Coventry bounced back from their ignominious midweek FA Cup exit to register a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest and spark heightened relegation fears at the City Ground.

Still smarting from Tuesday's 3-1 fourth round replay defeat at Colchester, the Sky Blues' performance had been workmanlike rather than spectacular save the Patrick Suffo strike which served to separate these Midlands rivals and extend Forest's winless streak into a 14th successive game.

And with arch-rivals and neighbours Derby having earned a point thanks to a 2-2 draw with Cardiff at Pride Park, defeat to Coventry left Forest languishing in the third relegation spot.

Suffo had been excused duty at Layer Road but Coventry boss Eric Black recalled the former Cameroon international ahead of this afternoon's City Ground clash and Suffo repaid his manager's faith by giving the visitors a fourth-minute lead.

Midfielder Stephen Warnock, on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, had been responsible for laying the groundwork after having cut in off the left flank before supplying Suffo, who had been loitering with intent on the edge of the 'D'.

And quick control allied to a drop of the shoulder earned the Highfield Road hitman the time and space to pull the trigger from 18 yards out and drive the ball low past Reds keeper Darren Ward, whose first duty of the afternoon was to then pick the ball out of the net.

Forest midfielder Danny Sonner, who this week had been recalled to the Northern Ireland fold, went in search of an equaliser but his aerial effort from a Matthieu Louis-Jean cross was never likely to trouble Scott Shearer in the Coventry goal.

But there was panic in the Sky Blues goalmouth on the 20-minute mark when Shearer needed two bites to claim Andy Reid's right-wing corner ahead of an ambitious long-range effort from Michael Doyle which fizzed wide of the woodwork at the other end.

Michael Chopra, given a debut after having arrived on loan from Newcastle just 48 hours earlier, was closer with a fierce shot on the turn but fellow Forest frontman Marlon King could only head wide as the interval approached.

Sonner was replaced by striker Gareth Taylor before the start of the second period as Forest went in search of a leveller but the Welsh international would see his 47th-minute effort denied by the outstretched boot of Shearer while Chopra's follow-up was blocked by Andy Whing.

And Forest threatened again on the hour when Louis-Jean's centre from the right flank was met at the back post by Taylor who nodded back across goal for Chopra whose improvised half-volley effort from an acute angle rippled the side netting.

Taylor went close moment later too as he met Reid's left-wing supply with a flying header directed marginally wide but Warnock should have doubled the visitors' advantage instead of blazing over the bar when through on goal in the 90th minute.

Nottm Forest Ward, Louis-Jean, Walker, Doig, Robertson, Sonner (Taylor 45), Williams, Bopp, Reid, King (Cash 84), Chopra.

Subs Not Used: Jess, Roche, Gunnarsson.

Booked: Reid.

Coventry Shearer, Whing, Davenport, Staunton, Gordon (Pead 82), Gudjonsson, Deloumeaux, Doyle, Warnock, Suffo, Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Ward, Shaw, McSheffrey, Morrell.

Goals: Suffo 4.

Att: 23,075

Ref: G Salisbury (Lancashire).