Town continued their unbeaten away run dating back to September with a 1-1 draw at Coventry City. The home side took the lead via Stephen Warnock just before the break but the Blues equalised during the second period through Ian Westlake.

Manager Joe Royle unusually switched to a 3-5-2 formation, probably as much to counter Coventry's three-man forward line as to shore up his side's shaky defence. Georges Santos and Drissa Diallo started alongside Richard Naylor, with Fabian Wilnis and Matt Richards the wing-backs.

Up front neither Pablo Couñago nor Darren Bent started, Martijn Reuser joining Shefki Kuqi while Chris Bart-Williams was not considered fit enough to start.

There was a frantic start from the home side and twice loanee Stephen Warnock came close to scoring. First he latched on to a half-cleared ball at the edge of the box, but Kelvin Davis tipped his strong shot over the bar.

The subsequent corner fell to Warnock just outside the area from where he hit a low shot which Davis did well to push out, Matt Richards clearing the loose ball.

Town had to wait until the 13th minute for their first strike, with the rain starting to lash down Jermaine Wright shooting over the bar from 20 yards. The second was long in coming, Tommy Miller's low 25-yarder just beating the post.

Martijn Reuser went close to opening the scoring with a diving header from a Magilton cross soon after, as the Blues started to have most of the possession.

On 26 Tommy Miller was replaced with Ian Westlake, the former Hartlepool man having been involved in a heavy challenge a couple of minutes earlier.

Drissa Diallo headed a Magilton corner over the bar on the half hour, before Kelvin Davis did well to rush off his line and grab the ball ahead of Gary McSheffrey.

Stephen Warnock became the first player to get his name into referee Mr Kettle's book with a high and very late tackle on Fabian Wilnis, the Dutchman's ankle clearly hurt badly by the challenge.

Wilnis required several minutes treatment and spent the rest of the half hobbling about and being somewhat unsportingly booed by the Coventry fans.

Jim Magilton hit a 25-yard shot in the 37th minute, which was saved without too much trouble by Gavin Ward. At the other end Davis again saved from Warnock.

Richard Naylor picked up a yellow card for a foul on McSheffrey as the half entered injury time and soon after the home side went ahead.

Santos and Diallo both blocked shots from the edge of the box, but appeared to get in one another's way as Warnock finally struck a shot which beat Davis.

Santos appeared to catch his studs while trying to keep out Warnock and needed lengthy treatment. Both the Frenchman and Fabian Wilnis failed to return after the break.

Chris Bart-Williams and Darren Bent took over in a much-changed side, now playing 4-4-2. Bent joined Kuqi up front with Reuser switching to right midfield, Wright to full-back, Bart-Williams joining Magilton in the centre of midfield.

New Coventry loan signing Bjarni Gudjonsson tested Davis with a shot three minutes into the new half, the Town keeper claiming comfortably.

The Blues had a good chance in the 55th minute when a Reuser shot was deflected across the face of goal. Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi both went for the ball from an awkward angle to the left of goal but sent it well over the bar.

Three minutes later Town were back on terms. A Bart-Williams cross was chested down by Kuqi into Westlake's path, the youngster hitting a shot from the edge of the penalty area which deflected off and defender and into the net.

The goal woke the previously quiet Town support and the Blues were looking the most likely to score, despite rarely passing fluently. Darren Bent rose well to get to a Richards cross but couldn't muster the power to beat Ward.

Bent was left in a heap by Calum Davenport on 69, after the Coventry defender had gone in on him late, Mr Kettle producing a warranted yellow card.

Town ought to have gone ahead in the 72nd minute from a move which started with Chris Bart-Williams bringing the ball forward to the edge of the box. The former Charlton man slipped the ball wide to Reuser inside the area, the Dutchman crossing low. Ward failed to get hold of the ball, which ran to Kuqi who, with the goal gaping, shot over the bar.

It was a bad miss and one which Town almost paid for when Patrick Suffo broke well and forced Davis to pull off a fine save to his right.

With the rain now extremely heavy and the strong wind making conditions even worse, Town spent several minutes under the cosh, the Sky Blues winning a succession of corners, most of which Diallo and Naylor dealt with in the air.

Diallo slid in with an important challenge on Gudjonsson with five minutes remaining before Davis again did well, getting a hand to a Graham Barrett header. The Town keeper hit his head on the post while doing so, but was not seriously hurt.

Neither side carved out too many decent chances in the latter stages, the Blues' only effort a 20 yard Westlake shot which proved little challenge to Ward in the Coventry goal.

A draw was probably a fair result in a game where neither side played particularly well in difficult conditions. Town didn't really get their passing going consistently despite one or two impressive moves.

While the home side's goal might be put down to a defensive error, there were few of the suicidal moments inside the penalty area which have characterised Town's recent displays. The return of Diallo in particular meant that most aerial balls were won by the Blues backline.

In goal Kelvin Davis made four excellent saves and more than made up for last week's howler.

Once more few chances were created and again at least one gilt-edged opportunity was spurned, Shefki Kuqi at fault,not for the first time.

Another away draw keeps Town in the top six, but despite a welcome point, home victories are more important as the Blues enter February.

Town: Davis, Wilnis (Bart-Williams 46), Richards, Santos (Bent 46), Naylor, Diallo, Magilton, Miller (Westlake 26), Wright, Kuqi, Reuser.

Photo: Action Images

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