On-loan striker Nathan Blake scored his first league goal of the season as Leeds ran out 2-1 victors over Coventry at Highfield Road.

Blake, who has joined on a one-month deal from Leicester, had previously only netted for the Foxes during Carling Cup action.

But the Welshman broke his Championship duck with a 29th-minute strike before David Healy put the visitors firmly in charge with the second on 66 minutes.

Coventry pulled a goal back through Gary McSheffrey eight minutes from time, while Leeds were reduced to 10 men with Clarke Carlisle's dismissal three minutes later for a second bookable offence.

The Sky Blues had launched the first attack of the afternoon as Micky Doyle burst clear from midfield to supply Dele Adebola, only for the frontman to be dispossessed by Aaron Lennon inside the United area.

Then, with nine minutes gone, referee Nigel Miller booked Matt Kilgallon after Stern John had been pulled back following a clever turn.

And from Stephen Hughes' resultant free-kick, Adebola headed over.

Louis Carey and Healy also found their way into the official's notebook before Eddie Johnson forced the first save of the afternoon from Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

At the other end, Frazer Richardson was guilty of a glaring miss when presented with the ball while unmarked and just five yards out.

Blake put Leeds in front after the hosts failed to deal with Jermaine Wright's corner from the United left. Carlisle worked the ball to the 32-year-old frontman who shifted feet and then rifled a right-foot effort high into the net.

Blake was booked for his celebrations and went close to adding a second goal just before the interval but his free header fizzed over.

Early in the second half McSheffrey went down in the box under pressure from Kilgallon, but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty.

McSheffrey then won a free-kick at Sean Gregan's expense and Barrett stepped up to power a 20-yard effort marginally over Sullivan's crossbar.

Then, with 62 minutes on the clock, Barrett's 35-yard through ball sent McSheffrey clear but Sullivan used his legs to close out the attempted nutmeg, and Stern John could only drag wide of a gaping net from the rebound.

The visitors made Coventry pay for such profligacy as Healy latched onto Wright's long ball to break clear and beat Scott Shearer with a low effort drilled across goal.

McSheffrey's consolation was acrobatically fired home with eight minutes remaining before Carlisle's red card gave the hosts brief hope of salvaging a point.

Teams:

Coventry Steele, Carey, Williams, Shaw, Giddings (Staunton 68), Johnson (Barrett 27), Doyle, Hughes, McSheffrey, Adebola (Wood 45), John.

Subs Not Used: Shearer, Osbourne.

Booked: Carey.

Goals: McSheffrey 82.

Leeds Sullivan, Richardson, Carlisle, Kilgallon, Pugh, Lennon (Spring 83), Wright, Gregan, Walton, Healy, Blake (Joachim 79).

Subs Not Used: Carson, Ricketts, Einarsson.

Sent Off: Carlisle (84).

Booked: Kilgallon, Healy, Blake, Carlisle.

Goals: Blake 28, Healy 65.

Att: 19,084

Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).