Stern John and Gary McSheffrey scored within 70 seconds of each other to give Coventry victory over Luton at Kenilworth Road.

John's crisp volley just before the half hour put the visitors ahead and Luton's bright start was rendered meaningless when McSheffrey added a second from close range moments later.

The win - Coventry's first in five outings - came despite Ady Williams' late own goal and pulled the Sky Blues level on points with Luton, who had previously gone four games without defeat.

Don Hutchison's ageing legs showed no signs of slowness in the early stages and he might have opened the scoring in the second minute had Andrew Whing's cross not been plucked out of his path by Luton goalkeeper Marlon Beresford.

At the other end, Luton's Rowan Vine found himself in space and pulled the trigger from 20 yards, but his shot was blocked by a brave intervention from Michael Doyle.

The Sky Blues had midfielder Doyle to thank once again moments later as he got in the way of Kevin Foley's drive from 12 yards.

But Doyle was nowhere to be seen when Ahmet Brkovic stung the palms of Coventry goalkeeper Marton Fulop with an angled shot from 18 yards.

Luton continued to carve out the better openings as the half drew on and Fulop had to be at his athletic best to pull off a save from Warren Feeney's shot.

But, against the run of play, the visitors took the lead when Whing's first time cross caught the Hatters napping and John reacted quicker than Steve Howard to strike a clean volley past Beresford.

Before Luton could react they found themselves 2-0 down, as Whing drove Coventry forward and McSheffrey pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area before firing into the bottom corner of the net from six yards.

Luton's early momentum had been lost, but they looked to drag themselves back into the contest before half-time as Peter Holmes' free-kick dipped narrowly wide of the post.

Coventry threatened again immediately after the break, as Hutchison's inswinging corner found McSheffrey unmarked and the midfielder was inches away from netting his second with a first-time shot.

Hutchison tested Beresford with a long-range effort before Andrew Morrell kept the Luton goalkeeper on his toes with a pair of shots in quick succession.

Beresford ensured the deficit was not widened, while Fulop kept his clean sheet in tact with saves from Holmes' powerful drive and Howard's 20-yard looping shot.

That clean sheet was ruined, however, in the 85th minute, when Enoch Showunmi's cross collided with Coventry's Williams, who bundled the ball into his own net.

Teams

Luton Beresford, Foley, Edwards (Keane 57), Barnett,Heikkinen, Feeney, Holmes (Bell 82), Vine (Morgan 57), Brkovic,Showunmi, Howard.

Subs Not Used: Stevens, Brill.

Booked: Brkovic, Barnett, Keane.

Goals: Williams 85 og.

Coventry Fulop, Whing, Hall, Williams, Heath,McSheffrey (Scowcroft 80), Morrell (Thornton 90), Hughes,Doyle, John (Adebola 80), Hutchison.

Subs Not Used: Duffy, Wise.

Goals: John 29, McSheffrey 30.

Att: 8,752

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).