Snapshot: Coventry City were on Saturday put to the top of the table thanks to a one-nil victory over a decidedly off-key Cardiff at Ninian Park.

The match is one that will hopefully be quickly washed away from memory as Cardiff, as per the Stoke match looked unable to capitalise on any of their pressure leading to the final third - Coventry taking advantage as did the Potters in the first half as LeonMcKenzie opened us up and set an easy ball for Jay Tabb to find the winner.

Cardiff continued their record of an inability to come back from a goal down, and despite numerous chances and another home penalty were unable to find the back of the net. The match ended with Roger Johnson up front with Paul Parry and Warren Feeney, with two chances looking to set us back from the brink.

First Feeney amazingly missed from five yards and an open net. Then Purse hit the bar from the spot to send the travelling Sky Blues fans into orbit - and fair play to them after coming to South Wales to play a team who look almost look as if a curse has been put on the opposition net.

Chronological Report: The match started brightly for both as Coventry immediately applied pressure on the Grange End after kicking off. Moments later Cardiff were firing forward towards Dimi's goal with McPhail blasting a shot almost over the Canton Stand. Gary Borrowdale then was spared any blushes following his edge of the box slip on the third minute - MacLean taking too long to cue his shot and then wasting a chance as he sent the ball over with an attempted chip.

The match continued with Cardiff just about having the edge over Coventry going forward (blue tinted glasses off), with a chance as close as we were getting coming on eleven minutes as Rae headed to MacLean in the box, though the former Owl's twisting header lacked the power to cause any trouble.

While our attention was rightly directed towards the pitch, a notable moment came after seventeen minutes as Robert Page buckled to pressure while warming up. Calls for the Ayatollah resulted in a delayed, yet positive reply from the former Cardiff player.

Cardiff were notching up the pressure from the back towards twenty minutes, almost producing the opening goal through a great exchange involving Gavin Rae and Tony Capaldi. Their move on the left of the Coventry's goal resulted in a clever cross towards Parry which he looked to head to the top corner. Unfortunately he didn't count on a good save from Dimi in the Sky Blues goal; the Coventry goal kept tightly closed.

Coventry were by no means here to make up the numbers as they looked to get on the front foot themselves and winning a dew corners for their endeavour. One after twenty three minutes was met with a Cardiff break through Gavin Rae - the midfielder continuing to impress with powerful runs; this one also producing a telling pass to Paul Parry to run on to. Parry surged forward, but was crowded out by the Sky Blues back-line.

Possession and territory was evenly matched as we neared the half hour, though changes of note were more forthcoming from the home team. Again MacLean was presented a chance in the Coventry area, though he was over technical in his approach, giving Dimi time to set himself for the save.

Play was even between the two as missed free-kicks were exchanged. After thirty four minutes however the goal finally came, but to the wrong CCFC.

Coventry broke and beat a high Cardiff line and offside trap via Leon McKenzie on the left. He surged forward with pace, forcing Turnbull to come out to meet him and close down the angle. By doing so that left space for Jay Tabb to meet a cute side-footed pass across the goal and an open net to touch the ball into.

GOAL: CARDIFF 0 - 1 COVENTRY. Tabb. 34 mins

Cardiff were rocked by the opener as Coventry took the goal to their advantage with some positive play. Adebola came closest with a massive chance after forty one minutes, but his close range and tight angled shot from the left of Turnbull beat everyone including the right post as it fizzed past.

The half closed after another few more moments of Cardiff build up play that was failed to be capitalised on. First Sinclair tested with a glove stinger on the right of the box. The Coventry keeper then pulled off a fine double scrambling save from Joe Ledley and Steve MacLean. Then just before the break Sinclair had space to shoot on the right of the area, but instead gave the ball to Rae who fired high over the bar.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF 0 - 1 COVENTRY

No changes were made immediately after half time.

The opening fifteen minutes were quite subdued on the pitch, though the surrounding stands looked to play their part in raising the atmosphere. It didn't overly work, as the main point to report were the angry words levelled at the Grandstand linesman after some extremely questionable off-side calls.

Awe waited until just after the hour for a notable moment - but that came to Coventry as a poor Gunter throw in the Coventry half was easily stolen and set to McKenzie to run on to. The Coventry striker fired forward and under pressure sent a low ball towards the bottom right corner, missing marginally wide. A minute later Ledley's last involvement in the game came as he aimed to meet an ambitious MacLean cross, though he was crowded out and could only win a corner before being replaced by Whittingham.

Coventry looked more the dangerous prospect via McKenzie's pace and tricks - the diminutive forward stinging Turnbull's gloves as the last twenty minutes approached. McKenzie was then replaced by Michael Misfud after seventy six minutes - the change like for like.

The lack of bite up front was aimed to be resolved by Dave Jones with ten minutes to go, as Warren Feeney came on to replace Steve MacLean. Three minutes later Darren Purse came on for Chris Gunter and almost immediately found the net from a header after Cardiff had won a free-kick on the right.

Hopes of a Cardiff leveller were remote to say the least, but never felt more so than after eighty six minutes as Johnson found himself in a makeshift strikers role; sending the ball across the Coventry box for the Sky Blues to clear. The ball magically found it's way to Feeney's feet in front of an empty net five yards out. Somehow he scuffed his shot wide and this laptop almost ended up in bits.

The match continued to frustrate and annoy from a home perspective as Cardiff quite honestly failed to inspire. Then, we were given yet another get out of jail free card in the shape of a penalty as Feeney was pulled down by Michael Doyle.

The expected gamesmanship followed to delay Darren Purse the chance to level - the tactic like last time doing it's job as Purse smashed the ball on the bottom of the crossbar, then watching it bounce back on the wrong side of the line and back out.

The moment was the last we could bear as those left inside the ground started piling out. The final whistle came to send the top of the league Sky Blues fans ecstatic - and why not? It what was they deserved after watching Coventry take the points against a massively off form Cardiff.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 0 - 1 COVENTRY

More to follow . . . the pain of it all