COVENTRY City were denied their first win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park for nearly seven years as substitute Kieron Cadogan cancelled out Aron Gunnarsson's first-half opener to salvage a point for the Eagles.

Gunnarsson netted the second goal of his Sky Blues career on the half hour mark to give City a one-goal lead at half time.

The Icelandic international flicked home a header from right-back Isaac Osbourne's cross to give the Sky Blues the advantage heading into the interval but Cadogan came off Neil Warnock's bench to take advantage of a defensive slip-up and apply a cool finish with 20 minutes to go.

Gunnarsson could have given the Sky Blues a dream start in the first minute, picking up a sprayed through ball from Freddy Eastwood and getting around Lee Hills before firing a shot at Julian Speroni's near post which the 'keeper kept out.

Danny Fox then worried Speroni again with a set-piece a minute later, curling a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the Palace 'keeper's near post.

The hosts enjoyed their first real attack on nine minutes, Victor Moses getting around Osbourne on the right and winning a free-kick on the side of the Coventry penalty area after being obstructed by Ben Turner.

And the whipped in free-kick caused a moment of excitement for Eagles fans as the saw the delivery skim off the head of a City defender for a corner.

Clinton Morrison was given a harsh welcome back to his old stomping ground on 16 minutes, Matt Lawrence clattering him into the advertising hoardings with a Palace goal kick to show for it.

But Morrison was almost on the end of a Simpson cross five minutes later although the final delivery was played just behind him and the recovering Palace defenders, Morrison slipping as he tried to adjust.

Eastwood then had a good effort well saved by Speroni after 25 minutes, the Welsh international cutting inside Lee Hills and firing at goal from just inside the area, the Palace 'keeper parrying the shot away.

But the Sky Blues were ahead on the half-hour mark, Gunnarsson doubling his City goal tally to flick Osbourne's whipped in cross across the goal and inside Speroni's far post.

Palace forced the issue in the closing stages of the first half, Anthony Stokes delivering one of his many corners of the first half with seven minutes to go, this one though causing a goalmouth tussle which saw Morrison stick a foot out to clear and Westwood collecting the ball after it popped into the air.

Stokes also had a chance to level for the home side four minutes from half time, picking up the ball 25 yards out and firing at goal, forcing Westwood to palm the shot around his post.

But while Palace enjoyed the majority of the late first half possession, the Sky Blues managed to see out the remainder of the opening 45 minutes without incident.

City started the second half strongly, Morrison directing a header from Fox's cross just over the bar three minutes after the restart.

But Palace had another effort that could quite have easily found its way into the net a minute before the hour mark, Stokes' corner taking another flicked head but eventually being shepherded from danger by Simpson and Gunnarsson.

Gunnarsson could have infact doubled his tally for the night two minutes later, Beuzelin floating a ball over the top for the youngster whose first touch was great but his second disappointing as he skied his shot high and wide from close range.

He had another opportunity four minutes later, Fox releasing Simpson who made a great run and again crossed behind the scrambling defenders and finding Gunnarsson who tapped past Speroni but did not connect properly with his second touch allowing Claude Davis to make a comfortable goal line clearance.

And the Sky Blues were to rue the missed opportunities two minutes later when substitute Kieron Cadogan took advantage of a defensive slip from Ben Turner who allowed the ball to roll past him unaware Cadogan was lurking, the youngster then rounding Westwood and slipping the equalizer into an empty net.

Eastwood had a chance to restore City's lead three minutes later, Fox's free-kick headed into Eastwood's path by Dann but the Welshman swinging at the ball and missing.

Eagles skipper Derry came close to grabbing a second for Palace ten minutes from time, flashing a half-volley just wide of the post from 25 yards out.

And the home side again finished the half strong although Beuzelin had the last say for the Sky Blues with a 25-yard volley which just skimmed Speroni's crossbar.

But honours ended even between the two sides who stay a point and a place apart in the Championship.

Attendance: 12,898

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Dann, Fox, Turner, Osbourne, Gunnarsson, Beuzelin, Doyle, Simpson, Eastwood (Best 86), Morrison
Subs: Marshall (GK), Hall, Ward, Thornton

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Fonte, Hills, Davis, Derry, Danns, Moses, Kuqi, Stokes (Fonte 68), Ifill (Cadogan 59)
Subs: Carle, Comley, Clyne