Coventry City 1 Bristol City 1

Nicky Maynard's sixth goal of the season earned Bristol City a deserved draw against Coventry in the Championship clash at the Ricoh Arena.

Moments after halftime the prolific marksman cancelled out a header from former Yeovil Town favourite Leon Best with a thunderous strike.

It was easily the ex-Crewe man's best effort so far but it could have set up a win had the Robins' debutant, Costa Roca striker Alvaro Saborio not missed a sitter seconds later.

Saborio was in for the ill Danny Haynes and he almost got a chance within the first 100 seconds of his English career when he got a slight touch on a Jamie McAllister cross, but could not force it goalwards.

At the other end Michael McIndoe tried his luck with a right-footer from the edge of the box but dragged the shot and received only howls of derision from the Robins fans who used to idolise him.

Isaac Osbourne then tested Dean Gerken in the visitors' goal and the former Colchester man failed to hold the effort and had to react quickly to reach the rebound before Clinton Morrison.

McIndoe was then fouled by Brian Wilson and from the free kick, Sammy Clingan swung the ball in and, after a deflection, Morrison headed over from a tight angle.

And the hosts took the lead after 18 minutes when smart play down the left from Morrison and Osbourne set up Marcus Hall for a superb first-time cross.

Best got in front of his man and headed in, although he checked to see if he was onside before beginning his celebrations.

And it was so nearly 2-0 moments later when McIndoe's deep free kick was so nearly headed in by Ben Turner. From the corner, Best fired over the bar with a spectacular overhead kick.

The Hall-Best combination almost struck again on 24 minutes when Best's header from Hall's cross was palmed out by Gerken. Morrison tapped in but had been in an offside position when Best had headed forward so the effort was disallowed.

City almost levelled when a Paul Hartley free kick dropped to Liam Fontaine and he forced a save from Keiran Westwood from an acute angle.

Then Maynard and Saborio combined for the Costa Rican to shoot left-footed from close range but Westwood was equal to the shot.

After the break City equalised within three minutes when Fontaine crossed from the left, Saborio headed down and Maynard struck a thunderbolt first time from the edge of the box that powered into the roof of the net giving Westwood no chance.

The Robins should have been 2-1 up within seconds when Saborio latched on to a hopeful forward punt that the Sky Blues' defence left.

The rangy forward went past Westwood but hesitated and shot into the side-netting with the goal gaping.

Coventry could have retaken the lead when McIndoe's clever run set up an overhead for Morrison but the former Crystal Palace man lifted his effort too high.

City's midfield had barely got forward all game but Marvin Elliott then crossed deep for the unlikely figure of Cole Skuse, who looped a header that Westwood just tipped away from the onrushing Maynard.

If that move gave City heart, McAllister's half-volley from 35 yards that sliced well wide showed that confidence can be misplaced.

Nevertheless, City threatened again when Hartley chipped up a free kick and McCombe possibly jumped too early and could only nod a free header at Westwood.

In the final moments Gerken saved at full stretch to deny Best a second goal but City had done enough for a share of the spoils.

Coventry City (4-4-2): Westwood; Wright, Turner, Cranie, Hall; Cork (Gunnarsson 78), Clingan, Osbourne (Eastwood 78), McIndoe; Best, Morrison. Subs: Konstantopoulos, Ward, Grandison, Clarke, Jeffers.

Bristol City (3-5-2): Gerken; Carey, McCombe, Fontaine; Wilson (Orr 65), Skuse (Sno 74), Hartley (Johnson 74), Elliott, McAllister; Saborio, Maynard. Subs not used: Williams, Sproule, Nyatanga, Basso.