Second-half goals from Burley's John Oster and Ian Moore condemned Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Coventry to a fifth successive league defeat.

The Clarets had spent much of the first half under pressure with Dele Adebola, Christian Negouai and Gary McSheffrey all going close for the hosts.

But the Clarets eventually ran out comfortable winners thanks to Oster's 65th-minute finish and a comic goal claimed by Moore four minutes later.

Adebola sparked panic in the Burnley penalty area early on after robbing a floundering John McGreal but his shot was parried by goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

McSheffrey and Negouai, operating as a striker on this occasion rather than in his accustomed midfield role, had successive follow-ups blocked by defenders.

McSheffrey unleashed a right-foot effort which went marginally wide before a raking 50-yard pass from Steve Staunton sent him away on the left wing.

The cross was delivered with perfection for Negouai but Jensen was down quickly to save from the on-loan Manchester City player.

And there was more frustration in store for McSheffrey as he blazed successive opportunities over the crossbar, though his long-range effort after the half hour was tipped over by Jensen.

Coventry ran out for the second half with Neil Wood replacing Stephen Hughes and Stern John introduced up front for Negouai.

And the hosts were soon carrying on where they had left off prior to the break as Coventry gained a free-kick on the edge of the Burnley box but Michael Doyle could only fire into the defensive wall.

At the other end, Oster's set-piece was comfortably dealt with by Sky Blues shot stopper Luke Steele ahead of Jensen saving Wood's header from Graham Barrett's right-wing cross.

But Burnley proved their potency on the break as Oster set up Moore with 55 minutes gone.

Steele, the Manchester United 'keeper on loan at Highfield Road for the season, was down well to block Moore's shot with his left wrist and then, with an open goal gaping, Micah Hyde could only loft the ball into the stand.

Barrett forced another save from Jensen after a free-kick on the hour but in the 65th minute the Sky Blues were undone when Tony Grant's slide-rule pass set free Oster behind left-back Staunton.

And the midfielder made no mistake with a delicate chip lifted into the net as Steele went to ground.

Stuart Giddings replaced Staunton less than a minute later but the hosts slipped further behind in calamitous style with 69 minutes gone after Steele claimed a cross but then spilled the ball on landing.

Grant needed no second invitation to send a mis-hit shot at goal which was then helped on its way by Moore who saw the ball bobble past the wrong-footed Giddings and Dean Leacock before trickling over the line.

A late Sky Blues rally made little dent on the dogged Burnley rearguard despite the aerial bombardment of their box.

Teams:

Coventry: Steele, Whing, Williams, Leacock, Staunton (Giddings 66), Barrett, Doyle, Hughes (Wood 45), McSheffrey, Negouai (John 46), Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Jorgensen, Shaw.

Booked: John.

Burnley: Jensen, Duff, McGreal, Cahill, Camara, Oster (Roche 88), Hyde, Grant, Valois, Branch, Moore.

Subs Not Used: Coyne, O'Neill, Pilkington, Scott.

Booked: Hyde, McGreal, Duff.

Goals: Oster 64, Moore 69.

Att: 13,236

Ref: S Tanner (S Gloucestershire).