Coventry pulled clear of trouble and heaped more misery on Charlton with a 2-1 victory at The Valley.
Coventry climb table with 2-1 win at Charlton
Coventry pulled clear of trouble and heaped more misery on Charlton with a 2-1 victory at The Valley.
Daniel Fox netted the winner with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards in the 50th minute.
Deon Burton had equalised for Charlton from the penalty spot just a minute earlier, cancelling out Robbie Simpson's opener for the Sky Blues.
Phil Parkinson desperately needed a win to enhance his chances of becoming Alan Pardew's permanent successor.
But he was dealt an early blow when defender Jay McEveley was forced off with a shoulder injury, with midfielder Jose Semedo being pressed into action as a makeshift left-back.
Clinton Morrison put the ball in the net midway through a scrappy opening half when he turned in Freddy Eastwood's scuffed shot, but the City captain was flagged offside.
Charlton finally managed an effort on target eight minutes before the break, but Mark Hudson planted his header straight at Keiren Westwood.
And three minutes later Coventry went ahead when Simpson arrived in the area to tuck Fox's left-wing cross past Nicky Weaver for his first league goal of the season.
Lifeline
Charlton were handed a lifeline two minutes into the second half when Izale McLeod tumbled under a clumsy challenge from Ben Turner, referee Dean Whitestone pointing straight to the spot.
Burton stepped up and tucked away the penalty off the underside of the crossbar, his first goal since joining the Addicks from Sheffield Wednesday.
But the lead lasted barely a minute as City ventured forward and Hudson fouled Morrison some 30 yards out.
Fox stepped up and curled a superb free-kick off the inside of the post, with Weaver well beaten.
Charlton felt they should have had another penalty when Turner appeared to handle while lying on the ground, but this time the referee waved play-on.
Hudson put another header wide and Hameur Bouazza curled a shot the wrong side of Westwood's upright but Charlton never looked like finding an equaliser.
