Bristol City 1-1 Coventry City
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

David Clarkson scored a late equaliser to earn City a point from their clash with Coventry City at Ashton Gate.

After a first half littered with half chances, Coventry snatched the lead straight after the interval when David Bell rattled in a shot from the edge of the box.

City huffed and puffed, and it looked like they were going to be frustrated. That was until substitute Clarkson popped up inside the box with seven minutes left to level.

City initially made just one change to their starting line-up with Marvin Elliott coming in for the injured Cole Skuse. However, Jamal Campbell-Ryce pulled up in the warm-up and was replaced in the starting eleven by Evander Sno.

The home side began brightly and Patrick Agyemang sent a snap-shot over the top inside the opening five minutes to signal City's intent.

Coventry had a big escape on 17 minutes as Paul Hartley and Sno carved open the visiting defence with a neat one-two. Hartley in turn fed in a pass for Agyemang, advancing forwards on the edge of the box, only for the big striker to be tripped by Stephen Wright. Remarkably referee Graham Horwood refused to pull out his notebook, especially with Agyemang having a chance to shoot, and from the free kick Hartley hit the wall.

Marvin Elliott wins a headed challenge in midfield

At the other end Gerken used his fingertips to claw away Michael McIndoe's left-wing cross from the nose of David Bell six yards out. That was Coventry's first real attack of any note in an opening period in which City had bossed matters.

City had a golden opening on 26 minutes as Nicky Maynard stole in on Louis Carey's raking 50-yard pass forwards. The top scorer controlled the ball perfectly inside the box but just as he prepared to pull the trigger in came James McPake with a goal-saving, sliding challenge.

The hosts went closer still on the half-hour when A high ball into the box caused all sorts of problems with Agyemang and Maynard both trying to get on the end of it. Maynard in the end stabbed the ball towards McAllister, only for his left-foot shot to be well-saved by the body of Keiren Westwood.

Maynard saw a shot blocked by former City winger McIndoe and then Elliott's volley flew into the arms of Westwood as City ended the half the better of the two sides.

Nicky Maynard is denied by a challenge by James McPake

Just a minute and 45 seconds of the second half had passed when Coventry snatched their shock lead. A weak shot from Clingan rebounded back off Elliott into the path of the Bell. This time Bell rifled a shot towards the opposite corner and Gerken was unable to scramble back across his goal-line to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Maynard limped off after a collision with McPake to be replaced by Danny Haynes. Ivan Sproule soon followed in place of Sno.

Chances came thick and fast as Haynes' pace caused the Coventry defence problems. Initially Haynes forced a save from Westwood's legs and Agyemang stabbed over the top from the rebound.

Haynes then whipped around Westwood into a wide angle and agonisingly slid the ball across goal and a whisker wide of the far post.

Danny Haynes shows his frustration at another missed chance

Lewin Nyatanga and Haynes both headed wide from good positions and Agyemang saw a deflected shot warm the gloves of Westwood.

With time ticking away, City made another attacking switch with David Clarkson replacing Nyantanga and adding his prowess to the strikeforce.

Carey fired wide from distance, Elliott missed the target and Agyemang saw a deflected shot bounce just wide as the chances began to stack up.

But with seven minutes left the ball was swung into the box and Carey headed down into the path of Clarkson who coolly slotted in the equalising goal.

Clarkson went so close to snatching a last-gasp winner when Clarkson headed inches wide of the back post after being picked out by Carey's flick on.