Manchester City keeper Nicky Weaver dropped a clanger for the second time in 48 hours as Coventry defender Marc Edworthy scored a rare goal to ensure the Premiership relegation battle finished all square at Highfield Road.

Weaver's dreadful clearance had gifted Charlton their second goal in Saturday's 4-1 demolition of Joe Royle's side at Maine Road.

And the England Under-21 player made another woeful error to allow Edworthy to double his career League goal tally.

The former Crystal Palace player let fly from fully 30 yards but Weaver looked to have the shot covered until it slipped under his body and into the corner of the net.

It was the sort of mishap that the visitors could ill afford in their current position after Paulo Wanchope's goal looked to have put them on course for only their second win in 12 games.

Edworthy's only other League goal had come in the early part of his career with Plymouth Argyle.

But Coventry deserved some tangible reward from a match full of commitment and passion if sadly lacking in the finer points of the game.

They had a greater share of the possession and overall were the more penetrating side, with Craig Bellamy a constant threat in the opening 45 minutes.

A share of the spoils ensured that Coventry finished the festive season unbeaten with a return of six points from four games, a marked improvement on events before that run.

On the evidence of this game it is Coventry who look to have a greater chance of avoiding the drop.

The men from Manchester have collected only two points out of a possible 12 in the holiday period but at least they started the New Year with more optimism after a performance full of pride if not quality.

The visitors made a positive start after their weekend mauling and they twice caused anxious moments for Coventry in the first 25 seconds.

First an under-hit back pass from Gary Breen almost let in former Coventry striker Darren Huckerby and it needed Sky Blues keeper Chris Kirkland to race out and fly-hack the ball clear.

Then a left-wing cross from Danny Tiatto picked out Richard Edghill in his first appearance for City since he scored an own goal in the clash with Coventry at Maine Road in August.

But the defender was lacking in composure as he sent his shot high over the bar from the angle of the six yard box.

Coventry weathered this early storm and City defender Steve Howey almost scored a spectacular own goal with a sliced clearance which Weaver was forced to tip over his own bar.

Home skipper Paul Williams headed wide from a David Thompson free-kick and then Weaver saved a 25-yard effort from Barry Quinn away to his right.

The Sky Blues were now in the ascendancy and Weaver was again in the thick of the action to turn further long range shots from Bellamy and Quinn around the post and over the bar respectively.

Huckerby made little impression in the opening 45 minutes and he was booked for time-wasting after kicking the ball into the stands.

Joe Royle's side retaliated towards the interval and Kirkland did well to finger-tip away a header from Howey who got on the end of an Ian Bishop free-kick.

Coventry began the second period with a flourish and Richard Dunne got an important block on a powerful low shot from the impressive Bellamy.

But, after 54 minutes, the previously ineffective Wanchope put the men from Maine Road ahead.

Huckerby was the creator against his former team-mates with a low centre, and Wanchope timed his run to beat the offside trap and give Kirkland no chance from close range.

It was Wanchope's ninth goal of the campaign and his eighth in the Premiership.

The Costa Rican then had a great chance to double his side's advantage when he again got clear of the Coventry defence but this time Kirkland blocked his shot.

The home side put this setback behind them and Williams flashed a header just over the bar from a Thompson free-kick.

But then came Edworthy's equaliser, albeit from that dreadful error by Weaver.

Teams:

Coventry Kirkland, Edworthy, Breen, Williams, Quinn (Eustace 64), Thompson, Carsley, Telfer, Bellamy (Chippo 73), Zuniga (Aloisi 57), Hadji.

Subs Not Used: Shaw, Hydlgaard.

Booked: Quinn.

Goals: Edworthy 72.

Man City Weaver, Dunne, Morrison, Howey, Edghill, Bishop (Wright-Phillips 81), Haaland, Tiatto, Granville, Wanchope, Huckerby (Goater 79).

Subs Not Used: Prior, Wright, Charvet.

Booked: Huckerby, Tiatto.

Goals: Wanchope 54.

Att: 21,999

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).