Coventry moved closer to sealing a play-off spot as a home victory over Birmingham propelled them up to fifth.
Viktor Gyokeres cut in and laid the ball back for Josh Eccles to fire in his first senior goal from the edge of the box and put Coventry ahead.
Gyokeres doubled the lead shortly before the break, stroking home a disputed penalty after the ball hit Jordan James’ arm.
The Sweden striker had another ruled out for offside, but Coventry will secure a top-six finish if they beat Middlesbrough in their final game.
Mark Robins’ side will head to Teesside on the final day of the season with their fate in their own hands and in superb form after an 11th home win of the season – and they have lost just once in their past 16 league matches.
Jobe Bellingham sent a close-range header wide from Marc Roberts’ long throw as Blues responded to Eccles’ third-minute opener.
However, the hosts ended an evenly matched first half well on top when referee James Linington pointed to the penalty spot despite concerted Birmingham protests, and Gyokeres duly slotted his 21st league goal of a superb campaign.
Blues, who sit 17th, came out strongly after the break but were almost picked off twice by Gyokeres, who broke into the box and fired just wide and then had a second chalked off for offside.
Kevin Long glanced a header narrowly wide from Hannibal Mejbri’s corner as Birmingham plugged away, but their struggles in front of goal continued – they have found the net just six times in their past nine matches.
And defeat could have been heavier without goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who tipped over Jake Bidwell’s late strike after more good work from Gyokeres.
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:
“We took charge of the game from the first minute, all the way through the game I thought we were on top.
“To come away with a 2-0 win is fantastic in front of that crowd in the last home game of the normal season, and hopefully we can extend that.
“We’ve got plenty of work to do but we’ve got nine days before the next game so we can have a breather.
“We couldn’t go to a more difficult place next week. Middlesbrough is a tough place to go and we know they are a really good side. It might be that we play them again (in the play-offs) but the chance would be brilliant.”
Birmingham City boss John Eustace told BBC Radio WM:
“The first 15 minutes we couldn’t match their intensity which was disappointing. I felt we got a little bit of a foothold in the game.
“After that I thought the penalty decision was a really poor decision and it killed our rhythm and going in 2-0 down is always going to be difficult at half-time.
“The second half we huffed and puffed without much quality so it was a disappointing afternoon.
“It (the penalty) was a ludicrous decision in my opinion. I don’t think anyone appealed for the handball.”
Source – BBC Sport
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