Highly-rated midfielder Chris McCann notched his fifth goal of the season to lift the mood of embattled Burnley and keep their play-off bid on track.

McCann struck a vicious left-foot volley from close range in the 20th minute to give the home side the lead.

Coventry showed spirit but only really tested Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen on 65 minutes when Michael Mifsud shot low from the edge of the penalty box.

Skipper Steven Caldwell headed a second from Robbie Blake's corner late on.

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Burnley boss Owen Coyle:
"I've got to say it wasn't one of our more fluent performances but obviously the result is more important.

"I thought we deserved to win over the course of the game.

"That puts us on 50 points and although there are some big clubs in the league we really believe that if we play to our maximum then we can win games."

Coventry boss Chris Coleman:
"It's very disappointing that we conceded two goals from set-pieces.

"We thought there was a handball in the lead-up to the first goal but we can't concede two goals from set-pieces given the position we are in.

"We move forward and I'm confident that we can get the four more wins that we need to stay in this division."

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Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell, Harley, Elliott, James O'Connor, Gudjonsson (Randall 58), McCann, Akinbiyi (Spicer 89), Lafferty (Blake 78).
Subs Not Used: Kiraly, Unsworth.

Booked: McCann.

Goals: McCann 20, Caldwell 85.

Coventry: Marshall, Hall, Fox, Ward, Thornton, Osbourne, Tabb (Simpson 70), Michael Hughes, Gray, Mifsud, Best.
Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Andrews, Birchall, Dann.

Att: 9,779.

Ref: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).