NEWCASTLE: Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Van Aanholt, Routledge (Ryan Taylor 83), Guthrie, Nolan, Gutierrez (Pancrate 82), Carroll, Lovenkrands (Best 72). Subs Not Used: Krul, Hall, Smith, Ranger.
COVENTRY: Westwood, Wright, Barnett, Wood, Cranie, Baker, Clingan, Deegan (Gunnarsson 65), McIndoe, Eastwood (Stead 56), Morrison (Sears 61). Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Hussey, Turner, Grandison.
Att: 39,334
Chris Coleman called for his side to be "brave" in, what he described as, "the toughest away trip of the season".
To their credit, they did what they set out to do and stunned the Geordie crowd with a goal, as the Magpies were slow out of the blocks.
But the superior class showed on the night, and the Sky Blues couldn't live with Chris Hughton's boys in the second-half.
It was the away side who began brightly, and they went close early on when Morrison fired in a shot only for Kevin Nolan to head away the goal-bound strike.
Newcastle countered and only a superb save from Coventry keeper Kieren Westwood stopped Lovenkrands' header flying into the net after Jonas Gutierrez's probing run and cross from the left.
The hosts continued to press as Fabricio Coloccini went close just after 15 minutes with a glancing header from Gutierrez's corner that skewed wide of the far post.
The Argentinian winger was the focal point of the majority of the home side's attacking ambitions, slipping a superb pass in for Lovenkrands only for the forward to be tripped by Coventry skipper Stephen Wright just outside the area.
Danny Guthrie's resulting free-kick was on-target but Morrison bravely deflected the shot wide with an instinctive header.
Coventry then broke the deadlock against the run of play after the half hour-mark.
Michael McIndoe surged down the left-hand side and his low cross was bundled into the far corner by Morrison.
The goal spurred Newcastle into action and they equalised two minutes later when Routledge cracked a low volley past Westwood from outside the area following Wright's poor header.
Lovenkrands had chipped over a cross following a short corner with Guthrie, with Routledge taking full advantage after Wright's looping header dropped to the winger 25 yards out.
Gutierrez fired in a goal-bound shot just before the break that Richard Wood did well to repel, however Newcastle were not to be denied and took the lead after 53 minutes when Carroll headed home his eighth of the season following a flowing passage of play.
The striker latched onto Nolan's first-time cross after an earlier incisive reverse pass from Guthrie that left Carroll with a simple close-range chance.
Newcastle then put the game safe thanks to Lovenkrands' sixth goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Routledge had seized on a loose ball and surged through only to be brought down clumsily by Barnett.
The defender received his second yellow card of the match from referee Steve Tanner and Coventry's misery was compounded when Lovenkrands slotted home the spot-kick.
Substitute Ryan Taylor then topped off the win with a close-range tap-in deep into injury time.