Jamie McAllister and Lee Johnson got the goals as Bristol City gave their play-off hopes a boost with a home win over Coventry.
Coventry shaded the first half and Clinton Morrison came close to scoring when his shot hit the post, while Leon Best and James McPake also went close.
But it was McAllister who opened the scoring with a drilled shot from outside the area past Keiren Westwood.
Johnson made sure of all three points when tapped in a Gavin Williams cross.
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson:
"It's one of our most important wins of the season. We really needed that result after the disappointment of two narrow away defeats.
"We can now look forward to a fantastic game against Cardiff here at Ashton Gate on Sunday. There is sure to be a cracking atmosphere, and both teams will be up for it.
"It was a relief when we scored tonight after missing several chances at Derby on Saturday. The way their keeper was playing, I thought it might be another of those games."
Coventry boss Chris Coleman:
"We're going to need a lot of things to go for us to get into the play-off picture now.
"I think the performance was a bit of a hangover from our FA Cup run. It was a good time for Bristol to play us after all the effort and emotion that went into the Chelsea match.
"I thought we started okay, but I was always worried we might run out of steam. The big disappointment was the goals we conceded."
Bristol City: Basso, Carey, McCombe, Fontaine, Orr, Williams, Johnson, McIndoe, McAllister, John (Adebola 63), Maynard (Styvar 63).
Subs Not Used: Weale, James Wilson, Sproule.
Booked: Carey.
Goals: McAllister 66, Johnson 80.
Coventry: Westwood, Wright, McPake, Turner, Hall, Henderson (Simpson 79), Beuzelin, Doyle, Eastwood (Bell 61), Morrison, Best.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Ward, Osbourne.
Booked: Morrison, McPake.
Att: 15,706.
Ref: Phil Crossley (Kent).
www.bbc.co.uk
