Things are tight at the bottom of Division One and Crewe grabbed a vital three points after proving too good for The Sky Blues at Gresty Road.
The opening 45 was an affair to forget for Crewe, with Onandi Lowe, Eric Deloumeaux, Michael Doyle and Julian Joachim all going close for Coventry.
Dario Gradi's half time team-talk must have been inspirational as Michael Higdon had them in front on 46, slotting home from Steve Jones' cross.
The advantage was doubled just after the hour when Michael Symes netted his first senior goal.
The Everton loanee broke clear and showed real composure in tucking the ball past Scott Shearer in the Coventry goal.
Lowe got a goal his play deserved when reducing the arrears on 83, but Dean Ashton made the points safe with a late penalty after Shearer had felled Jones.
