Coventry secured their best finish in the league since relegation and leap-frogged visiting Cardiff in the process after an entertaining 3-1 victory at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues took the lead after just eight minutes when Glenn Loovens allowed Gary McSheffrey's cross to dribble through his legs.

That left Stern John with a simple tap-in from six yards to beat Neil Alexander at his near post.

Dave Jones' men soon had opportunities to get back on level terms but both Joe Ledley and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu crossed feebly when clean through.

However, all was forgiven after 20 minutes when Ndumbu-Nsungu brilliantly burst past a statuesque Richard Shaw into the right of the penalty area and crossed perfectly for the sliding Steven Thompson to score his fourth of the season.

The Bluebirds had a great chance to take the lead after 27 minutes but Willie Boland fired tamely wide from 18 yards after Paul Parry's knock-down.

Jason Koumas then tested goalkeeper Martin Fulop moments later but it was a weak effort from the edge of the box and was easily fielded.

Ndumbu-Nsungu then fired narrowly wide of the right-hand post on the half hour as the Welshmen enjoyed the lion's share of chances in an otherwise even first half.

The visitors should have taken the lead three minutes after the interval but Thompson conspired to head Koumas' inch-perfect cross into the floor and over from six yards out when a goal looked inevitable.

Cardiff were posing by far the greater attacking threat and the quality of their football belied their recent abysmal form.

Young midfielder Kevin Thornton was within inches of putting Micky Adams' men ahead after 55 minutes but shot wide from 15 yards.

Koumas then struck the left-hand post at the other end with a fabulous 20-yard strike a couple of minutes later after a jinking run from the halfway line.

Somewhat against the run of play Coventry took the lead when Dele Adebola latched onto Michael Doyle's incisive pass to slot home clinically in the 65th minute.

Veteran substitute Don Hutchinson, just two yards out, should have settled the game in the 73rd minute from Andrew Whing's cross but fellow subsitute Dennis Wise made things safe with a near-post header from Whing's excellent cross.

Teams

Coventry Fulop, Whing, Heath, Shaw (Giddings 51), Hall,Thornton, Hughes (Wise 58), Doyle, McSheffrey, Adebola,John (Hutchison 67).

Subs Not Used: Morrell, Osbourne.

Goals: John 8, Adebola 65, Wise 90.

Cardiff Alexander, Darlington (Ardley 45), Cox, Loovens,Ledley, Koumas, Scimeca, Boland, Parry, Thompson,Ndumbu-Nsungu (McDonald 62).

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Barker, Cooper.

Booked: Darlington, Ledley, Loovens.

Goals: Thompson 21.

Att: 22,536

Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).