COVENTRY City were denied a point in controversial fashion at the Ricoh Arena as Chris Hussey's late leveller was ruled out for offside.

The Sky Blues appeared to have snatched a point after Derby County took the lead after 20 minutes through Shaun Barker.

But referee Andy D'Urso disallowed Hussey's strike deep into second half injury time after consulting the assistant referee

It was the Sky Blues who came straight out of the traps at full pelt and Jonathan Stead went a whisker away from goal when he dragged a shot just wide of Stephen Bywater's far post in the opening 20 seconds.

It was Clinton Morrison next after two minutes when Carl Baker broke away and sent in an early cross which Morrison stretched to reach but could only poke the ball to Bywater.

It was Stead's turn again on six minutes when Gary Deegan teed him up on the edge of the area to curl an effort around Rams defender Russell Anderson but again straight at Bywater.

For all of the hosts' threatening attacks though it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play when Stephen Pearson's corner was flicked across the six-yard box by Rob Hulse, Barker firing at goal from the six-yard area with Martin Cranie doing well to get a foot to the ball and block the shot but not before it had crossed the line.

The Sky Blues went close twice before the breaker, on both occasions through Baker who sent a shot just wide after 37 minutes and then put a more ambitious 25-yard effort over the bar with three minutes of the first half to go.

The wideman started the second half as he finished the first with a superbly struck half volley two minutes into the second period from the edge of the area only to see Bywater bat it away with a very strong hand when the ball looked destined for the net.

Stead had shouts for a penalty turned down two minutes later when he contested a long ball with James McEveley and turned the full back but had his claims for a foul turned away by referee Andy D'Urso when it appeared McEveley had pulled him back.

Stead went close with his head with 15 minutes to go, rising to a cross from Clingan but heading straight at Bywater.

The slightest of touches would then have guided the ball into the Rams' net two minutes later when Baker whipped a delivery across the face of goal.

Derby substitute Steve Davies almost made a dramatic impact with seven minutes to go though, hitting the outside of Keiren Westwood's post only seconds after coming on.

And the game finished in controversial fashion as Sky Blues substitute Hussey appeared to have levelled in the dying moments of injury time with his cross-cum-shot which crept into the inside of Bywater's far post only for the assistant referee to flag for an offside and disallow the goal.

Attendance: 17,630 (1,821 away)

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Wright (c), Cranie (Hussey 68), Wood, Barnett, Clingan, Gunnarsson (Bell 66), Baker, Deegan (Sears 78), Stead, Morrison
Subs: Konstantopoulos (GK), Hall, McPake, Jeffers

Derby County: Bywater, McEveley, Green, Leacock (Hunt 24), Savage (c), Hulse, (Davies 83), Porter, Barker, Pearson, Tonge (Teale 86), Anderson
Subs: Deeney (GK), Martin, Cywka, Sunu