Chris McCann notched his fifth goal of the season to lighten Burnley manager Owen Coyle's mood and hand Coventry counterpart Chris Coleman a harsh lesson about life in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Highly-rated midfielder McCann struck in clinical fashion with a vicious left-foot volley from close range in the 20th minute before skipper Steven Caldwell nodded in a late second to put a smile back on his manager's face.

Coyle awoke to the news that Andy Cole - who has scored four goals in three appearances since joining the Clarets on loan from Sunderland - had been arrested by police after an alleged attack on his wife.

The former Manchester United striker, 36, was picked up in the early hours of Monday morning at his home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire and was missing from the side which lined up against the Sky Blues.

Later on this afternoon, Burnley were hit with a £10,000 fine by the Football Association for failing to control their players after McCann and Joey Gudjonsson were shown straight red cards for reckless tackles in a derby clash against Preston in December.

But McCann's tidy finish and Caldwell's thumping far-post header went some way to wiping the frown off Coyle's face as Burnley kept their play-off bid firmly on track.

Coleman - whose Coventry tenure began with an impressive 2-0 home win against neighbours Leicester on Saturday - could take heart from his side's spirit as they prepare for a relegation dogfight.

A chronic lack of quality undermined their efforts, though, and that Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen was not seriously tested until the 65th minute said everything.

Burnley dominated the early exchanges and with 20 minutes played they opened the scoring as a deep corner from the right by Wade Elliott was headed back into the danger zone by Caldwell.

Clarke Carlisle attempted an acrobatic volley which Andy Marshall repelled but the Sky Blues stopper was powerless to prevent McCann lashing in the rebound from little more than six yards.

Coventry's response was encouraging and Malta international Michael Mifsud - who scored twice at Blackburn last month in a notable 4-1 FA Cup third-round win - burst into life after the break.

Two minutes after the restart he shot narrowly over the crossbar and then four minutes later the Sky Blues went even closer when centre-back Elliott Ward headed straight at Jensen from a Daniel Fox corner.

Mifsud then drew a smart stop from Jensen with 25 minutes remaining with a low strike from the edge of the 18-yard box but Burnley spurned several chances to increase their lead.

Nevertheless, victory was secured five minutes from time when substitute Robbie Blake delivered an inswinging left-wing corner to the far post and Caldwell rose highest to head home.

Teams:

Burnley Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Harley, Elliott, James O'Connor, Gudjonsson (Randall 58), McCann,Akinbiyi (Spicer 89), Lafferty (Blake 78).

Subs Not Used: Kiraly, Unsworth.

Booked: McCann.

Goals: McCann 20, Caldwell 85.

Coventry Marshall, Hall, Fox, Ward, Thornton, Osbourne, Tabb (Simpson 70), Michael Hughes, Gray, Mifsud, Best.

Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Andrews, Birchall, Dann.

Att: 9,779

Ref: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).