Elliott Ward converted from the penalty spot to give Coventry a narrow lead over Burnley at half-time in their Coca-Cola Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues were awarded the spot-kick after Graham Alexander, who was making his 700th start in professional football, fouled Michael Mifsud inside the box.

Ward confidently dispatched the ball past goalkeeper Brian Jensen in the 40th minute which was harsh on Burnley who had been the more impressive of the two sides before the break.

The hosts had begun brightly with Mifsud lively in attack but it was the visitors who created the first real chance of the game in the seventh minute.

Winger Wade Elliott delivered a dangerous corner from the right which was met by Chris McCann who saw his header fly just over the bar.

The Clarets continued to press and Martin Paterson brought a smart save out of goalkeeper Keiren Westwood with a firm strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 10th minute.

Coventry enjoyed a spell of possession as the game continued and Freddy Eastwood created a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box in the 31st minute but his shot from 25 yards was off target.

Michael Doyle saw a similarly ambitious - albeit weaker - attempt from long range fail to test Jensen four minutes later.

Chris Coleman’s side though were then handed a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot five minutes before the interval when Alexander brought down Malta international Mifsud inside the box and referee Mike Thorpe pointed to the spot.

Ward took the resulting spot-kick and he placed the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net while Clarets defender Michael Duff was booked for his earlier protests.

The Sky Blues lost midfielder Jay Tabb, who had been struggling with a knee problem during the week, shortly before the break and he was replaced by Robbie Simpson.