Kenny Lunt was Coventry's chief tormentor as Crewe boosted their hopes of avoiding Coca-Cola Championship relegation with a terrific performance at Gresty Road.

In a frantic first half that ended with Crewe leading 3-1, 26-year-old one-club midfielder Lunt supplied crosses for Billy Jones and Madjid Bougherra to make it 2-0, nearly scored himself and also provided a chance Stephen Foster should have converted.

Instead, it was Luke Rodgers who restored the hosts' two-goal cushion straight from the restart after Stern John had pulled one back for Coventry. Gareth Taylor added the gloss with Crewe's fourth goal in the second half.

Bottom club Crewe went ahead in the fourth minute with their first attempt. Lunt, who had been fouled by Gary McSheffrey, sent over a free-kick from the right wing and Jones, 19 yesterday, headed his seventh goal of the season.

After 17 minutes Lunt's pinpoint delivery worked again as Algerian defender Bougherra netted for the first time since joining the club in January.

At the halfway point of the first half, Coventry reduced their arrears when John headed home from close range. But the visitors' supporters were quickly silenced as Rodgers lashed in his second goal in three matches.

Coventry sent on Ady Williams for Richard Shaw to try to stem the tide and although they did not concede again, Dario Gradi's side continued to create chances.

Set-piece specialist Lunt whipped in another teasing free-kick which Foster volleyed wide and then did the same himself when connecting with a Rodgers corner.

The Sky Blues suffered another blow just before half-time when Andrew Whing sustained an injury and was replaced by Richard Duffy, leaving Micky Adams with only one more substitution for the second period.

It continued to be one-way traffic after the break and Coventry goalkeeper Marton Fulop had to tip a Taylor shot over the crossbar, and from the corner Rodgers headed wide.

And in the 62nd minute Crewe gained the fourth goal their dominance deserved, Taylor adding the final touch to a long-range shot from Steve Jones.

Fulop was doing his bit to prevent it from becoming a complete humiliation for Coventry and made another fine acrobatic save from Steve Jones in the 73rd minute, while Gradi will want more of the same from his side over the last seven matches of the season if they are to pull off another miracle escape.

Teams:

Crewe Turnbull, Otsemobor, Bougherra, Foster (Vaughan 62),Billy Jones, Bell, Grant, Lunt, Steve Jones, Taylor, Rodgers.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, McCready, Higdon, Johnson.

Goals: Billy Jones 4, Bougherra 17, Rodgers 24, Taylor 61.

Coventry Fulop, Whing (Duffy 45), Shaw (Williams 26), Page,Hall, Scowcroft (Hughes 82), Doyle, Hutchison, McSheffrey,Adebola, John.

Subs Not Used: Morrell, Thornton.

Booked: Duffy.

Goals: John 23.

Att: 6,444

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).