An electrifying burst of three goals shortly after half-time swept Wolves back into second place in the First Division.

After a goalless first half, Dave Jones' side smashed Coventry's fragile resistance to erase the memory of two defeats in their previous three home games.

The Sky Blues had survived to the break despite contributing little in an attacking sense - but they were blown away in an onslaught inspired by Dean Sturridge.

Wolves' pre-Christmas signing opened the scoring in the 51st minute when he started a move which was continued by Nathan Blake's strong run and pass, the former Derby and Leicester striker driving home on the run from 15 yards.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0 when an inspired Mark Kennedy delivered a curling early cross from the left which caught Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman in two minds and left Sturridge free to race in and head home superbly.

Although David Thompson crashed a stunning shot narrowly wide at the other end, Coventry were right on the rack.

A third goal duly arrived in the 58th minute, Kennedy and Shaun Newton cleverly making the running for Colin Cameron to hook home from close range off the hand of the diving Hedman.

It was a scoring sequence out of keeping with Wolves' progress this season.

They have generally found goals hard to come by, especially at home, and badly needed an emphatic victory - not only to leapfrog back above Burnley but also to raise public confidence in them.

Their win could have been even more decisive. But Blake, having won a penalty with a burst of speed which led to a foul on him by the fit again Gary Breen, miserably dragged his spot-kick wide as Hedman dived the other way.

That 63rd-minute miss kept Coventry interested - and Thompson remained a handful, bringing a good diving save from Michael Oakes from 25 yards before flying past Paul Butler and slamming a left-foot drive off target.

But the former Liverpool midfielder, booked in the 28th minute for a late tackle on Kevin Muscat and then fortunate to stay on the field for hacking down Kennedy, was shown the red card six minutes from time when he lunged in late on Oakes.

Even with 10 men, Coventry pulled one back in injury time when Lee Carsley's corner from the right went in off home defender Joleon Lescott and Sky Blues substitute Jay Bothroyd, who was credited with the goal.

Wolves might have had further goals in the final stages from Kennedy, Muscat and Alex Rae - while Kennedy had brought an unconvincing save from the goalkeeper with the best of their first-half attempts.

Blake and Sturridge each had the ball in the net in the first half, but both were clearly off-side.

Teams:

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Butler, Lescott, Camara, Newton, Cameron, Rae, Kennedy, Blake (Ndah 75), Sturridge (Miller 85).

Subs Not Used: Naylor, Andrews, Murray.

Booked: Cameron, Butler, Kennedy.

Goals: Sturridge 50, 53, Cameron 56.

Coventry: Hedman, Edworthy, Breen, Shaw, Antonelius, Fowler, Thompson, Carsley, Delorge (Betts 63), Mills (Bothroyd 45), Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Hydlgaard, Davenport, Quinn.

Sent Off: Thompson (81).

Booked: Thompson, Breen.

Goals: Bothroyd 90.

Att: 21,009

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).