Frank Lampards first game as Coventry head coach ended in a 2-2 draw against fellow Championship strugglers Cardiff thanks to Victor Torps late penalty. The Sky Blues trailed twice and Alex Robertsons superb strike early in the second half looked set to earn the Bluebirds their first away victory since April.
But Torps 89th-minute spot-kick meant both teams winless runs were extended to five games as Coventry edged three points clear of the relegation zone, with Cardiff remaining only one point further back.
Championship highlights | Table | FixturesAll you need to know – Streaming Sky Sports with NOW | Get Sky SportsDownload the Sky Sports App to watch every Sky Sports+ gameLive EFL on Sky Sports+ & how to watch | Get more EFL to your phone with WhatsAppThe Lampard era got off to an inauspicious start as Cardiff took the lead in the fourth minute when poor marking allowed Yakou Meite to head in Robertsons corner and score his first goal of the season.
Coventrys response was swift. Their first goal under new management came three minutes later when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto chipped a lovely pass into the area that was volleyed in stylishly by Ephron Mason-Clark.
It was the wingers first goal in his 17th appearance since signing from Peterborough and was the last moment of quality the game saw for a while. Cardiffs David Turnbull re-energised proceedings when his long-range strike in the 25th minute was just about dealt with by Coventry goalkeeper Bradley Collins.
The Bluebirds then had their best spell of the game, with Meite missing a chance to score his second when he stabbed wide after a mis-hit clearance from Callum Robinsons cross fell his way. The visitors inability to clear a Coventry free-kick then led to a good chance for the hosts as Mason-Clark nodded across for Norman Bassette, whose header was smothered by goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
The two teams went into half-time locked at 1-1, but Cardiff were back ahead three minutes after the restart when Robertson smashed a superb low strike past Collins from outside the area. That made it five games in a row that the Sky Blues have conceded twice, but they almost found a quick response again when Jack Rudonis free-kick needed to be pushed behind by Alnwick at his near post.
Meite then missed another opportunity to double his tally in the 70th minute when he bent a free-kick from the edge of the area high and wide. Bluebirds defender Dimitrios Goutas almost handed Coventry a second equaliser after 77 minutes when he got his head to Brandon Thomas-Asantes cross and the ball flew narrowly over his own goal.
But the hosts were gifted the chance to level with a minute of normal time left when Ellis Simms cross was deemed to have been fouled in the box by Calum Chambers and Torp sent Alnwick the wrong way from the spot to earn Lampard his first point.
The managersCoventrys Frank Lampard: There are some basics in football that have to be there, particularly in this Championship and the nature of it, which is first balls, second balls, fight, sprints and reactions.
I think being tougher is something as a group we can be – thats not to say the lads arent tough – in terms of our performance at the minute its slightly off, I felt today, so theres lots to take on and work on.
(I was) clearly disappointed in the set-piece, to get a free header and to score, but it can happen. Its not nice but it can happen. And then the second goal I was probably more disappointed to allow a shot and not get out to the shot and not block the shot at full pelt, full-bodied.
But I dont want to be bordering on the side of negative because Im pleased that weve got our point. I know what this leagues like. Cardiff interim boss Omer Riza: Personally, I dont think it was a penalty.
Ive looked at it back, thats my opinion. Im not willing to really discuss the decision in respect to the referees, theyve made their decision and I have to respect it. I dont look at the occasion in respect to whether Franks got the job or whether their fans are going to be up for it or their players are going to have a bounce.
I think they all knew about that anyway without me telling them – theyre experienced players a lot of them – and for us it was about us doing our job and trying to get back on track, and I think we managed that quite well today.
The first half was difficult, the second half I think we earned a lead and we could have come away with a win, but we got the point and I think we have to be semi-happy with that.
