A first-half brace from Michael Doyle and a single goal by Jay Tabb boosted struggling Coventry's hopes of escaping the drop, as they beat Coca-Cola Championship promotion hopefuls Plymouth.

Doyle struck twice in the space of six minutes towards the end of the first period, firing home from 12 yards after 37 minutes then doubling the Sky Blues' lead two minutes before the whistle.

Chris Coleman's side were good value for their win as they reduced play-off chasing Plymouth to virtual spectators.

The Sky Blues started the day having picked up just one win in their last seven league games while Plymouth had won just one of their last four matches.

Coventry boss Coleman named on-loan striker Zavon Hines as a substitute but was without forward Leon Best who began a two-match ban.

Plymouth were missing suspended Hungary winger Peter Halmosi but welcomed back four players from international duty - Wales striker Jermaine Easter, Hungarian central defender Krisztian Timar and Scotland duo Gary Teale and Russell Anderson.

City's Stephen Hughes had his side's first effort, his left-footed 20-yard shot testing goalkeeper Luke McCormick in only the third minute.

And again Coventry went close in the 11th minute when Tabb's 25-yard volley went well wide of the left-hand post.

Plymouth's first chance came from a 20th-minute effort from Steven MacLean whose 20-yard shot went well wide of the Coventry right-hand post.

Julian Gray's close-range effort then went just over the Pilgrims' crossbar with half-an-hour on the board.

The Sky Blues' dominance paid off in the 36th minute when Doyle's close-range effort beat the outstretched McCormick and just six minutes later they extended their lead again through Doyle when his left-footed shot flew into the top left-hand corner of the Plymouth goal.

Coventry's dominance continued into the second half when the lively Tabb raced clear down the right only to see his shot go well over the Plymouth bar.

It was Tabb who secured all three points for the Sky Blues in the 64th minute when he latched onto a Robbie Simpson cross to direct his shot into the bottom of the Pilgrims' goal.

Straight after Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock threw caution to the wind, making a triple attacking substitution to try and dent Coventry's three-goal cushion.

Plymouth did get a consolation in the 80th minute when MacLean's close-range shot beat Kasper Schmeichel in the Coventry goal.

But it was too little to late as Coventry continued to push for a fourth when Michael Mifsud's 20-yard effort was blocked by Plymouth defender Marcel Seip.

Teams:

Coventry Schmeichel, Fox, Ward, Dann, Osbourne, Tabb,Stephen Hughes, Doyle, Gray (Thornton 61), Mifsud (Hines 87),Simpson.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Hall, Duffy.

Booked: Simpson.

Goals: Doyle 37, 43, Tabb 65.

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Clark (Abdou 68),Anderson (Timar 67), Sawyer (Mackie 68), Teale, Wotton, Seip,Paterson, MacLean, Easter.

Subs Not Used: Nalis, Jutkiewicz.

Booked: Easter, Sawyer, MacLean, Paterson.

Goals: MacLean 81.

Att: 18,775

Ref: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).