Craig Bellamy went some way towards improving Gordon Strachan's job security and also vindicated the Coventry manager's judgment in the transfer market.

The striker's 39th-minute header was sufficient to overcome a subdued Leicester side and lift Coventry out of the Premiership's relegation zone.

In terms of belief, Strachan has never lost his in Bellamy, the player he made Coventry's record signing when he bought him from Norwich for £6 million in the summer.

Thus far, the return on that investment has been poor, with Bellamy obliging with just four goals, three coming from the penalty spot.

Strachan dropped him for City's last game, but, because of the player's response in training, was given little alternative but to recall him against Leicester.

"He wants to be a better player and his attitude in training bears that out," Strachan said. "That was especially the case this week and he forced me to pick him."

Coventry's dominance in midfield, which coincided with Lee Carsley making his debut, largely made it a question of when and not if Coventry would score.

Coventry were particularly potent at left-wing corners with David Thompson's inswinging delivery causing uncertainty in the visiting rearguard.

Moustapha Hadji headed one against the base of the post, but it was from a cross from the opposite flank and in open play that set up Bellamy to settle matters.

Paul Telfor delivered it and Bellamy nipped in front of the hesitant Frank Sinclair to nod the ball past Simon Royce and just inside his right-hand post.

It all added up to a depressing afternoon for the visitors, but Taylor was not prepared to offer any excuses. "We can play a lot better than that and I'm very disappointed with our performance," he said.

COVENTRY: Hedman, Breen, Konjic, Williams, Quinn, Thompson, Hadji, Telfer (Palmer 80), Carsley, Aloisi (Roussel 76), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Eustace, Guerrero. Goals: Bellamy 40.

LEICESTER: Royce, Gilchrist, Elliott, Sinclair (Impey 63), Rowett, Davidson, R Savage, Izzet (Benjamin 45), Oakes, Akinbiyi, Eadie (Guppy 71). Subs Not Used: R Cresswell, R Cresswell, Price. Booked: Benjamin.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).