Coventry skipper Gary McAllister turned in an inspired performance to send Sheffield Wednesday ever closer to relegation from the Premiership.

McAllister - whose future with the Sky Blues is shrouded in doubt - scored twice to make it a winning send-off for veteran goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic who is retiring at the age of 42.

Results elsewhere mean that the Owls are still clinging to their lives in the top flight by the narrowest of margins.

They are still six points adrift of fourth from bottom Bradford with an inferior goal difference and would have to win their last two games and hope the Bantams slip up in their final match.

But on this performance that scenario looks a forlorn hope as they were carved up by Gordon Strachan's side.

Coventry were able to play with a rare freedom at this juncture of the season after their almost perennial 11th hour escapes from relegation in previous years.

But there was no question of their taking their foot off the pedal and they gave their fans a great send-off in the last match at Highfield Road this season with an exhilarating performance.

The Sky Blues may be unable to win on their travels but on home soil they are a match for anyone with the firepower at their disposal.

The Moroccan duo of Mustapha Hadji and Youssef Chippo tormented Wednesday throughout while Peruvian striker Ysrael Zuniga showed he will be a force to be reckoned with when he fully adjusts to the Premiership.

But head and shoulders above the rest was McAllister and it seems incredible that Coventry have taken so long to offer him a new contract given his influence on the team.

The former Scotland skipper - linked this week with a move to Liverpool - has that vision, passing skill and ability to prise open defences better than that offered up by Wednesday even at the age of 35.

There is no doubt that Coventry's loss will be someone else's gain if McAllister opts to leave on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.

Wednesday in all honesty were a shambles at the back and were fortunate to escape so relatively lightly.

Coventry were soon on the offensive and Robbie Keane shot into the side netting from a narrow angle after a one-two with Hadji.

At the other end Alan Quinn volleyed over when well placed to give early hope to the travelling Owls supporters - but the Sky Blues slowly but surely started to turn the screw.

Kevin Pressman beat out a fierce 20-yard effort from Hadji after Zuniga laid the ball into his path and then the Moroccan was only just off target with another low, dipping effort.

Pressman then saw his clearance charged down by Zuniga before reclaiming the ball and he then held onto another effort from Hadji as Wednesday found themselves on the end of a wave of attacks.

Keane miskicked after being forced out wide by Pressman following another free-flowing move involving Chippo, Hadji and Zuniga.

McAllister was only inches too high with a dipping effort from the edge of the box - but the Sky Blues skipper was not to be denied and he broke the deadlock in the 39th minute.

Gary Breen's long pass was dummied by Keane and then flicked by Zuniga into the path of McAllister.

The former Scotland skipper was coolness itself as he advanced into the Owls penalty area before slipping his low shot wide of the exposed Pressman.

The second period began in the same vein with Coventry pressing relentlessly for a second goal.

Chippo sent a free-kick inches wide and McAllister went even closer when his effort was finger-tipped by Pressman onto the underside of the bar before bouncing back into play.

In a rare Wednesday raid Andy Booth got in a shot which contained plenty of power but flew straight at Ogrizovic who was cheered every time he touched the ball.

But in the 67th minute that man McAllister was instrumental in helping Coventry to double their lead.

His fierce shot cannoned back off the crossbar - and Zuniga reacted first to head in the rebound.

Three minutes later the game was all over as Chippo laid the ball into the path of the onrushing McAllister who crashed a low drive wide of Pressman.

Coventry were now rampant and Hadji made it 4-0 after Zuniga's shot had been parried away.

Gilles de Bilde scored an 82nd minute consolation effort to ruin Ogrizovic's hopes of keeping a clean sheet.

But it hardly mattered and at the final whistle he embarked on an emotional lap of honour with even the Wednesday fans joining in the applause.

Teams:

Coventry: Ogrizovic, Shaw, Williams, Breen, Telfer, Hadji, Whelan, McAllister, Chippo (Eustace 88), Keane, Zuniga.

Subs Not Used: Hedman, Normann, McPhee, Pead.

Booked: Chippo.

Goals: McAllister 38, Zuniga 67, McAllister 70, Hadji 80.

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Nolan, Atherton, Walker (Haslam 53), Hinchcliffe, Jonk, Horne (Sonner 67), Quinn, Alexandersson (Sibon 61), De Bilde, Booth.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Cresswell.

Booked: Jonk, Atherton.

Goals: De Bilde 81.

Att: 19,921

Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).