Nottingham Forest climbed out of the Championship drop zone as Coventry's dismal away form continued at the City Ground.

James Perch steered the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards in the opening minute of the second half.

With Barnsley drawing at Reading and Norwich not in action until Sunday in the East Anglia derby against Ipswich, the goal lifted Forest above both of their relegation rivals and up to 20th in the table.

Both managers made two changes from the sides they fielded in their respective Bank Holiday Monday fixtures.

One was forced upon Billy Davies after Kelvin Wilson was sent off in Forest's battling goalless draw at Sheffield United.

Another defender Ian Breckin also dropped out of the starting line-up as midfielders Paul Anderson and Lewis McGugan were recalled.

Aron Gunnarsson and Robbie Simpson returned from injury to boost Chris Coleman's options for Coventry. They came into the side at the expense of Marcus Hall and Kevin Thornton.

Gunnarsson's long throws caused Forest problems early on and it was from one of his long launches into the box that the first chance arrived.

McGugan's headed clearance only went as far as Guillaume Beuzelin on the edge of the area and the Frenchman's first-time shot flew just over the crossbar.

Beuzelin flashed another effort wide after 11 minutes before Clinton Morrision warmed Paul Smith's palms from 12 yards out.

Despite Coventry's dominance it was Forest who came closest to scoring after 20 minutes when Luke Chambers headed McGugan's inswinging corner against the crossbar.

The half-time introduction of Garath McCleary for the injured Anderson breathed new life into Forest, who went ahead immediately after the restart.

Following good build-up play down the right, Dexter Blackstock held the ball up and laid it into the path of Perch and he guided his shot past Keiren Westwood.

It took two Coventry defenders to halt a marauding run from McCleary and the 21-year-old threatened again with a 15-yard shot just before the hour mark.

Westwood kept the Sky Blues in the game midway through the second half with a parrying save to deny Chris Cohen.

Teams:

Nottm Forest Smith, Gunter, Morgan, Chambers, Perch, Anderson (McCleary 46), McGugan (Breckin 85), Osbourne, Cohen, Garner, Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Redmond, Earnshaw, Davies.

Booked: McGugan.

Goals: Perch 46.

Coventry Westwood, Osbourne, Ward, Dann (Turner 69), Fox, Eastwood, Beuzelin, Gunnarsson, Doyle, Simpson (Cain 75), Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Hall, Walker.

Booked: Doyle, Osbourne.

Att: 27,856

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).