Peter Whittingham scored a stoppage-time penalty to give Cardiff City their first away win in five games.

A Martin Cranie handball gave Whittingham the chance to atone for an earlier glaring miss to snatch victory.

Coventry, who hit the bar in the dying seconds, took the lead on 32 minutes when Clinton Morrison headed home unmarked at the far post.

Chris Burke levelled moments before the break, before Whittingham and Ross McCormack wasted glorious chances.

But top-scorer Whittingham held his nerve admirably in the 92nd minute to give Cardiff a timely boost as they head into the final 10 games of the season.

The result ended Coventry's eight-match unbeaten run at home, and leaves them five points adrift of the Championship's top six.

It all looked far more promising for the Sky Blues when Morrison, who had the first sight of goal after 17 minutes, put them ahead as the Cardiff rearguard again looked indecisive under a high ball into the area.

The delivery this time came from a long throw, which was helped on by home defender James McPake.

Cardiff let the ball bounce and striker Morrison was alert to mark his 450th league appearance with his 11th goal of the season.

The Bluebirds should have levelled immediately but Darcy Blake blasted over near the far post from Burke's cross.

And there was further frustration two minutes later as the assistant's flag cut short Whittingham's celebrations after Cardiff's top-scorer had threaded the ball through the legs of Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood.

But a deserved equaliser followed six minutes later. Jay Bothroyd helped on a long ball into the home penalty area and Burke found the top-right corner from six yards.

Cardiff's pressure continued straight after the break and they should have scored at least once in the opening 10 minutes.

Whittingham was no more than three yards out when he put Mark Kennedy's driven low cross wide, and then McCormack scuffed his shot wide after running clear of the home defence.

Coventry slowly began to exert some pressure as the half wore on, but the real drama was reserved for a controversial final three minutes.

The home side were enraged when the assistant referee signalled for a penalty against Cranie after the defender had blocked Whittingham's cross.

Nuneaton-born Whittingham coolly converted, but there was still time for David Bell to head against the bar as Coventry pressed for a last-gasp equaliser.

Coventry City assistant manager Steve Harrison:
"From the bench, we obviously thought it [the penalty] was harsh. If I'm proved wrong then I'm wrong but I thought he played it against him from possibly three feet away.

"I haven't seen it on a replay, though, and until I see it we can't really say. But we thought it was a harsh decision.

"We need to pick ourselves up and get on with it. We mustn't take the defeat out of perspective.

"It's not the be-all and end-all, we've lost a controversial game against Cardiff City."

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones:

"It's a little bit harsh the penalty for handball, but I felt he missed one earlier on. He actually missed Jay [Bothroyd] being tripped, so I felt it was a deserved win.

"There were some strange decisions, for both teams. At this moment, and I said it on Saturday, I think we're seeing different things sometimes.

"Their [the referees] job is hard enough without us always slamming them but I did say on Saturday, the people in higher places have got to start listening to the people who have played the game.

"Start asking us, and I'm sure if we work hand in hand then I'm sure we'll get it right somewhere along the line.

"But you can't keep ignoring us because there's too many things going on at the moment."

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