the bottom corner.
The hosts should have been further ahead and dominated throughout, Callum O'Hare, Dom Hyam and Kyle McFadzean all putting efforts wide.
Substitute James Collins headed Cardiff's only clear-cut opportunity off target late in the second half after wing-back Perry Ng's pinpoint cross.
Gyokeres almost bagged a second late on, but Coventry comfortably saw out the closing stages and remain unbeaten at home in the Championship this season.
Coventry ended with 10 men when Fankaty Dabo saw a late red card for a dangerous challenge on Marlon Pack, but despite the man advantage and throwing everyone forward in the final seconds the Bluebirds were still unable to test Simon Moore.
After a couple of half-chances for Kieffer Moore early on, Coventry were presented with the game's first real opportunity when Martin Waghorn was fouled off the ball in a counter-attack just outside the Cardiff area.
Gustavo Hamer's effort was blocked by the wall, as was the rebound, but Cardiff failed to heed the warning of Coventry's quick early breaks.
And it was from a similar counter-attack that Coventry took the lead 15 minutes in, when Gyokeres was played through by Jamie Allen.
Despite the attention of Curtis Nelson and Joel Bagan, the Sweden international curled his effort low past Phillips.
Coventry almost doubled their lead 10 minutes later, Cardiff failing to press as a team and leaving space in behind for Callum O'Hare, whose eventual shot was blocked by Nelson.
The first-half chances continued to come for the hosts, Hyam heading Waghorn's corner over before Kyle McFadzean did the same from a dangerous Hamer free-kick.
Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy made two half-time changes as he urged his side on
Unimpressed with the first-half performance, James Collins and Sam Bowen were brought on at the start of the second half by Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy, replacing Mark Harris and Sunday's hero Rubin Colwill.
Despite the changes it was the hosts that continued to dominate proceedings, O'Hare seeing his strike saved by Phillips after Waghorn elected not to take it on himself.
The Bluebirds' first chance of the second half came moments later as Ng crossed from one wing-back to another, but Joel Bagan could not keep his headed effort down.
That attempt was a rare one for the visitors as Waghorn and Gyokeres, supported by O'Hare and Hamer, caused the Cardiff back five problems all evening.
But with 15 minutes remaining the visitors were gifted a golden opportunity, Ng seemed fortunate not to concede a foul before crossing for substitute Collins, who unmarked four yards out could not put his header on target.
Gyokeres missed the chance to put the result beyond doubt when he was again put through one-on-one against Phillips with 10 minutes remaining, but this time the Cardiff goalkeeper came off his line to prevent a second.
The only stain on a brilliant Coventry performance was the red card in time added on for Dabo, who needlessly put a dangerous challenge on Pack with the ball deep in Cardiff territory.
Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy told BBC Sport Wales: "We'll stick at it, we had our chances near the end, we don't take them and we get beat.
"There was some really good defending by their back three, they deserved to win, there's not doubt about that in my mind.
"It's a tough week for us, so we've got to dig in and try to get something out of the game on Saturday [at home to Bournemouth]."