Robbie Keane eased Leeds' heartache following the FA Cup defeat by Liverpool.

The Republic of Ireland striker scored a glorious winner in the 69th minute to light up a tedious contest, in which nine players were booked.

It was a bitter sweet moment for Keane as this result nudges his former club closer to the First Division.

It took his tally to five for the club since arriving in December from Inter Milan, initially on loan until the end of the season.

Leeds have already made a down payment of £1million with another £11million to pay and already it looks money well spent.

Coventry defended deep and defended well for most of the game but as Keane showed there is no substitute for class.

Lee Bowyer retained his place in the Leeds midfield. Bowyer is one of four of the club's players currently on trial at Hull Crown Court.

Jonathan Woodgate, another player on trial, was replaced by Lucas Radebe at the back.

Radebe took the captain's armband after missing two matches as he was on international duty with South Africa.

Mustapha Hadji returned to the Coventry side at the expense of Jay Bothroyd.

Hadji made space on the left for Coventry after five minutes but his weak shot failed to trouble keeper Nigel Martyn.

Leeds, who had lost five previous games at home in the Premiership, surged forward three minutes later.

Rio Ferdinand linked up with the attack to get on the end of a pass from Erik Bakke and his effort stung keeper Magnus Hedman's hands.

Coventry, in serious relegation trouble, defended deep in the early stages in a bid to try and frustrate the home side.

They relied on counter-attacks with Hadji forced to go it alone up front.

Coventry winger David Thompson picked up the first booking of the game after 26 minutes following a stiff challenge on Eirik Bakke. Ian Harte played the free-kick short to Bowyer but his 25 yard effort went wide of the post.

Leeds stepped up the pace and Hedman was again called into action 10 minutes before the break.

The Coventry keeper showed a safe pair of hands to get on the end of a downward header from Bakke after Bowyer had floated in a corner.

Leeds striker Mark Viduka then found himself in a good position but Richard Shaw forced him wide and mopped up to clear the ball to safety.

Coventry, however, broke quickly in the 41st minute and keeper Martyn was forced to make a good block from Marcus Hall after Youssef Chippo and Craig Bellamy had linked up.

Hedman was forced to race off his line and boot Keane's close range shot to safety a minute before half-time after Bowyer had set up the opening.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan was forced to make a change in the 53rd minute when Barry Quinn limped off and was replaced by Paul Telfer.

John Eustace laid the ball into the path of Hadji four minutes later when his 25 yard effort went well wide of the target.

Leeds came close to making the breakthrough after 61 minutes when Keane won a free-kick 20 yards out.

Referee Rob Harris punished Paul Williams for pulling his opponent's shirt.

Harte powered a free-kick through the wall but Hedman reacted superbly to push the ball over the top.

Leeds took the lead after 69 minutes with a moment of magic from Keane. David Thompson cleared Viduka's shot off the line but the ball was returned into the box by Danny Mills.

Keane got on the end of it to send a spectacular overhead kick beyond Hedman.

That goal rattled Coventry and they almost conceded a second after 77 minutes.

Mills rattled in a shot from 20 yards that beat Hedman but came back off the post.

Teams:

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Radebe, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, Batty, Wilcox, Keane, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Dacourt, Robinson, Smith, Matteo, Burns.

Booked: Bakke, Viduka, Bowyer, Mills.

Goals: Keane 69.

Coventry: Hedman, Quinn (Telfer 51), Hall, Williams, Breen, Shaw, Carsley (Chippo 76), Thompson (Bothroyd 76), Eustace, Hadji, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Delorge.

Booked: Thompson, Bellamy, Hadji, Eustace.

Att: 36,555

Ref: R Harris (Oxford).