Coventry were winless in their last nine league meetings with Cardiff (D3 L6), with this the first match between the sides since March 2012
Coventry City added to the pressure on Cardiff City boss Neil Harris with a deserved 1-0 win at St Andrew's.
Tyler Walker's delicate chip after an error from Joe Ralls put the Sky Blues ahead in the second half as the hosts won for the first time since October.
Cardiff failed to respond in a display that will do little to quell growing fan discontent in the Welsh capital.
The result sees Coventry pull clear of the relegation zone on 12 points, while Cardiff slip to 18th on 14 points.
The Bluebirds travelled to Coventry's temporary Birmingham home in search of a first away win since 18 October, having won only three of their opening 12, but in truth never looked like winning this one against Mark Robins' organised side.
Coventry's Jordan Shipley should have opened the scoring with the first chance of the game after 12 minutes following Gustavo Hamer's lofted pass that totally split the Cardiff defence, but Alex Smithies denied him from close range.
Marko Marosi was a virtual spectator in the Coventry goal until 20 minutes when Ralls' cross threatened to creep in, while Cardiff were made to rue a lack of urgency in attack when no-one was on hand to turn home Marlon Pack's flick-on.
The Bluebirds twice came close through Josh Murphy and Ralls but both just missed the target with long-range efforts, while Ryan Giles' effort was well held by Smithies after a quick Coventry counter-attack.
Cardiff thought they had taken the lead on 38 minutes when a scramble in the penalty area resulted in the ball in Coventry's net, but referee Jeremy Simpson adjudged that Kieffer Moore had committed a foul.
It was a disappointing moment for the visitors and one they never seemed to recover from.
The Sky Blues finished the half on the front foot, but Hamer shot high and wide after some patient approach play and Coventry were also on the attack immediately after the restart, but Sean Morrison blocked Shipley's drive after Pack sloppily conceded possession.
Coventry should have taken the lead on 50 minutes when Hamer headed straight at Smithies with time and space in the Cardiff penalty area in a big let-off for the Bluebirds, but the visitors did not learn from their mistakes.
Cardiff were conceding possession far too often and on 54 minutes they paid for another error as Ralls' backpass was too strong and wrong-footed Morrison, allowing Walker to pinch possession and delightfully lob Smithies.
Walker might well have added a second within a minute after Liam Kelly's pass split Cardiff's defence, but he fired wide when one-on-one with Smithies in an effort that prompted Bluebirds boss Harris to scream at his players from the touchline.
The Welsh side switched to 4-4-2 and introduced Robert Glatzel, but chances were at a premium with Moore heading straight at Marosi with 15 minutes remaining following a teasing Harry Wilson corner.
Cardiff's danger was coming almost exclusively from set pieces but the hosts dealt well with Cardiff's aerial bombardment, with Marosi bravely denying Morrison after Moore's flick-on in stoppage time in an incident that left the goalkeeper unable to continue.
Ben Sheaf missed a late chance to double the advantage, but Coventry held on.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsCoventry
- 1MarosiSubstituted forWilsonat 90+5'minutes23Dabo5McFadzean15Hyam21McCallum6Kelly38HamerSubstituted forO'Hareat 78'minutes18Giles14Sheaf26ShipleySubstituted forØstigardat 90'minutes19Walker
Substitutes
- 2Østigard8Allen9Biamou10Jobello11O'Hare13Wilson20Bakayoko27Thompson41Bapaga
Cardiff
- 12Smithies7Bacuna4MorrisonBooked at 41mins16Nelson3Bennett23H WilsonBooked at 85mins21PackSubstituted forVaulksat 67'minutes8RallsSubstituted forM Harrisat 90+4'minutes33HoilettSubstituted forOjoat 59'minutes10Moore11MurphySubstituted forGlatzelat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Phillips6Vaulks9Glatzel13Benkovic20Whyte22Bamba27Ojo29M Harris32Bagan
Referee:Jeremy SimpsonMatch StatsHome TeamCoventryAway TeamCardiffPossessionHome48%Away52%ShotsHome11Away8Shots on TargetHome5Away3CornersHome3Away5FoulsHome13Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Coventry City 1, Cardiff City 0.
90'+8'Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 1, Cardiff City 0.
90'+6'Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Giles (Coventry City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ben Sheaf.
90'+5'Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Ben Wilson replaces Marko Marosi because of an injury.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Mark Harris replaces Joe Ralls.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Sean Morrison (Cardiff City).
90'+2'Post update
Marko Marosi (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Leandro Bacuna with a cross.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Leo Østigard replaces Jordan Shipley.
89'Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89'Post update
Foul by Fankaty Dabo (Coventry City).
88'Post update
Offside, Coventry City. Liam Kelly tries a through ball, but Tyler Walker is caught offside.
87'Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
87'Post update
Foul by Jordan Shipley (Coventry City).
87'Post update
Robert Glatzel (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Ben Sheaf (Coventry City).
85'Booking
Harry Wilson (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85'Post update
Foul by Harry Wilson (Cardiff City).
85'Post update
Fankaty Dabo (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Fankaty Dabo.
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Source: bbc.com