On-loan Argentinian striker Juan Sara grabbed a late equaliser to salvage a
point for Coventry in the battle of the promotion hopefuls against Nottingham
Forest at the City Ground.
Forest looked to be heading for a well-deserved victory when Gareth Williams'
first senior goal in his 96th appearance gave them a 33rd-minute lead.
But with just three minutes left, Sara, on loan from Dundee, stunned the home
side with a close-range leveller, and Gary Caldwell's last-minute sending-off
for a second bookable offence was too late to hinder Coventry.
The result stretched Forest's winless streak to five games and Coventry's
unbeaten run to 10.
Forest dominated the first half and went close to adding to their tally after
the break, hitting the woodwork, even though Coventry came more into the game.
Paul Hart's side suffered a bad blow after only two minutes when skipper Des
Walker limped off, bringing an abrupt end to his recall after a thigh injury
that had restricted him to just 14 minutes' action in the previous five games.
They were already weakened by the absence through suspension of 21-goal David
Johnson and fellow striker Jack Lester, which meant a first league start of the
season for teenage frontman Craig Westcarr.
Coventry were quick out of the blocks and Forest goalkeeper Darren Ward was
called into action to save a shot from Craig Pead.
But the home side soon began to show their teeth and after David Prutton
missed the target with a right-foot shot, Andrew Reid fired over the bar with
another effort.
Riccardo Scimeca, who scored the only goal when Forest won 1-0 at Highfield
Road in August, tried a speculative effort from 35 yards that sailed wide as the
home side began to dominate proceedings, before the unlikely Williams broke the
deadlock after his initial effort was blocked by Morten Hyldgaard.
With Coventry on the back foot Westcarr then headed over the bar from a John
Thompson cross, before Hyldgaard saved from Reid.
Coventry had produced little in the first half and they sent on Sara for the
second period in place of Richie Partridge, but they were soon under pressure
again as Hyldgaard saved a Marlon Harewood header and Gary Caldwell blocked
Reid's shot.
The Coventry keeper then pulled off another stop when Michael Dawson got in a
header from Reid's corner, and he also saved Scimeca's 25-yarder.
When Coventry finally threatened, Sara's close-range header from Gary
McAllister's cross was kept out by Ward, and at the other end Harewood fired
wide after getting on the end of a cross before Forest went close to a second
goal when Prutton's right-foot shot hit the woodwork with Hyldgaard beaten.
It proved costly when Sara made Forest pay with his late goal, his first for
the club.
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