Ade Akinbiyi and Robbie Blake marked their returns to action with a goal apiece as Burnley prolonged 10-man Coventry's Championship misery at the Ricoh Arena.

Captain Michael Doyle also scored on his return from suspension for Coventry, who had Kevin Kyle sent off early in the second half, but the Sky Blues are still without a league win in 2008.

Coventry are free to sign new players after the transfer embargo on the club was lifted by the Football League this week, and on this showing Iain Dowie's side are in desperate need of some fresh blood.

Akinbiyi, back in Burnley's starting XI following the sale of top scorer Andy Gray to Ipswich, opened the scoring after 10 minutes when he steered Wade Elliott's right-wing cross into the roof of the net from 12 yards out.

Midway through the first half, Doyle announced his return from a one-match ban by bringing the hosts level.

The Irishman poked the ball home from close range after Brian Jensen had produced a superb save to parry Michael Hughes' shot.

Blake, who was recalled by Owen Coyle at the expense of Steve Jones, justified his manager's decision by sealing all three points for Burnley in the 68th minute.

Coventry gave the ball away inside their own half and Joey Gudjonsson's pass found Blake, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner from 12-yards out.

The hosts started brightly and only a fine save from Jensen prevented them from taking the lead inside the opening two minutes.

The Dane kept out a powerful volley from Michael Mifsud before Stanislav Varga blocked the follow up from Hughes. Elliott Ward headed over the crossbar from the resulting corner.

It was against the run of play when Akinbiyi struck, but Coventry responded well and Ward went close with another header in the 18th minute.

Doyle equalised soon after but the Sky Blues had Dimi Konstantopoulos to thank for preserving parity when the giant Greek blocked Elliott's close-range effort.

At the other end, Jensen thwarted Mifsud when it looked like the Malta international would take his tally for the season to 16 goals.

Kyle, who was booked for a foul on Jon Harley just before half-time, was sent off in the 56th-minute following a two-footed lunge on Graham Alexander.

Referee Eddie Ilderton deemed the offence only worthy of a second yellow card when it could so easily have been a straight red for the Scot.

Coventry were the better side despite their numerical disadvantage. Hughes went close before Jensen produced another fine save to thwart Mifsud before the hour mark.

But Dowie's side were masters of their own destruction after they surrendered possession and allowed Blake to score the winning goal.

Teams:

Coventry Konstantopoulos, Osbourne, De Zeeuw, Ward, Davis (Stephen Hughes 82), Tabb (Simpson 87), Doyle, Michael Hughes, Gray (Adebola 69), Kyle, Mifsud.

Subs Not Used: Borrowdale, Thornton.

Sent Off: Kyle (56).

Booked: Kyle, Ward, De Zeeuw.

Goals: Doyle 26.

Burnley Jensen, Alexander, Varga, Unsworth, Harley, Elliott, James O'Connor (Mahon 59), McCann, Gudjonsson (Spicer 75), Blake, Akinbiyi (Jones 81).

Subs Not Used: Kiraly, Jordan.

Booked: Alexander, Blake, Harley, Varga.

Goals: Akinbiyi 10, Blake 68.

Att: 17,347

Ref: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).