PAUL Robinson again proved Coventry's arch-nemesis as the marauding left-back made it three goals in as many wins against the Sky Blues.

'Robbo', who has only netted four times in his Baggies career, opened the scoring against ten-man City in the 57th minute when his finish matched classy build-up play.

Filipe Teixeira doubled the lead just over a minute later with a gift of a goal before putting the icing on the cake with a superb solo effort in the 73rd minute - his first goals since September.

Robert Koren ensured Albion secured back-to-back away wins for the first time in six months in style with a fourth goal in stoppage-time.

Coventry had been up against it since the 11th minute when 11-goal top scorer Michael Mifsud was sent-off by referee Phil Dowd for elbowing Carl Hoefkens.

However, despite having the extra man, Tony Mowbray's troops failed to get into gear during the first 45 minutes.

And they suffered a huge blow of their own when James Morrison was stretchered off with a knee injury ten minutes before half-time.

But Albion stuck to their task and away win No.3 moved them up to second and closed the gap on leaders Watford to six points.

The weekend's results meant the visitors kicked-off the live televised encounter in third place.

Mowbray made two enforced changes following the loss of Kevin Phillips and Martin Albrechtsen to knee injuries.

Leon Barnett was recalled to the heart of the Baggies defence for his first appearance in five games.

The Albion boss opted to tuck Teixeira in behind lone striker Ishmael Miller in attack, with Morrison elevated from the bench to right-midfield.

After three minutes, Jonathan Greening set Miller free down the right and he used his power and pace to get past Ben Turner before firing just past the left-hand post.

Six minutes later, Zoltan Gera collected the ball in the middle of the park before feeding Teixeira, whose first-time shot from the edge of the box was easily gathered by City No.1 Dimi Konstantopoulos.

The match then took a dramatic twist when Maltese marvel Mifsud was sent-off for an inexplicable elbow on right-back Hoefkens, who needed lengthy treatment, as they challenged for an aerial ball.

It immediately brought memories flooding back of Albion's 1-0 win at the Ricoh Arena in April, when City defender Turner saw red on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Phillips.

The hosts came close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute when Dele Adebola's near-post header from Michael Doyle's right-wing corner flashed across the face of goal.

In a scrappy half, Albion's recent injury woes went from bad to worse when Morrison collapsed in a heap as he stretched to control Dean Kiely's throw-out near the left touchline and was unable to continue.

Chris Brunt replaced the former Middlesbrough man.

The Sky Blues were refusing to lie down and, just four minutes later, the ball broke kindly for Leon Best.

The visitors needed a last-ditch challenge by Hoefkens to prevent the City hitman getting a shot away.

A minute before the break, Teixeira conjured up a piece of magic on the edge of the area from Brunt's pass.

Konstantopoulos had to be at his very best to tip over the Portuguese playmaker's curling shot, which looked destined for the top right-hand corner of the net.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Coventry threatened from Doyle's left-wing corner until Bostjan Cesar hacked clear.

And there was still time before the break for Albion to probe, with Turner just managing to cut out Teixeira's attempted throughball to Miller.

Iain Dowie made a change at half-time as Kevin Kyle replaced Best up front.

But it was Albion who threatened first when Teixeira almost managed to slip Gera in on goal. Konstantopoulos was alert to the danger and rushed off his line to kick clear.

Hoefkens missed his kick from Kyle's flick-on in the 55th minute and Doyle stole in to blaze a first-time volley just over the bar from 18 yards.

Seconds later, at the other end, Gera tested Konstantopoulos with a dipping 25-yard strike.

The Baggies had finally started to get their passing game going and broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a slick left-wing move started and finished by that man Robinson.

The ex-Watford defender fed Koren who passed to Gera.

The Hungarian threaded Robinson through with an inch-perfect diagonal ball and he produced the deftest of finishes to loft the ball over Konstantopoulos and open his account for the season.

Just over a minute later, Turner did well to halt Miller on the left by-line, only for a mix- up with fellow centre-half Arjan de Zeeuw to allow Teixeira to steal in and fire home from close range.

Albion were now in complete control and, on the hour-mark, Brunt pulled the ball back for Robinson who flashed a first-time 20-yard shot inches wide of the right-hand post with the aid of a deflection off a City defender.

Greening wanted to get in on the act and, in the 64th minute, the skipper powered a left-footed exocet inches past the left-hand angle of post and bar from 25 yards.

Four minutes later, City threatened briefly when Kyle flicked Doyle's corner back into the danger zone and Kiely just managed to get to the ball before Adebola could pounce.

Back came Albion and Miller cut inside Marcus Hall on the right before firing a skidding shot into the side-netting from 15 yards.

But Teixeira put the game to bed with a 73rd-minute stunner.

The ex-PSG maestro collected Hoefkens' ball into the box, beat Turner - twice - and Stephen Hughes before slotting the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net - to delight the 2,210-strong army of Albion fans behind the goal.

Albion then simply ran down the clock with long spells of keep-ball before adding a fourth in stoppage time.

Gera fed Teixeira down the right who drew the Coventry keeper before unselfishly sliding the ball to the unmarked Koren who tapped into an empty net.

COVENTRY (4-3-3): Konstantopoulos; Osbourne, de Zeeuw, Turner, Hall; Tabb, Hughes, Doyle; Adebola (McKenzie 80), Best (Kyle HT), Mifsud. Subs not used: Marshall (gk), Ward, Cairo.

ALBION (4-4-1-1): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar, Robinson; Morrison (Brunt 35), Greening, Koren, Gera; Teixeira; Miller (Bednar 77). Subs not used: Steele (gk), Hodgkiss, Pele.

GOALS: ALBION - Robinson (57), Teixeira (58 & 73), Koren (90+1).

BOOKINGS: ALBION - Cesar (foul 27), Hoefkens (foul 68), Koren (90+4).

SENDING-OFF: COVENTRY - Mifsud (violent conduct 11).

REFEREE: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

ATTENDANCE: 18,566.

ALBION STARMAN: Paul Robinson.