Coventry ended their run of three defeats in a row with a superb 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Highfield Road.

Their victory owed much to on-loan striker Lee Mills who brought life to City’s goal shy attack as he made one goal and scored the other to take the Sky Blues level on points with Crystal Palace.

City produced a brilliant first half performances inspired by the return of David Thompson and the arrival of Mills who joined on loan from Portsmouth just hours before the match.

Palace had the first opportunity when Dougie Freedman nipped in ahead of Marcus Hall but Magnus Hedman did well to foil the former Forest forward.

The Sky Blues took control and, barring heroics from Palace keeper Matt Clarke, could have gone in at half-time several goals to the good.

He saved well from Youssef Chippo in the 12th minute after he had been set free by Moroccan team-mate Youssef Safri and moments later the Palace keeper grasped Lee Hughes’ effort which looked destined for the top corner.

Mills was winning everything in the air for the Sky Blues and his presence allowed Hughes to get behind the Crystal Palace defence and on another night the former Albion striker would have scored a hat-trick.

His best effort came midway through the first half when he latched on to a misplaced back pass from Julian Gray and volleyed from the edge of the box but his shot was once again tipped over by Clarke.

City had two shouts for a penalty early in the second half when David Hopkin appeared to handle Marcus Hall’s cross and later when Mo Konjic looked to be hauled down in the area by Gray.

The Sky Blues continued to press and their domination told in the 62nd minute when Laurent Delorge headed them into the lead.

Thompson swung in a perfect cross from the left-hand side which Mills knocked into the path of Delorge who could not miss from two yards.

Mills went close himself five minutes later when he drilled a shot from 30 yards but Clarke somehow managed to tip the ball on to the bar to deny the striker.

Clinton Morrison and Freedman were denied an equaliser by Magnus Hedman, who produced his most assured display of the season, before City sealed the win with their second goal.

Chippo went on a surging run down the right and set up Hughes, who was denied for the umpteenth time by Clarke, but Mills picked up the pieces on the edge of the box and fired home his debut goal.

The 31-year-old was substituted with five minutes remaining and was given a deserved standing ovation from the Highfield Road faithful.

COVENTRY CITY :
Magnus Hedman; Marc Edworthy, Muhamed Konjic, Marcus Hall (Tomas Antonelius, 75), David Thompson, Lee Carsley, Laurent Delorge, Youssef Safri, Youssef Chippo (Lee Fowler, 88),  Lee Hughes, Lee Mills (Julian Joachim, 83)
Subs not used : Andy Goram, Barry Quinn

CRYSTAL PALACE :
Matt Clarke, Dean Austin, Hayden Mullins, Julian Gray, Christian Edwards, David Hopkin (Tommy Black, 80), Simon Rodger, Aki Riihilahti, Jovan Kirovski, Dougie Freedman, Clinton Morrison (Steven Kabba, 72)
Subs not used : Alexanders Kolinka, Gregg Berhalter, Steven Thomson

GOALS :
Coventry - Delorge (62), Mills (80)

REFEREE : P Walton (Northants)

BOOKINGS :
Coventry - Konjic (foul, 30), Hughes (foul, 65)
Crystal Palace - Mullins (dissent, 19), Kirovski (foul, 38), Riihilahti (foul, 90)

ATTENDANCE :  13,695

COVENTRY LEAGUE POSITION : 7th with 34 points