Play-off chasing Coventry will count themselves lucky to have come away with a
point after Brighton's basement boys twice hit the woodwork and dominated a
Highfield Road stalemate.
The hosts, looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to seven
matches, included Argentinian striker Juan Sara in their line-up for the first
time since his loan switch from Dundee.
And player-boss Gary McAllister almost provided his most recent acquisition
with the perfect start to his debut, but Sara's header from the Scot's
second-minute cross flew narrowly over the bar.
But Brighton, playing their first game of 2003, were showing few of the nerves
expected from the side rooted to the bottom of the table, and they caused panic
in the City penalty area when Paul Watson slung over a cross that Morten
Hyldgaard failed to deal with.
The ball fell to England under-21 striker Bobby Zamora, but his mishit effort
was gratefully hacked away by Richard Shaw.
Richie Partridge and Dean Holdsworth then failed to test Michel Kuipers in the
Brighton goal with long-range efforts before Coventry missed a gilt-edged chance
to take the lead, defender Mo Konjic failing to take advantage of confusion in
the Seagulls' area and volleying wide from close range.
And City were almost made to pay 10 minutes later when the ever-dangerous
Zamora rattled the woodwork with a stinging volley from Nathan Jones' cross.
Sara then forced Kuipers into action with a weak header from McAllister's
corner shortly before the break.
Steve Coppell's men showed no signs of letting the tempo drop after the
interval, and Robbie Pethick warmed Hyldgaard's hands with a rasping drive from
25 yards before Steve Sidwell saw a header well saved from another Watson
cross.
Danny Cullip then became the second Brighton man to be denied by the woodwork
after his header beat the outstretched hand of the overworked City keeper.
Zamora was continuing to make a nuisance of himself, and twice in as many
minutes he made room for himself in the box, only to see he first effort blocked
by Konjic and his second drift wide of the upright.
Sara, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly isolated and was put out of
his misery on the hour with Gary McSheffrey replacing him, but Brighton
continued to pour forward and Richard Carpenter and Paul Brooker saw shots
blocked by some desperate Coventry defending.
Partridge provided some light relief for the home fans by forcing Kuipers to
turn his shot round the post, but normal service was quickly resumed as
Sidwell's 20-yarder was held by Hyldgaard.
The Seagulls camped in Coventry's half throughout the closing moments but the
hosts grimly hung on to record their fourth successive draw.
Teams
Coventry: Hyldgaard, Betts, Konjic, Shaw, Quinn, Pead,
Eustace (Mills 74), McAllister, Partridge, Holdsworth,
Sara (McSheffrey 60).
Subs Not Used: Strachan, Davenport, Montgomery.
Brighton: Kuipers, Mayo, Cullip, Pethick, Watson, Carpenter,
Brooker, Sidwell, Jones, Zamora, Barrett.
Subs Not Used: Blackwell, Rogers, Packham, Hinshelwood, Piercy.
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