Match ends, Coventry City 2, Bristol City 2.
Coventry City substitute Ellis Simms struck a late equaliser to salvage a point as the Sky Blues shared the spoils with Bristol City.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto put Coventry ahead with his sixth goal in seven league games, but Rob Dickie headed the visitors' equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Nahki Wells tucked away a loose ball to give the Robins a late advantage - only for Simms to level two minutes later.
The draw takes Coventry a point clear of Sunderland in the final play-off spot, while Bristol City stay 13th.
Liam Manning's side, who are without a win in the league since Boxing Day, made the brighter start as Jason Knight and Taylor Gardner-Hickman both tested home goalkeeper Brad Collins from distance.
Coventry were also forced into an early change when captain Ben Sheaf pulled up and was unable to continue, but they rediscovered some rhythm and snatched the lead just before the half-hour.
Bristol City could only clear Jake Bidwell's steepling cross as far as Sakamoto, who calmly manoeuvred himself into position and steered a precise left-foot finish into the bottom corner.
But the Robins responded just before the break when Gardner-Hickman crossed from the left and Dickie, scorer of the only goal when the sides met in the corresponding fixture at Ashton Gate in October, glanced a header in off the far post.
Soon after the restart, the lively Gardner-Hickman had another go from long range but his shot was deflected behind. Coventry sought to shake up their attack with a triple change, sending on Simms and Haji Wright along with Danish midfielder Victor Torp.
Yet it was the visitors who posed the greater goal threat and when the ball deflected into the path of Wells on the edge of the box, the striker pounced, lashing it beyond Collins to make it 2-1.
Coventry, with only one home defeat in all competitions this season, fought to maintain that statistic and were quickly back on level terms when Max O'Leary could only parry Liam Kitching's drive and Simms gobbled up the rebound.
There were still further opportunities for both sides and O'Leary denied Simms a second goal before Robins substitute Harry Cornick unleashed a shot that took a deflection, but Collins reacted quickly to switch direction and claw it to safety.
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire:
"That's the first time we haven't performed anywhere near our level really, the energy levels felt a bit flat. We gave the ball away too easily.
"Looking at the pitches we've played on for the last two games at Sheffield Wednesday, I think it's taken a bit out of us, that's for sure - so to get a point is a real positive, definitely a point gained.
"If you can't win it, don't lose it, and this keeps the unbeaten run going, which is important.
"We got back into it with a really good shot from Kitch, the keeper's parried it and Ellis reacted really well - more than that, he's controlled the bobbling ball into the back of the net. It was a much-needed goal for us and for him."
Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:
"To go ahead in the 83rd minute and then concede two minutes later makes it feel a little bit like a loss. But the bigger picture is coming here against a side that are in really good form - it's a real positive to come away feeling disappointed not to have won.
"In the first 15 minutes I thought we had some good chances and got into good areas, then we conceded a soft goal against the run of play.
"We have to be more ruthless. There are lots of games now where the performance levels have been really high, but we have to convert that dominance into more goals and chances.
"I see Nahki every day in training and his career speaks for itself. It was a terrific finish - that's the quality he's got."
Line-ups
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 40Collins
- 27van EwijkBooked at 90mins
- 4Thomas
- 15Kitching
- 21Bidwell
- 28EcclesSubstituted forTorpat 59'minutes
- 14SheafSubstituted forLatibeaudiereat 12'minutes
- 7Sakamoto
- 10O'Hare
- 45PalmerSubstituted forWrightat 58'minutes
- 24GoddenSubstituted forSimmsat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Binks
- 3Dasilva
- 8Allen
- 9Simms
- 11Wright
- 13Wilson
- 22Latibeaudiere
- 29Torp
- 30Tavares Desidério
Bristol City
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1O'Leary
- 19Tanner
- 26Vyner
- 16Dickie
- 20BellSubstituted forCornickat 79'minutes
- 8Williams
- 22Gardner-HickmanSubstituted forJamesat 60'minutes
- 3PringBooked at 85mins
- 12KnightSubstituted forMcCrorieat 60'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 11MehmetiSubstituted forConwayat 65'minutes
- 21Wells
Substitutes
- 2McCrorie
- 6James
- 9Cornick
- 10King
- 15Conway
- 23Bajic
- 24Roberts
- 27Knight-Lebel
- 30Nelson
- Referee:
- Leigh Doughty
- Attendance:
- 22,724
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home1
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 2, Bristol City 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Booking
Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Haji Wright (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ross McCrorie (Bristol City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Harry Cornick (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Conway with a cross.
Booking
Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City).
Post update
Tommy Conway (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nahki Wells (Bristol City).
Goal!
Goal! Coventry City 2, Bristol City 2. Ellis Simms (Coventry City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt saved. Liam Kitching (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joel Latibeaudiere.
Booking
Cameron Pring (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Cameron Pring (Bristol City).
Goal!
Goal! Coventry City 1, Bristol City 2. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Callum O'Hare (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Joe Williams (Bristol City).
Comments
Join the conversation
Great delivery TGH & header from Dickie. 2nd half CC more in it but still feel we bossed it. Good game but feel we lost 2points, This Bristol City side is getting better!
UTC
🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴
PUSB
Can't understand why robins starts with Godden he is not a guy to play upfront on his own
We will struggle without Sheaf in the next few weeks he has been outstanding in recent games
The Torpedo looks decent though
PUSB