Second-half goals from Jay Bothroyd and David Pipe gave Coventry a win over Gillingham and a place in the top six of the First Division.

Substitute Bothroyd, who came on for Gary McSheffrey after just 15 minutes, brought a dour game to life just seconds after the interval with his seventh goal of the season before Pipe secured the points minutes later.

But in the first half Coventry looked a shadow of the team which scored eight goals against Third Division Rushden & Diamonds in the Worthington Cup.

Player-manager Gary McAllister stung the palms of goalkeeper Jason Brown with a curling long-range effort inside the opening two minutes.

Lee Mill also blasted a shot at Brown moments later.

Guy Ipoua, however, nearly exacted sweet revenge with a swirling 18-yard drive, but Fabien Debec was alert to deal with the danger.

Bothroyd took just 52 seconds to break the deadlock.

The former Arsenal player latched onto a pass from McAllister and confidently stroked the ball past Brown.

And before the Gills could adjust, Richie Partridge provided the ball for Pipe to rifle a shot into the net and double Coventry's lead.

Kevin James pulled a shot wide with 20 minutes left to play but the Gillingham efforts proved fruitless as Coventry clung on to claim three points.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Leon Johnson, Hope, Ashby, Smith, Hessenthaler, Perpetuini, Shaw, Wallace, Ipoua.
Subs: Bartram, Rose, James, Spiller, Tommy Johnson.

Coventry: Debec, Caldwell, Quinn, Konjic, Davenport, Pipe, McAllister, Safri, Partridge, Mills, McSheffrey.
Subs: Hyldgaard, Shaw, Gordon, Bothroyd, Chippo.

Referee: P Armstrong (Berkshire).