COVENTRY City picked up a point against M69 rivals Leicester City with a 1-1 stalemate at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues nursed a one-goal lead at the break after a sublime free kick from Sammy Clingan.

But Leicester substitute Martyn Waghorn put the visitors on level terms with a strike 20 minutes from time.

The Northern Ireland international executed his set piece with surgical precision, curling his shot from the corner of the penalty area inside the top corner of Chris Weale's near post after 34 minutes to give the Sky Blues the half time advantage.

The Sky Blues started brightly with Leon Best getting to the byline in the first few second but just failing to keep the ball in.

Freddy Eastwood then supplied a pair of deep crosses in quick succession on four minutes, both too deep for Best at Weale's far post.

The Sky Blues were a crossbar's width from the opener on eight minutes though when Best got around Bruno Berner and cut the ball back for Aron Gunnarsson who fired from 15 yards and nearly skimmed Weale's woodwork.

The Icelandic international forced a great save out of Weale two minutes later, Eastwood floating in a cross for Morrison to head down into the path of Gunnarsson by the penalty spot although his half-volleyed finished was pushed out for a corner by the Leicester 'keeper at full stretch.

The Foxes registered their first shot on target a minute later, top scorer Matt Fryatt receiving the ball with his back to goal but, with Elliott Ward not allowing him to turn, he teed up strike partner Jan Kermorgant for a shot from 20 yards which went straight at Keiren Westwood.

Lloyd Dyer, who bagged Leicester's winner against Middlesbrough in midweek, then saw his effort go just over Westwood's bar after cutting in from the left and shooting from the edge of the area on a counter attack for the visitors.

Leicester almost broke the deadlock on 21 minutes though, Paul Gallacher curling an effort from an 18-yard angle which had Westwood beaten but hit the crossbar above his top corner.

Westwood then denied him a minute later when Gallacher got behind the Coventry back line, the Sky Blues 'keeper coming off his line to deny the winger from an acute angle.

Coventry took the lead ten minutes before the break though, Clingan executing a masterful free-kick from the corner of the Leicester area, curling his shot inside the top corner of Weale's near post.

Clingan had another bite of the cherry four minutes after the break, Gallacher bringing down Eastwood on the edge of the area and earning a yellow card for his troubles but Clingan's effort clattered the wall.

Gunnarsson was then denied by a good save from Weale, Cork releasing him on the breakaway to shoot from the corner of the Foxes area but the 'keeper palming his effort over the bar.

Eastwood then had a pop five minutes after the hour after cutting in from the right, his shot finding its way into the arms of Weale.

Leicester were level five minuites later when substitute Wayne Waghorn caught the Sky Blues by surprises, three passes from goalkeeper to striker before Waghorn finished inside Westwood's near post.

Clinton Morrison whistled a shot just over the bar with ten minutes to go, making a great turn around Hobbs and putting his shot just over the bar.

Best then hit the bar with four minutes to go from the edge of the six-yard area but the assistant referee had already flagged for an earlier hand ball from Morrison.

Nerves were then strained going into four minutes of injury time, give both teams' reputation for recent late goals.

But it was not be on this occasion as both sides made skirmishes into the opposite half but never really threatened to trouble either 'keeper.

Attendance: 22,209 (4,802)

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Wright (c), van Aanholt, Cranie, Ward, Clingan (Osbourne 71), Gunnarsson, Cork, Eastwood, Best, Morrrison
Subs: Konstantopoulos (GK), Walker, Cain, Grandison, Clarke, Jeffers

Leicester City: Weale, Morrison, Brown, Oakley (c), King, Dyer, Fryatt (Waghorn 59), Berner, Kermorgant (Howard 59), Gallacher (Campbell 59),Hobbs
Subs: Logan (GK), McGovern, Adams, Wellens