Rory Fallon’s first goal for Town helped the Blues to a 1-1 New Year’s Day draw at Coventry City. The New Zealander’s strike just before the break put his side in front, but Freddy Eastwood hit back straight after half-time, prior to Marlon King receiving a straight red card for a late challenge on Darren O’Dea, with the Blues unable to make the most of their advantage.

Manager Roy Keane made four changes to the side which beat Leicester at Portman Road in their last game a fortnight ago. Gareth McAuley was a surprise inclusion having only recently returned to training after his achilles operation, replacing Damien Delaney at the centre of the defence. It was the Northern Irishman’s first match since the Derby game in early November.

Darren O’Dea came in at left-back for Mark Kennedy, who dropped to the bench, while at right-back Jaime Peters took over from the departed Gianni Zuiverloon, who had come on as a sub for West Brom earlier in the afternoon.

Carlos Edwards came into the midfield for the injured Shane O’Connor, taking up his usual right-sided role with David Norris moving to the centre and Jack Colback to the left. Rory Fallon and Jason Scotland continued up front.

Connor Wickham was again amongst the subs despite missing training in the days after the Leicester match having aggravated his thigh problem, but there was again no place for Tamás Priskin, who is understood to be interesting Swansea.

Coventry recalled Lukas Jutkiewicz, who gave the Town defence more than a few problems at Portman Road earlier in the season, for the suspended Gary McSheffrey on the left of midfield, while Freddy Eastwood took over from Clive Platt up front.

After a scrappy start at a more than half empty Ricoh Arena, the Blues created the game’s first serious chance in the seventh minute. Norris exchanged passes with Fallon on the left inside the area with the skipper sending in a low ball, which the falling Scotland couldn’t reach and that was cleared before it reached Colback at the far post.

Márton Fülöp was forced into his first save of the match in the 13th minute when Marlon King found space on the Coventry right and hit a shot from a tight angle, which the Hungarian keeper was only able to parry, his defenders clearing from the danger area.

After a poor start the game was becoming a more entertaining affair, Fallon almost playing in Scotland at one end and Freddy Eastwood shooting wide at the other after an error by O’Dea.

But overall, it was Town who were looking the bigger threat and in the 20th minute Edwards turned inside one-time Blues target Richard Wood and sent in a left-footed cross, which Fallon headed straight at Kieren Westwood.

A minute later Coventry almost went in front when King headed against Fülöp’s right post with the keeper beaten from David Bell’s corner on the right. At the other end, Smith headed over from a Town corner, which was won after a Peters cross had been blocked after the Canadian had left Wood standing in a foot race.

It was Town’s turn to hit the woodwork in the 29th minute when Edwards unleashed a ferocious shot from 25 yards, which beat Westwood but struck the underside of the bar and bounced out.

The Blues were continuing to look the more likely scorers and a minute later Norris wasted what had been a good Town break when he hammer well over from the edge of the box after Fallon had laid the ball back to him. Moments later, it was Leadbitter’s turn to go close, his low shot just flying wide.

King headed straight to Fülöp after somewhat easily beating Peters in the air at the far post on 37, then two minutes later Eastwood saw a powerful shot deflect wide from the edge of the area. From the corner, Wood headed over. Moments later, the former Sheffield Wednesday defender lashed wildly over from a good opportunity just outside the box.

Town went in front two minutes before half-time. A long spell of Town possession ended with O’Dea sending in a low ball from the left to Norris, who squared across to Colback, whose shot from eight yards was well saved by Westwood, but Fallon was on hand to slam home his first goal of his loan spell with the Blues.

Roy Keane’s side deserved their lead at the break having had more of the chances and having played the better football, particularly in the period up to half-time.

Goalscorer Fallon had had another decent half even before his goal and when his chance came took it confidently. Marlon King had been the Sky Blues’ main danger, forcing Fülöp into his one significant save and hitting the post.

The home side got back on terms three minutes into the second period. A long Westwood kick was allowed to reach King on the edge of the Town area, the former Wigan striker laying the ball back to Eastwood, who struck a shot which Fülöp couldn’t keep out despite getting a touch.

Eastwood sent a subsequent effort high and wide, then an acrobatic King effort was blocked inside the Blues box as Aidy Boothroyd’s men looked to grab a quick second.

Town though gradually regained the upper hand and after a lengthy period of possession, Fallon nodded down Edwards’s cross and Westwood grabbed the ball ahead of Norris.

On 57 the Sky Blues were reduced to 10 men when King, by far their most impressive player, was shown a straight red card for a late and high challenge on Darren O’Dea, which left the Town loanee in a heap. The home players and fans were incensed by the decision and King took his time before eventually leaving the field. It looked an ugly challenge from a player who is no stranger to controversy.

Five minutes later, Scotland got his name in referee Russell Booth’s book for a foul on Wood, the angry Sky Blues fans somewhat hopefully calling for a second showing of the red card.

Town should have been in front in the 69th minute when Colback exchanged passes with Fallon on the edge of the area but the on-loan Sunderland man scuffed the ball wide when he should have scored.

On 74 Coventry had the ball in the net when Wood headed a freekick back across goal and James McPake finished but the linesman's flag had been raised very early as the ball came into the box. Soon after, Jutkiewicz hit a low shot to Fülöp with the home side by no means sitting back and looking to hold on to the point at this stage.

Connor Wickham replaced Scotland for the final 13 minutes with the Blues having looked little threat in the second period aside from Colback’s chance, although O’Dea had managed a shot across the face.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, the Blues started to put on the pressure but still without testing Westwood in any serious manner. With five minutes remaining, Ronan Murray replaced Jack Colback as Town went to a three-man attack. Soon after, Troy Brown took over from Jaime Peters.

The Sky Blues appealed for what would have been a very generous penalty in the 87th minute when Jutkiewicz tumbled but McAuley appeared to have got a touch on the ball.

As the game moved into injury time, Murray’s shot was deflected wide after a Fallon knock-down but the Blues weren’t threatening enough with Coventry now sitting back and with Westwood spending a predictably long period receiving timewasting treatment. The game’s final chance fell to the home side, defender McPake heading a freekick well wide.

On the balance of the first half the Blues deserved more than a point but in the second period, after conceding a bad goal, they failed to make the most of Marlon King’s red card, rarely threatening to get their noses back in front, Jack Colback’s chance aside. Sky Blues keeper Westwood was probably tested more in the first period than in the second when for all their pushing, Town didn’t show enough quality in and around the box.

A first Town draw since the visit to Scunthorpe in September, 14 league games ago, ends a run of three away defeats in a row, but after the first half display and with the opposition down to 10 men, the Blues will be disappointed not to have taken all three points.

Town: Fülöp, Peters (Brown 87), O’Dea, Smith, McAuley, Leadbitter, Colback (Murray 85), Edwards, Norris (c), Scotland (Wickham 77), Fallon. Unused: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, Livermore, Kennedy.

Coventry: Westwood, Keogh, Wood, Cameron, McPake, Doyle, Carsley (c), Bell (Platt 70), Eastwood (Cranie 88), King, Jutkiewicz. Unused: Ireland, O'Halloran, Baker, Platt, O'Donovan, Thomas. Referee: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire). Att: 14,412, (Town: 899).

Photo: Action Images

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