The Sky Blues secured their fourth win out four under Roland Nilsson as they overcame Portsmouth 2-0 at Highfield Road.

The softly spoken Swede was thrust into the manager’s chair a fortnight ago and has turned a team, who were looking incapable of getting to grips with Division One, into Premiership hopefuls once again.

Teenage striker Jay Bothroyd and tireless midfielder Lee Carsley were on target as City won their third league game on the bounce to take them within a couple of points of Pompey at the right end of the table.

Portsmouth had the better of the opening exchanges with Croatian star Robert Prosinecki pulling the strings in midfield, but it was the Sky Blues who created the first chance when Carsley whipped in a cross and the ball appeared to strike Alessandro Zamperini’s arm. Referee, Howard Webb, however waved away the City claims for a penalty.

Moments later the Sky Blues took the lead when 19-year-old Bothroyd raced on to a back pass from Scott Hiley to coolly chip over the advancing Sasa Ilic for his second goal of the season.

City had their tails up and David Thomson went close on three occasions with his final effort well saved by Ilic.

The Sky Blues were under the cosh in the second half and Portsmouth were almost gifted an equaliser by defender Mo Konjic. The Bosnian misplaced his header straight to Lee Bradbury, but the former Manchester City striker stood on the ball and the chance was lost.

Magnus Hedman was then forced into a good save when Peter Crouch drove a shot from the edge of the box.

But with 18 minutes to go Carsley made the game safe with his fourth goal of the season. The former Derby midfielder was on hand to fire home after Konjic’s powerful header was well saved by Ilic in the Pompey goal.

City’s fourth victory under Nilsson was marred by crowd trouble at half-time which saw the second half kick off ten minutes late.

The club will launch a full investigation, but the ugly scenes were largely down to Pompey supporters crossing over into the West Terrace to get to Coventry supporters.

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2):
Hedman; Shaw, Konjic, Breen, Edworthy; Thompson (Delorge 83), Safri (O’Neill 71), Carsley, Chippo; Bothroyd (Martinez 60), Hughes
Subs not used: Goram, Quinn

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2):
Ilic; Crowe, Hiley, Zamperini, Vincent; Harper, Prosinecki, Quashie (Brady 88), O'Neil (Pitt 68); Bradbury (Vine 88), Crouch
Subs not used: Tardif , Buxton

GOALS: Bothroyd (17), Carsley (72)

REFEREE: Howard Webb (Rotherham)

BOOKINGS:
Coventry - Hughes 90 (foul play)
Portsmouth - Bradbury 10 (foul)

ATTENDANCE: 18,303

COVENTRY MAN OF THE MATCH:
Lee Carsley - crowned another hard working display with a goal

COVENTRY LEAGUE POSITION: 9th with 13 points