It was tough on the visitors as they had the best of the early exchanges and almost took the lead in the fifth minute.
Richard Carpenter's corner was not cleared by the Sky Blues and a shot from Alexandre Frutos from outside the area cannoned off the bar, with Marton Fulop beaten. Sebastien Carole controlled the rebound but his shot went harmlessly wide.
Brighton, with Carole in particular looking lively, went close again in the 13th minute after a mistake by Stern John.
The Trinidad & Tobago international tried to play the ball back to his defence but passed to Albion's Jake Robinson. The 19-year-old striker sprinted away from the Coventry defence but his shot was straight at Fulop.
Six minutes later Brighton went close again as a cross from Frutos was headed narrowly wide by makeshift centre forward Gary Hart, with Fulop struggling to get to his far post.
Carole's pace was causing the left hand side of Coventry's defence constant problems and the Frenchman's shot in the 27th minute after a mazy run went just wide.
Coventry created their first real chance in the 40th minute as James Scowcroft played in Dele Adebola.
His cross fell to the feet of John who looked certain to give the Sky Blues the lead until a great last-ditch tackle from Joel Lynch.
But Coventry did score two minutes from time with Wise netting his third goal in three games to give the Sky Blues an undeserved lead.
Marcus Hall's cross from the left hand side found its way through to the 39-year-old whose stooping header beat Wayne Henderson's dive.
The goal gave Coventry self-belief and they started the second half playing with a higher tempo.
A cross from substitute Andy Morrell - who replaced the injured Gary McShreffrey - came to Michael Doyle whose half-volley was just saved by Henderson.
Three minutes later Morrell played through John who was tackled by Guy Butters just as he was about to double Coventry's lead.
But Coventry did score in the 68th minute in the best move of the game. Morrell played in the over-lapping Andy Whing who broke into the box, but his shot was blocked by Henderson.
The ball broke to Wise who promptly blasted the ball into the roof of the net to send the fans in the Ricoh Arena wild.
Adebola and John then went close as Coventry looked to add a third but it would have been tough on Brighton.
Richard Carpenter's corner was not cleared by the Sky Blues and a shot from Alexandre Frutos from outside the area cannoned off the bar, with Marton Fulop beaten. Sebastien Carole controlled the rebound but his shot went harmlessly wide.
Brighton, with Carole in particular looking lively, went close again in the 13th minute after a mistake by Stern John.
The Trinidad & Tobago international tried to play the ball back to his defence but passed to Albion's Jake Robinson. The 19-year-old striker sprinted away from the Coventry defence but his shot was straight at Fulop.
Six minutes later Brighton went close again as a cross from Frutos was headed narrowly wide by makeshift centre forward Gary Hart, with Fulop struggling to get to his far post.
Carole's pace was causing the left hand side of Coventry's defence constant problems and the Frenchman's shot in the 27th minute after a mazy run went just wide.
Coventry created their first real chance in the 40th minute as James Scowcroft played in Dele Adebola.
His cross fell to the feet of John who looked certain to give the Sky Blues the lead until a great last-ditch tackle from Joel Lynch.
But Coventry did score two minutes from time with Wise netting his third goal in three games to give the Sky Blues an undeserved lead.
Marcus Hall's cross from the left hand side found its way through to the 39-year-old whose stooping header beat Wayne Henderson's dive.
The goal gave Coventry self-belief and they started the second half playing with a higher tempo.
A cross from substitute Andy Morrell - who replaced the injured Gary McShreffrey - came to Michael Doyle whose half-volley was just saved by Henderson.
Three minutes later Morrell played through John who was tackled by Guy Butters just as he was about to double Coventry's lead.
But Coventry did score in the 68th minute in the best move of the game. Morrell played in the over-lapping Andy Whing who broke into the box, but his shot was blocked by Henderson.
The ball broke to Wise who promptly blasted the ball into the roof of the net to send the fans in the Ricoh Arena wild.
Adebola and John then went close as Coventry looked to add a third but it would have been tough on Brighton.