Clinton Morrison's first league goal for Coventry was enough to earn a 1-1 draw with Derby at the Ricoh Arena.
First league goal earns Coventry a home point
Clinton Morrison's first league goal for Coventry was enough to earn Chris Coleman's side a 1-1 draw with Derby at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues new boy had only previously managed to get himself on the scoresheet in the Carling Cup, but after coming off the bench in the 69th minute he rewarded his manager's faith with a leveller.
Rob Hulse had earlier in the contest given Derby a lead with a trademark header, which had looked good enough to steal maximum spoils.
The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute, as Hulse's fourth of the season came somewhat against the run of play, after Coventry had dominated the first half with their more adventurous and enterprising football.
Kris Commons crossed from midway inside the Coventry half on the left-hand side and Hulse's glancing header from 15 yards looped beyond Keiren Westwood and into the net at the far post.
Coventry created most of the early chances. Michael Mifsud should have done better than slice his shot wide when he cut inside Jordan Stewart from the right-hand side after three minutes.
Mifsud waste
Derby responded soon after and quick feet from Nathan Ellington on the edge of the box saw him glide past two Coventry defenders towards goal but his low shot was saved by the legs of Westwood. Mile Sterjovski's follow-up shot through a crowded area went wide.
A superb demonstration of ball retention and one-touch football from Coventry nearly produced a goal after 11 minutes.
A move involving several players saw the Sky Blues work the ball out to Mifsud on the right wing. Mifsud teed up Isaac Osbourne whose first-time cross looked like it would be headed into the net by Leon Best but he glanced the ball wide under pressure from a Derby defender.
A surging run and shot from 20 yards by Freddy Eastwood was diverted away from the bottom corner by the fingertips of Stephen Bywater in the 18th minute.
Derby posed a rare threat midway through the first half when Miles Addison tested Westwood with a fierce shot from 25 yards.
However, the Coventry keeper was equal to the task and held on to the ball after diving to his right and plucking it out of the air.
Hulse struck four minutes before half-time but Aron Gunnarsson wasted a glorious chance to equalise for Coventry in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
The Icelander controlled a long ball before cutting inside two Derby defenders, but with just Bywater to beat thundered a left-foot shot against the post from 10 yards out.
The story after the break was much the same as the first half. Coventry enjoyed the better of the play but lacked penetration in the final third of the pitch as Derby seemed content to defend their lead and hit the Sky Blues on the break.
Bywater saves
Bywater easily saved tame efforts from Gunnarsson and Best at the start of the second half.
Eastwood's rising shot from 25 yards narrowly missed the top corner just before the hour.
Westwood kept Coventry in the game with a superb one-handed save to keep out Addison's volley midway through the second half.
Coventry continued to apply the pressure and Bywater produced superb saves from Gunnarsson and Robbie Simpson's free-kick.
But Coventry were eventually rewarded for their efforts when Morrison struck.
