David Thompson fired his fourth goal of the season to give Coventry all three points in a lacklustre clash with Wimbledon at Selhurst Park this evening.

The nippy midfielder struck City’s winner 14 minutes from time in a game which the visitors were on the back foot for long periods.

But if the performance was not enough to warm more than 1,000 travelling fans the result certainly was as Coventry go level on points with Wolves and Crystal Palace at the top of the Division One table.

The home side shaded a dismal first half as the Sky Blues struggled to keep possession of the ball.

Andy Goram – in goal again as Magnus Hedman continues to suffer with a chest infection – was forced to make a save after just two minutes, but he was more than equal to Andy Roberts’ low drive.

Marc Edworthy was recalled to the side at right-back as Marcus Hall was dropped to the bench and Richard Shaw switched to left-back.

And Edworthy, who has been unlucky to find himself out of the side in recent weeks, hit a long ball for Jay Bothroyd to chase but Wimbledon shot-stopper Kelvin Davis was off his line like a light to clear the danger with his head.

Wimbledon were enjoying the lion’s share of possession but were not turning that into clear-cut chances. David Connolly had their best effort on 23 minutes when he turned past Mo Konjic and shot just wide of the post.

The home side’s keeper Davis was penalised for hanging on to the ball for more than six seconds on 26 minutes which led to a Sky Blues’ indirect free-kick just inside the Dons’ penalty area.

Bothroyd tapped the ball to David Thompson who feigned to shoot, which tricked two defenders, but when he finally got a strike in on goal it was blocked and cleared by the Wimbledon back line.

The Sky Blues did have a shout for a penalty just before half-time as Laurent Delorge, who started in place of the injured Youssef Chippo, went down under a challenge from Kenny Cunningham but referee Phil Joslin waved play on.

Wimbledon began the second half with the upper hand as Connolly and Joel McAnuff went close to breaking the deadlock.

City were still finding it difficult to make any headway despite the introduction of Jairo Martinez for Bothroyd and Marcus Hall for Delorge.

But just as it looked as if the Sky Blues were settling for a point they nosed themselves in front.

Thompson picked up a pass from Lee Hughes and drove towards the Wimbledon area and struck a bouncing shot from 25 yards which bounced awkwardly in front of Davis who could only help the ball into the roof of the net.

Wimbledon continued to press up to the death but City stood firm to secure the win.

WIMBLEDON:
Kelvin Davis, Kenny Cunningham, Andy Roberts, Darren Holloway (Patrick Agyemang, 79), Neil Shipperley, David Connolly, Kevin Cooper, Michael Hughes, Jermaine Darlington, Wayne Brown, Joel McAnuff
Subs not used: Paul Heald, Chris Willmott, Peter Hawkins, Par Karlsson

COVENTRY CITY:
Andy Goram; Marc Edworthy, Richard Shaw, Gary Breen, David Thompson, Lee Carsley, Lee Hughes, Jay Bothroyd (Jairo Martinez, 46), Muhamed Konjic, Youssef Safri, Laurent Delorge (Marcus Hall, 60)
Subs not used: Gary Montgomery, Barry Quinn, Ivan Guerrero

GOALS:
Coventry - Thompson (76)

REFEREE: BOOKINGS:
Wimbledon - none
Coventry - Thompson (foul, 45), Safri (foul, 88)

ATTENDANCE: 5,883

COVENTRY LEAGUE POSITION: 3rd with 27 points