Cardiff City put in a battling performance to earn a point away from home on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the Bluebirds going ahead twice at the Coventry Building Society Arena, a late penalty kick for the hosts levelled the scores.
City broke the deadlock with only five minutes played, as Yakou Meite – making his return to the starting lineup - beat his marker on a corner-kick to head into the back of the net at the edge of the six-yard box.
The hosts were quick to respond, however, and levelled the score two minutes later, as Ephron Mason-Clark finished clinically having been put through on goal, the effort narrowly evading Jak Alnwick’s reach.
End-to-end action continued following the two early goals, with the hosts claiming advantage of possession and the Bluebirds responding in turn on the counter. Callum Robinson spearheaded the attack down the middle, with Callum O’Dowda and Meite continuing to pose a threat from out on either wing.
With 25 minutes played, David Turnbull’s powerful shot from distance was spilled by Brad Collins between the sticks, before Robinson was deemed offside whilst attempting to finish on the rebound.
A few minutes later, City again came close as Meite dragged a half-volley just wide from the edge of the area, following some good build-up play by Robinson and O’Dowda.
At the other end, Jak Alnwick pulled off a crucial save at point-blank range to deny Norman Bassette’s towering header, as the hosts again looked to establish a firm foothold.
Having ended the first half on the back foot, the Bluebirds showed their renewed intent immediately following the interval, beginning with another Meite strike seconds after the restart, this time held by ‘keeper Collins.
Moments later, City were ahead once again. Invited by space in front of him and with the ball at his feet, Alex Robertson strode forwards before planting a terrific ranged shot low in the corner of the net from over 20 yards out.
The Sky Blues sought a repeat of the first half through an immediate equaliser, and Alnwick had to be alert in the minutes following as he turned a quickly taken free-kick around his near post.
Play continued at an even pace as the second half progressed, with City pressing aggressively when not in position and frustrating the hosts. With 20 minutes remaining, Meite stepped up to shoot from a free-kick he had won at the edge of the area, but sent it just over the crossbar.
As play transitioned into the final 20 minutes, the hosts changed tact and resorted to a more direct style as they launched crosses into the box and up the pitch from inside their own half, demanding that City’s back line soak up the pressure before redistributing into the midfield.
Rubin Colwill – introduced to replace Turnbull in the first half – held up the ball well in the middle of the park, whilst Manolis Siopis battled against his counterparts intensely in the later stages.
With a minute of regular time remaining, Coventry City levelled for a second time. Awarded a penalty kick, following a period of sustained attacking pressure, Victor Torp’s resulting effort from the spot beat Alnwick.
Six minutes of added time saw both sides vie for their third, but with the final whistle blown, the points were shared.
FULL TIME: COVENTRY CITY 2-2 CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, Chambers, Collins, Turnbull, Siopis, Robertson, Meite, Robinson, O’Dowda. Subs: Horvath, Daland, Rinomhota, Reindorf, Ralls, Willock, Bagan, Colwill, Tanner.