Cardiff kept up the pressure on the Championship's top two as they eased to victory against Coventry.

Defender Anthony Gerrard opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a powerful header and influential midfielder Peter Whittingham stepped up to convert a penalty after Jay Bothroyd had been fouled.

Michael Chopra came close to a third for the Bluebirds but his neat shot came back off the woodwork.

Cardiff made one change from the side which drew 1-1 at home to Crystal Palace, with Stephen McPhail starting ahead of Gavin Rae.

Aron Gunnarsson was missing for Coventry after suffering what was initially thought to be a broken leg in the 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Elliott Ward dropped to the bench, with Freddy Eastwood and Martin Cranie coming in.

The Bluebirds got off to the perfect start when Coventry failed to clear a Whittingham corner and Chris Burke sent over a superb cross which was powered home by the head of Gerrard.

The Sky Blues responded with a well-struck shot from Clinton Morrison which David Marshall did well to tip around the post.

McPhail blazed over before Chopra spurned a decent chance, firing straight at Keiren Westwood from 12 yards.

Burke had two quick-fire chances which failed to trouble the goalkeeper, while Bothroyd fired a free-kick high and wide from 25 yards.

It was all Cardiff as the half drew to a close with Westwood keeping out a fierce shot from Whittingham.

Coventry midfielder Jack Cork tried his luck from 30 yards at the start of the second half but Marshall was equal to his effort.

Cardiff extended their lead on the hour from the penalty spot. Chopra latched onto a poor backpass and looked to round the keeper but played the ball square for Bothroyd who was brought down by Stephen Wright.

Whittingham took the kick and sent Marshall the wrong way.

Coventry boss Chris Coleman made two substitutions in a bid to get back into the game, David Bell coming on for Leon Best and new signing Chris Hussey replacing Patrick Van Aanholt.

But it was Cardiff who almost made it three when Chopra was sent clear one-on-one with Marshall. The prolific striker dinked the ball over the keeper but watched in agony as the ball came back off a post.

Bothroyd should have done better with a close-range effort with 10 minutes remaining, while Burke's 25-yard attempt was comfortably gathered by Westwood as the home side easily held on.

Teams:

Cardiff Marshall, Matthews, Hudson, Gerrard, Kennedy, Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley, Burke, Chopra, Bothroyd.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Rae, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack.

Booked: Bothroyd.

Goals: Gerrard 5, Whittingham 60 pen.

Coventry Westwood, Wright, Van Aanholt (Hussey 68), Turner, Cranie, Eastwood, Osbourne, Cork, McIndoe, Morrison, Best (Bell 65).

Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Ward, Madine, Grandison, Clarke.

Booked: Turner, Cork, Wright, Van Aanholt.

Att: 19,038

Ref: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).