Coventry needed an own-goal to end their drought before Gary McAllister's men ran out comfortable winners at relegation-threatened Grimsby.

Grimsby defender Simon Ford had a day to forget as he headed past goalkeeper Danny Coyne for the opener and was penalised for the spot-kick from which City sealed the points.

Coventry boss McAllister, who dropped himself for the first time since October, had one of his four team changes to thank in the opening 10 minutes as keeper Fabien Debec kept out long-range efforts from Tony Gallimore and Michael Boulding.

But the Sky Blues, who had lost their previous four games without scoring, took the lead after 17 minutes thanks to a huge slice of luck.

Winger Richie Partridge broke down the right and defender Ford headed in off the crossbar under pressure from on-loan striker Matt Jansen.

Jansen, starting up front again with Julian Joachim, was booked minutes after the opener for a foul on Stuart Campbell, but should have doubled the lead on 32 minutes.

Youssef Chippo, in the side as a replacement for Vicente Engonga, had a shot blocked, but Jansen fired wide from 10 yards.

Moroccan midfielder Chippo then curled a 20-yarder wide of the post after a neat pass from Craig Pead as City finished the half on a high.

Town midfielder Alan Pouton, back in the side after recovering from a knee injury, and John Oster tried their luck from distance after the break, but failed to test Febec, while Danny Coyne did well to block Jansen from close range.

But Coventry ensured their first victory in nine games with a penalty after Ford had hauled downed Joachim.

John Eustace, who replaced McAllister in the centre of midfield, converted the 63rd-minute spot-kick to put the result beyond doubt.

Coyne made a fine save to keep out Partridge's close-range effort and then needed two attempts to keep out a 25-yard effort from the on-loan Liverpool player, while Chippo fluffed a chance from inside the six-yard box.

Mariners boss Paul Groves threw himself into the fray in the final 10 minutes after Darren Mansaram and Steve Livingstone had replaced Alan Pouton and Michael Boulding earlier in the half, but the visitors held firm.

Teams

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Ford, Santos, Gallimore, Oster, Pouton (Mansaram 64), Coldicott (Groves 83), Richard Hughes, Campbell, Boulding (Livingstone 79).

Subs Not Used: Allaway, Chettle.

Coventry: Debec, Caldwell, Konjic, Davenport, Whing, Chippo, Pead (Engonga 72), Eustace, Partridge, Jansen, Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Holdsworth, Quinn, McSheffrey.

Booked: Jansen, Chippo.

Goals: Ford 17 og, Eustace 63 pen.

Att: 5,736

Ref: K Hill (Hertfordshire).