ELLIOTT Ward salvaged a dramatic point for the Sky Blues with a last-gasp penalty at the Ricoh Arena to bring City within three points of the top half of the Championship table.

Barnsley led for much of the game after Daniel Bogdanovic's eighth-minute opener.

But the Sky Blues dominated much of the game and were good value for their point after having two shots cleared out of the goalmouth, hitting the woodwork and forcing a good save out of former Sky Blues 'keeper Luke Steele.

Coventry would have felt justifiably aggrieved at going into the half-time interval a goal down after dominating much of the first half.

City started the stronger of the two sides early on and did well keeping possession away from the visitors.

Robbie Simpson turned Aron Gunnarsson's cross just over the bar with his head after four minutes and a minute later Freddy Eastwood charged down Steele's attempted clearance.

But City were caught napping after eight minutes, Bogdanovic receiving a ball in the Coventry area on the break, before turning a nd firing past Keiren Westwood.

Bogdanovic could have made it two four minutes later but failed to convert the easisest of tap-ins from four yards outside the goalmouth after Macken had got to the by-line and cut back for him.

Four minutes after that, the Sky Blues started to show some life again, Elliott Ward first firing a half-volley at goal only to see it headed behind off the line for a corner.

He then shook the crossbar from Danny Fox's resulting corner delivery with a powerful headed that hit the underside of the woodwork.

Bogdanovic forced some work out of Westwood a minute before the hour mark in the second half, a low shot from just outside of the area forcing the 'keeper low to collect.

Doyle had a good chance at the opposite end a minute later though, Eastwood getting to the by-line and floating a ball for the Irishman at the back post, his shot blocked at the post and stabbed away by Darren Moore.

Adam Hammill gave the City back four a scare on 79 minutes, whipping in a low cross for Macken who flicked a shot which flashed across the goalmouth and just wide of Westwood's far post.

Hammill's inadvertent cross-cum-shot two minutes later forced Westwood to tip the ball over his bar.

The fourth official's signal for five minutes added time rejuvenated the Sky Blues though and two minutes into injury time Simpson's cutback for Eastwood saw the Welshman hook a shot at goal only for the ball to meet Hugo Colace's hand instead.

Referee Steve Cook originally signalled for a corner only to be overruled by his linesman who signalled a spot kick which Ward duly lined up and dispatched past Steele.

The point was no more than the Sky Blues deserved as they controlled much of the match but just failed to turn half-chances into the chances.

But Coleman will be pleased to extend City's unbeaten run at the Ricoh Arena as well as see his players net their first goal in four games.

Attendance: 15,035

Team

Coventry City: Westwood, Hall, Fox, Ward, Turner, Gunnarsson, Beuzelin (Cain 73), Doyle, Fox, Simpson, Eastwood
Subs: Marshall (GK), Grandison, Walker, Wynter