Coventry push Forest towards relegation

Coventry 2 Nottingham Forest 0

McSheffrey scored from the spot in the 21st minute and Adebola added a second with a solo effort just before half-time to leave Forest five points adrift of safety with six games remaining.

In contrast, the Sky Blues moved onto 47 points and away from the relegation zone in the Championship.

The game lacked urgency in the early stages and Coventry had an early let off when Kris Commons found space just outside the box and fired a shot towards goal which Luke Steele tipped over for a corner.

Adebola was guilty of wasting a chance in the 11th minute when Lloyd Dyer sent a great cross into the box towards the Sky Blues striker but his tame header drifted wide.

Coventry were beginning to look strong and deservedly took the lead through a McSheffrey penalty in the 21st minute.

A free-kick found Stephen Hughes in space in the Forest box and he headed back across goal, forcing Gareth Taylor to handle the ball. McSheffrey stepped up and blasted the ball into the top corner of the goal for his 11th of the season.

It was no surprise when Coventry went further in front four minutes before half-time. Adebola went on a surging run into the Forest box and slotted home from close range.

COVENTRY: Steele, Duffy, Page, Staunton, Hall, McSheffrey, Doyle, Hughes (Osbourne 85), Dyer (Whing 85), Adebola, Goater (Benjamin 72).

NOTTM FOREST: Gerrard, Morgan, Melville, Doig, Louis-Jean, Commons, Powell (Gardner 57), Perch, Robertson (Bopp 51), Dobie, Taylor.

Referee: A D’Urso.

Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle marked his recovery from injury by scoring five goals for the reserves last night.

The Scotland international has missed the entire Championship leaders’ season because of a hip problem.

Louis Saha began his latest comeback bid with a 60-minute reserve team appearance at Blackpool tonight.

The £12.8million Manchester United forward has been plagued by a succession of knee injuries during his second season at Old Trafford.

But with manager Sir Alex Ferguson threatening changes ahead of Saturday’s Premiership trip to Norwich, Saha’s return could not be better timed.

The President of the Football Association of Ireland Milo Corcoran has asked football clubs to observe a period of respectful silence at all matches this week end as a mark of respect for His Holiness, Pope John Paul 11.