Vincent Pericard's first hat-trick in English football gave Plymouth a convincing 3-1 Coca-Cola Championship win over Coventry at Home Park.

Pericard struck twice in the first half and made sure of victory with another midway through the second - before substitute Dennis Wise grabbed a late consolation for Coventry.

The Pilgrims had drawn a blank in their previous two games but suffered only one defeat in their last eight league fixtures.

Coventry had been in fine form in the second half of the season with a run which powered them up the form table.

But the home side started the stronger as Micky Evans became the first player to test either goalkeeper when his long-range effort was caught by Marton Fulop.

Plymouth, enjoying all the possession, deservedly took the lead in the 13th minute when Pericard - on loan from Portsmouth - drilled the ball home from the middle of the box for his first goal for the club.

The goal encouraged Tony Pulis' side - with Pericard causing all sorts of problems for the Sky Blues and unlucky to see his left-footed effort parried to safety by Fulop.

Gary McSheffrey was the first to force Plymouth goalkeeper Romain Larrieu into a save just before the half-hour mark when he had to palm away the striker's effort.

Evans twice saw headers held by Fulop, before Stern John's shot was comfortably saved by Larrieu as Coventry looked to get themselves back in the game.

But the impressive Pericard gave Coventry a mountain to climb when he grabbed his and Plymouth's second four minutes before half-time, the striker curling the ball beyond Fulop and into the back of the net.

Pericard continued to be a threat for Plymouth after the break as he first teed up a chance for Evans, who saw his shot blocked, before an effort of his own was charged down by Andy Impey.

Coventry started to come forward after the hour, and John's shot from the middle of the box was tipped over by Larrieu before the goalkeeper punched away McSheffrey's 65th-minute effort.

Dele Adebola was next to test the Frenchman when the former Birmingham striker's right-footed shot was parried by Larrieu.

But Plymouth wrapped up the points when Pericard completed his hat-trick in the 74th minute, latching on to a Tony Capaldi cross and firing the ball in.

Wise grabbed a consolation for Coventry with six minutes remaining, the veteran midfielder finally beating Larrieu with a left-footed effort.

Andy Morrell headed into the hands of Larrieu late on - but Plymouth comfortably held on to their two-goal lead to secure the points.

Teams:

Plymouth Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Ward,Aljofree (Djordjic 81), Norris (Buzsaky 81), Wotton, Nalis,Capaldi, Evans (Chadwick 60), Pericard.

Subs Not Used: Hodges, McCormick.

Goals: Pericard 13, 41, 74.

Coventry Fulop, Whing, Williams, Heath, Impey,Scowcroft (Jorgensen 78), Hutchison, Doyle (Wise 78),McSheffrey, John, Adebola (Morrell 78).

Subs Not Used: Ince, Thornton.

Booked: Williams, Wise, McSheffrey.

Goals: Wise 84.

Att: 12,958

Ref: P Armstrong (Berkshire).