Coventry's Edworthy denies Man City

Telfer (l) challenges Haaland at Highfield Road

Coventry 1-1 Manchester City

Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's error gifted Marc Edworthy his first goal for Coventry as the Sky Blues fought back for a draw at Highfield Road.

The away side were on top of this relegation battle after Paulo Wanchope scored the opener with 54 minutes gone.

But Edworthy grabbed the equaliser, his first goal in more than four years, when Weaver allowed his hopeful 25-yard shot to pass him at the near post after 72 minutes.

It was Weaver's second blunder in 48 hours. His poor clearance led to Charlton's second goal in a 4-1 defeat at the weekend.

Only one point separated the teams beforehand, with Coventry fourth bottom and their opponents two places lower in 19th.

Manchester City boss Joe Royle made six changes to his starting line-up and gave a full debut to recent signing Huckerby, who had spent three seasons with the Sky Blues.

  Key moments

26 mins: Coventry penalty claims rejected after ball hits Wanchope's arm

54: Wanchope puts the visitors ahead

58: Wanchope blows chance for a second

72: Edworthy levels for Coventry

74: Hadji nearly puts home side ahead

Huckerby, who scored the consolation goal as a subsitute against Charlton, was the main early source of danger.

He forced keeper Kirkland into a hurried clearance almost straight from the kick-off.

Huckerby also saw both a goalbound shot and threatening run inside the penalty area cleared for a corner.

Meanwhile, Richard Edghill, playing his first Premiership game since August, blazed a shot over from 12 yards.

Coventry gradually began to threaten, with Weaver tipping over a Steve Howey mis-kick and Paul Williams wasting a good heading opportunity.

My scoring record's been a bit appalling, so it was nice to get the equaliser

  Marc Edworthy

Coventry continued to pressure without creating too many clear-cut chances

Weaver parried a Craig Bellamy drive for a corner, while Wanchope appeared to touch the ball with his arm in his own area, but the spot-kick appeal was turned down.

Manchester City's keeper was called into action again, tipping over a Quinn shot which looped off defender Richard Dunne.

Just as the away side showed frustration, with Huckerby booked for dissent, they nearly went ahead.

Centre-half Steve Howey's powerful header from an Ian Bishop free-kick was palmed out by Kirkland and Gary Breen headed clear for a corner.

The hosts looked to maintain their dominance after the break, and Ysrael Ziniga fired a close-range volley over.

But then Manchester City forced an opener.

We started well and probably deserved the point

  Darren Huckerby

Huckerby pressed down the right flank, and fed an inviting low ball into the area for Wanchope, who made no mistake.

The Costa Rican striker had a gilt-edged chance to grab his second four minutes later, but Kirkland halted his run and then Wanchope could not convert after rounding the keeper.

Williams looked set to equalise, but headed over Thompson's 71st minute corner.

A minute later, Coventry were level - largely thanks to Weaver.

Edworthy fired a speculative 25-yard shot which should have been a routine stop for the highly-rated young keeper, but the ball bounced past him at the near post.

It was only the third goal of Edworthy's 10-year career. The last one came for Crystal Palace against Bury in September 1996.

Rattled by the strike, Manchester City almost leaked another when Dunne fluffed his clearance only for Hadji to fire inches wide.

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Coventry: Kirkland, Edworthy, Breen, Williams, Quinn, Thompson, Carsley, Telfer, Bellamy, Zuniga, Hadji. Subs: Shaw, Chippo, Eustace, Aloisi, Hydlgaard.

Manchester City: Weaver, Dunne, Morrison, Howey, Edghill, Bishop, Haaland, Tiatto, Granville, Wanchope, Huckerby. Subs: Prior, Goater, Wright, Wright-Phillips, Charvet.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington)