Top scorer Haji Wright hit his sixth goal in five games as Coventry triumphed at Bristol City to stretch their lead at the top to eight points.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto headed the Sky Blues in front before setting up Wright to fire their second in first-half injury time.

In between those goals, Frank Lampard's side were reduced to 10 men when defender Joel Latibeaudiere was sent off for hauling back Emil Riis.

But the numbers were even again when Bristol City's Adam Randell received his second booking after the break and the visitors held on to secure a fifth successive victory.

Bristol City looked the more dangerous side during an uninspiring first half-hour, with the bustling Sinclair Armstrong twice firing wide and Riis denied by a timely block from ex-Robins full-back Jay Dasilva.

But the leaders struck when the influential Ephron Mason-Clark released Dasilva on the left and he weaved his way into a crossing position, supplying Sakamoto for a header that Radek Vitek failed to keep out.

However, Mason-Clark was soon sacrificed following Latibeaudiere's dismissal by referee Matt Donohue and Lampard sent on Liam Kitching to shore up the Sky Blues' back line.

The home side should have capitalised when Neto Borges headed over Mark Sykes' cross from close range – but instead it was Coventry who scored again as Sakamoto won the ball and fed Wright, who hammered across Vitek into the far corner.

The Robins brought on playmaker Scott Twine at the break and enjoyed an early spell of pressure, only to lose their numerical advantage when Randell's high challenge on Josh Eccles earned him a second yellow card.

Twine provided a glimpse of hope for the home side with a curling attempt that Carl Rushworth dived to scramble around the post, while Max Bird's drive also brought a save from the Sky Blues goalkeeper.

At the other end, Ellis Simms might have sealed the result with a third Coventry goal after Milan van Ewijk teed him up, but the substitute was denied by Vitek.

Twine forced another fine stop from Rushworth in added time, but his efforts could not prevent defeat for the home side, who are now without a win in their last four outings at Ashton Gate.

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol:

"Again, we saw the same story. The goals we conceded were a little bit cheap and we were not sharp enough in the opposition box.

"We are not happy at the moment with how we are in front of the goal. I think we have enough power to score more goals and this is a big issue.

"In both boxes at the moment we are not sharp enough. This cannot be our standard.

"You look at how we conceded. I think we have to be much more reliable in our last line. We have to be honest with ourselves – with a performance at this level we cannot climb the table."

Coventry manager Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire:

"It was a brilliant performance, the circumstances again were challenging and it was a difficult start – they had a few opportunities and we knew they would give us some problems. They picked two strikers with pace and power and we were not completely at it.

"We got our goal which I was really pleased with, Tats (Sakamoto) getting in as he does and he can spring, then we've got control – then we lose a man and we had to make a change straight away.

"But the second goal was crucial to the game, crucial to our mindset, crucial to give us something to hang on to.

"The way the lads dealt with the second half was outstanding from all of them on the pitch, with great character and great spirit. We showed another side, which we have to show if we're going to get to where we want to."