A goal from David Thompson gave Coventry a narrow victory over Sheffield United at Highfield Road and a crucial three points to cement their play-off place.
Thompson tapped home from close range just before the interval and City kept a spirited United side at bay in the second half to move into fifth place ahead of Burnley.
Coventry should have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Muhamed Konjic's header from Barry Quinn's free-kick crashed against the post.
But Sheffield United fought back and earned a ninth-minute corner, Robert Ullathorne latching on to Michael Tonge's cross but drilling wide.
City stormed up the other end and Jay Bothroyd fired narrowly wide.
They snatched the lead in first-half injury time when Thompson tapped home from close range after Tracey parried Gary Breen's drive from a Youssef Safri cross.
United almost drew level just seconds into the second half when Safri cleared Robert page's header off the line after an accurate inswinging corner from Michael Brown.
desperate defending
Coventry boss Roland Nilsson introduced Youssef Chippo and Julian Joachim in place of Bothroyd and Hughes as he attempted to put the game beyond United's reach.
But the move failed to stem the tide of United pressure and, after Safri was booked for a foul on Peter Ndlovu, Barry Quinn needed to block Page's powerful header from Tonge's cross.
As United began to sense an equaliser Ndlovu was replaced by Carl Asaba and Nick Montgomery went on for Tonge.
Asaba should have made an instant impact but his close-range header was cleared.
With three minutes remaining Michael Brown's corner was cleared as United poured forward, but the breakthrough would not come for Neil Warnock's men.
Coventry: Flowers, Quinn, Konjic, Breen, Shaw, Thompson, Safri, Healy, Hughes, Mills, Bothroyd. Subs: Joachim, Chippo, Hedman, Guerrero, Betts.
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Ullathorne, Page, Curle, Uhlenbeek, Brown, Tonge, Jagielka, Ndlovu, Peschisolido, D'Jaffo. Subs: Nicholson, Asaba, de Vogt, Santos, Montgomery.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)