Coventry City 1-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Ricoh Arena

Nicky Maynard's sixth goal of the season earned City a 1-1 draw at Coventry City.

The striker's thunderbolt 48th minute strike cancelled out Leon Best's first half header for a share of the spoils.

City were excellent in the second half and will hard done by, especially after debutant Alvaro Saborio fired wide of an open goal shortly after Maynard's leveller.

City made a bright start with some excellent possession football and Saborio glanced a Jamie McAllister wide early on.

Michael McIndoe, against one of his many former clubs, hooked a shot wide soon after, then Dean Gerken let go of Isaac Osbourne's low shot and just managed to hook the ball clear of the pouncing Clinton Morrison at the last second.

Marvin Elliott beats ex-team-mate Michael McIndoe to the ball

Morrison headed just wide from a Sammy Clingan free kick on 15 minutes, while at the other end Nicky Maynard sent a half-volley wide.

The opener came on 18 minutes when Marcus Hall found space down the left to whip a cross to the back post where Best stooped to head beyond Gerken. City's defenders appealed for offside in vain.

It could have been worse moments later as Gerken brilliantly tipped Andy Turner's downward header around the post, and then Morrison had a goal chalked out for offside after Gerken had parried out an Osbourne attempt.

A miskicked clearance from Turner then let Maynard tee-up Saborio in the box, but the Costa Rican's left-foot shot from ten yards was well saved by Keiren Westwood in the home goal.

In first half stoppage time Maynard sent a low 25 yard free kick into the gloves of Westwood.

The striker wasn't to be denied, however, as he brought City level within three minutes of the restart. Saborio chested down the ball towards Maynard on the edge of the box and he unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner for 1-1.

Nicky Maynard celebrates his equaliser with team-mates

Saborio, fresh from his assist, should have put the visitors into the lead seconds later. Chasing what seemed a hopeless cause, the striker managed to get to ball ahead of Westwood but after rounding the keeper he shot into the side-netting with the goal gaping.

Morrison was fortunate to escape with just a booking when he swung an arm in the direction of Jamie McCombe.

And moments later the striker saw a chance blocked by McCombe inside the box as Gerken scooped up the looping ball.

Just after the hour Elliott's cross towards the back post was headed back across goal by Skuse, and only a superb fingertip save from Westwood kept the scores level.

City continued to press as McCombe was denied with a close range header by Westwood, and then Elliott
had a cross deflected just over the top.

Martin Cranie almost won it for Coventry in stoppage time, heading down Aron Gunnarsson's cross but Gerken made a smart save down to his right.