Coventry put any concerns about their immediate future at the Coventry Building Society Arena to rest, as Jamie Allen's winner brought Blackburn's four-match Championship winning run to an end.
A dominant first half from the Sky Blues saw stand-in captain Allen fire home from Josh Eccles' drilled cross to give the Sky Blue Army something to cheer.
This game had been cast into doubt, following another tumultuous week of off-field politics at the CBS Arena but Mark Robins and his men will be glad it did as they finally escape the Championship relegation zone.
Conversely, Jon Dahl Thomasson's Rovers will have wished they had stayed in Lancashire.
A lacklustre showing from them ended in Jake Garrett's sending off and summed up what was a poor showing in the Midlands.
Story of the match
A frantic opening to the game saw City apply the pressure but it was Ben Brereton Diaz for Rovers who went closest.
He isolated Eccles out wide and cut inside onto his right foot, before curling his shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Despite the early chance, Rovers struggled to live with the Sky Blues in the first 30 minutes and they almost paid for it when Gustavo Hamer's corner caused a goalmouth scramble.
Gyokeres was not able to hook it in on the goal-line and when the ball fell to Sheaf on the edge of the penalty box, his shot was blocked by Brereton Diaz.
Despite that, Rovers had the best chance of the half.
Callum Brittain capitalised on a missed interception from Callum Doyle but the former Barnsley man could only hit the side netting when one-on-one with Ben Wilson.
Coventry's pressure would pay dividends on the stroke of half-time, though.
Callum O'Hare shifted the ball out wide for Eccles to fire low across the front post and Allen was on hand to sweep home and send City in a goal up at the break.
Brereton Diaz was the only bright spark in an underwhelming Rovers showing and it was the Chilean international who forced the first save of the second half.
Eccles gave away a free kick on the left-hand side on the edge of the area and Brereton Diaz curled a shot around the wall and forced Wilson into a smart stop low to his left.
Rovers eventually had a period of pressure in the second half but it was Allen who almost netted his second on the counter-attack.
Gyokeres charged down the left-hand side and spotted Allen to his right.
He squeezed the ball between defenders to find him but Kaminski was equal to the effort from the City captain.
Garrett sees red
A triple Rovers substitution ten minutes from time saw the introduction of Tyrhys Dolan, Bradley Dack and Garrett.
And it was the latter who put the final nail in the Rovers' coffin when he was sent off almost as soon as he had came on.
A frantic bit of play saw the ball bouncing around in midfield and the youngster lunged into a challenge on City defender Doyle and referee Tim Robinson produced the red card.
However, Garrett and the 800-strong away crowd would be right to feel aggrieved.
While strong, it did not seem as though the challenge was particularly dangerous on the replays and his sending off all but killed Rovers off and ensured a return to winning ways for Coventry.
Player of the match
Ben Sheaf
Sheaf was instrumental to the Sky Blues' win, here.
Another assured performance in midfield kept his team solid both on and off the ball.
With a pass success rate of 81% and four tackles, the former Arsenal and Doncaster man secured a rating of 7.5 on WhoScored.
When his midfield partner Hamer was forced off injured with 20 minutes to go, Sheaf was unmoved, continuing to step up and ensure his side won the game.
Coventry starting XI: Wilson (GK), Eccles, Rose, Doyle, Panzo, Bidwell, Sheaf, Hamer (Palmer 71'), Allen, O'Hare (Walker 77'), Gyokeres
Coventry unused substitutes: Moore (GK), Kane, Tavares, Burroughs, Howley
Blackburn starting XI: Kaminski (GK), Brittain, Hyam, Ayala, S. Wharton (Pickering 88'), Travis (Garrett 80'), Morton, A. Wharton (Dack 80'), Szmodics (Dolan 80'), Brereton Diaz, Vale (Hirst 46')
Blackburn unused substitutes: Pears (GK), Carter