A Barry Hayles-inspired Plymouth showed Coventry that life without Micky Adams promises to be no easier following his sacking last week.

After a 15-minute delay due to floodlight failure, Ian Holloway's side were gifted first-half goals for Kevin Gallen and Akos Buzsaky by shocking City defending before Hayles curled home a superb third after the break.

Chris Birchall's tap-in kept the Sky Blues in touch at the interval, but despite a first goal in English football for recent signing Michael Mifsud to reduce the arrears, Argyle held on for a deserved three points from an entertaining encounter.

In cold and blustery conditions the home side produced what little good football there was early on and they gained their reward in the 18th minute when they took the lead.

Robert Page and Marcus Hall failed comically to deal with a routine long ball, allowing Hayles to steal in and pass to strike partner Gallen who turned inside and slotted home via the weak outstretched arm of goalkeeper Luke Steele.

But Coventry, led for the first time by caretaker manager Adrian Heath, were level four minutes later when Stern John's floated cross-field ball found Jay Tabb, who crossed for Birchall to stab home from close range under pressure.

Dele Adebola had a chance to put City ahead in the 27th minute after a great run and through ball from David McNamee, but Luke McCormick was off his line quickly to avert the danger.

Plymouth made the most of that let-off to retake the lead in the 32nd minute.

Hungarian midfielder Buzsaky seemed to be going nowhere as he dribbled wide on the edge of the area before cutting back inside.

But the City defence failed to put in a meaningful challenge, allowing him to fire into Steele's bottom-left corner from 20 yards.

If the Sky Blues were hoping the interval would bring a change in fortunes they were sadly mistaken, as Hayles made it three less than three minutes into the second half.

Collecting the ball on the left angle of the Coventry box the veteran picked his spot and curled a delightful effort into the far corner beyond Steele's despairing dive.

Hayles was inches from making it four in the 65th minute when he headed David Norris' outstanding right-wing cross wide from 10 yards.

But out of nowhere City were handed a lifeline in the 70th minute when substitute Mifsud lashed home a fantastic first-time volley on the full after Argyle failed to clear a right-sided free-kick - the Maltese winger's first goal for the club.

Moments later the visitors were almost level when another substitute, Kevin Thornton, forced McCormick into an athletic parry with a deflected 25-yard free-kick.

Plymouth gave a 10-minute debut to record signing Rory Fallon but he had little chance to shine as his new team held on.

Teams:

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Aljofree, Sawyer, Norris,Buzsaky (Ebanks-Blake 81), Nalis, Halmosi (Sinclair 76),Gallen, Hayles (Fallon 81).

Subs Not Used: Hodges, Summerfield.

Booked: Aljofree, Sawyer.

Goals: Gallen 18, Buzsaky 32, Hayles 48.

Coventry Steele, McNamee, Page, Hall, Whing,Birchall (Thornton 62), Doyle, Hughes, Tabb (Mifsud 61), John,Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett, Kyle, Virgo.

Booked: Page, Whing, Doyle, Adebola, Thornton.

Goals: Birchall 22, Mifsud 70.

Att: 9,841

Ref: S Tanner (Somerset).