Dele Adebola's composed strike gave Coventry a much-needed win over 10-man Ipswich in their Coca-Cola Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.

Julian Gray tapped in a rebound to give Iain Dowie's side an early lead but it was Ipswich who dominated the rest of the first half and they pulled level when Danny Haynes headed in after David Wright had rattled the underside of the crossbar.

But Adebola then clinically finished the first chance of the second period before Tommy Miller was harshly sent off to ensure that Jim Magilton's side continued their awful away form.

Town have the best home record in the division but are yet to win away and again looked vulnerable in defence.

After the 2-0 defeat at Leicester on Boxing Day, Magilton admitted that his side cannot be considered promotion candidates until they improve on their travels and the familiar deficiencies were again on show and they should have gone behind inside two minutes.

A simple long ball forward was misjudged by Ipswich captain Jason de Vos under pressure from Adebola and Michael Mifsud capitalised to nip in.

The Malta striker took a touch to steady himself but fired narrowly over from 15 yards with just Neil Alexander to beat.

It was a golden opportunity but the hosts did take the lead in the 11th minute after another mistake from de Vos.

Again he misread a long ball and after he dived in, Adebola took the ball off his toes and charged in on goal.

The burly striker could have shot but wisely squared the ball across the six-yard box to Mifsud and while Alexander parried his effort, Gray was on hand to apply a simple finish with his right foot.

Ipswich forward Pablo Counago then brilliantly span away from three defenders before playing in strike partner Alan Lee and he had a strong claim for a penalty turned away by referee Ian Williamson after he was clattered by Arjan de Zeeuw.

Magilton's side continued to dominate and Counago was only denied an equaliser by a fine one-handed save from Andy Marshall after he had firmly met Haynes' right-wing cross from eight yards with a header. But the Tractor Boys deservedly got their goal in the 42nd minute.

Full-back Wright let fly with a fine effort from 25 yards and while Marshall did superbly to tip it onto the crossbar, Haynes reacted quickest to head in the rebound.

Dowie had to replace Gray at the break with a calf injury while Jay Tabb had to come off shortly after with an ankle injury.

The game struggled to match the entertainment of the first half and it was a surprise when the home side regained the lead out of nothing in the 64th minute.

Substitute Liam Davis collected a loose ball in midfield and drove infield before feeding a delicate throughball into Adebola.

The big striker took a deft touch to take him clear of Wright before coolly rolling the ball beyond Alexander with his left foot.

Fellow sub Kevin Thornton then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of the goal which was narrowly missed by Mifsud before Thornton went close with an audacious effort from 40 yards after Alexander miscued a clearance.

Miller was then booked twice in quick succession for fouls to complete another miserable day on the road for Magilton.

Teams

Coventry Marshall, Osbourne, De Zeeuw, Turner, Borrowdale,Tabb (Thornton 51), Stephen Hughes (Ward 89), Doyle,Gray (Davis 46), Adebola, Mifsud.

Subs Not Used: Simmonds, Hildreth.

Booked: De Zeeuw, Borrowdale.

Goals: Gray 11, Adebola 64.

Ipswich Alexander, Casement (Trotter 89), Wilnis, De Vos,Wright, Haynes, Garvan, Miller, Walters, Counago (Williams 72),Lee (Rhodes 81).

Subs Not Used: Supple, Richards.

Sent Off: Miller (86).

Booked: Miller, Haynes.

Goals: Haynes 42.

Att: 18,346

Ref: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).