A Dennis Wise brace gave Coventry their third consecutive victory and heaped more misery on relegation-threatened Brighton at the Ricoh Arena.

Wise has had a positive influence on the Sky Blues since signing from Southampton earlier in the season, and he struck twice in the second half to secure all three points.

Brighton though, who have now won only once in their last six league outings and have recorded a solitary away victory all season, were unlucky not to have had the game won before before half-time after dominating the early proceedings.

They could have taken an early lead when Richard Carpenter's third minute corner was driven on to the bar by Alexandre Frutos.

Four minutes later Coventry's James Scowcroft sent a weak header over the bar before Brighton again came forward, this time Jake Robinson's drilled effort was parried to safety by Marton Fulop.

Gary Hart headed wide as the visitors continued to dominate while Sebastien Carole saw his shot flash wide of the goal.

Just before the half hour mark Coventry were forced into making a substitution when Gary McSheffrey was replaced by Andy Morrell after the striker suffered an injury.

Robinson, recalled to the starting line-up for his first start since the beginning of January, headed wide from close range following Dean Hammond's cross before Carole again threatened on goal when his 25-yard shot was parried to safety by Fulop.

But the home side snatched the lead just before the break with their first real chance of the half.

Wise scored his third goal in his third game since signing for the Sky Blues when he headed home a Marcus Hall cross from close range.

Michael Doyle's volley was caught by Wayne Henderson before Carole's weak effort was comfortably saved by Fulop as Brighton searched for an equaliser.

But Coventry had come out a different side with Wise causing the most problems and it was the former Chelsea captain who put the game beyond Brighton in the 68th minute.

A shot by Andrew Whing was palmed away by Henderson only for Wise to fire the ball into the net from close range.

And the home side were desperately unlucky not to add a third in the 77th minute when Morrell's cross found Scowcroft whose shot was brilliantly palmed to safety by Henderson.

Teams:

Coventry Fulop, Whing, Page, Williams, Hall, Scowcroft, Doyle,Wise (Impey 90), McSheffrey (Morrell 30), John,Adebola (Hutchison 70).

Subs Not Used: Ince, Shaw.

Booked: John.

Goals: Wise 43, 68.

Brighton Henderson, El-Abd, McShane, Butters, Lynch, Carole,Carpenter, Hammond, Frutos (Kazim-Richards 70), Hart,Robinson (McPhee 70).

Subs Not Used: Martin, Reid, Hinshelwood.

Att: 20,541

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).