Coventry 1-0 C Palace

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Lee Hughes gave the Highfield Road faithful what may prove to be the ideal farewell gift as his fifth-minute penalty maintained 10-man Coventry's promising start to the season.

Hughes, for whom the Sky Blues have agreed a fee with his former club West Brom, latched onto a long ball forward and was bundled over in the box by Darren Powell.

The striker took the penalty himself and stroked it into the bottom right corner of the net.

It proved the only goal of a match in with few chances but plenty of bookings, including two which prompted the dismissal of Coventry's Youssef Safri.

Powell, having conceded the penalty, was then booked on 28 minutes for dissent, and nine minutes later his team-mate Aki Riihilahti was cautioned after fouling John Eustace.

Palace had made little impact other than in the referee's book before the break, and more cards followed for Coventry after the interval.

Safri, who had failed to trouble Palace goalkeeper Matt Clarke with two long-range efforts, was booked for a foul on Shaun Derry, as was Shaw after a challenge on Riihilahti.

And when Safri fouled Danny Butterfield, the Moroccan was sent off for his second bookable offence.

The one-man advantage briefly inspired Palace, and Danny Granville went close from a Butterfield corner only for Coventry goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard to block his shot.

Coventry manager Gary McAllister clearly decided a 1-0 win was enough for he substituted Hughes and strike partner Julian Joachim, sending on Barry Quinn and Steve Walsh.

And the move never looked like backfiring as Palace rarely threatened, while Jay Bothroyd could have doubled Coventry's margin of victory but shot over from close range.

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Coventry: Hydlgaard, Shaw, Konjic, Davenport, Gordon, Thompson, Eustace, Safri, Chippo, Hughes, Joachim. Subs: Montgomery, Quinn, Walsh, McSheffrey, Bothroyd.

Crystal Palace: Clarke, Powell, Popovic, Granville, Fleming, Mullins, Derry, Riihilahti, Butterfield, Freedman, Adebola. Subs: Kolinko, Johnson, Thomson, Black, Austin.

Referee: P Prosser (Gloucestershire).