Elliott Ward's neatly taken penalty set Coventry on the way to a deserved win over Norwich at the Ricoh Arena.

The visitors edged a first half lacking in chances with John Kennedy going close with a superb overhead-kick.

But the Sky Blues improved after the break and Ward fired them ahead after Sammy Clingan felled Stephen Wright.

Leon McKenzie wrapped up the points with four minutes left, shooting home after debutant Clinton Morrison's shot came back off the bar.

Coventry boss Chris Coleman:
"It wasn't a good performance but the desire and will to win were good.

"We were desperate at times and we're a much better team than we showed today.

"I thought Norwich should have had a penalty and perhaps we shouldn't have, but I don't feel sorry as we will be on the end of bad decisions this season."

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder:
"At times we looked like the home side and we had them on the rack.

"Unfortunately a few seconds into the second half a refereeing decision to give them a penalty changed the face of the game.

"I've counted seven or eight good chances to score and either poor technique or poor decision to have another touch instead of putting it in the back of the net has cost us."

Coventry: Westwood, Wright, Ward, Dann, Fox, Tabb (Simpson 46), Beuzelin, Gunnarsson, Gray (McKenzie 70), Eastwood (Thornton 83), Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Ireland, Turner.

Booked: McKenzie.

Goals: Ward 48 pen, McKenzie 86.

Norwich: Marshall, Omozusi, Kennedy, Shackell, Stefanovic, Croft, Clingan (Russell 80), Fotheringham, Hoolahan, Cureton, Lupoli (Koroma 63).
Subs Not Used: Nelson, Drury, Pattison.

Booked: Stefanovic, Fotheringham.

Att: 22,607.

Ref: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).