Charlton will fight another day in their battle for Coca-Cola Championship survival after a goalless draw at Coventry.

Under threat of dropping to English football's third tier for the first time in 29 years, Charlton began tentatively before Jonjo Shelvey had an effort chalked off for offside as the visitors had the better of the first half at the Ricoh Arena.

Michael Doyle saw his left-foot shot turned round the post by Robert Elliot in the second half as Coventry went close to ending their three match winless run.

Nick Bailey, Charlton's top scorer with 11 goals this season, hit the post after 88 minutes but the match ended in a stalemate.

It was Phil Parkinson's side's 13th point away from The Valley this season, delaying the almost inevitable drop to League One until at least Saturday's fixture at home to Blackpool.

The point was enough for the Addicks, who remain 12 points adrift at the foot of the standings, to have a chance of staying in the division as Nottingham Forest - fourth from bottom at the start of the day - drew 0-0 with Sheffield United despite being reduced to 10 men after 16 minutes at Bramall Lane.

Charlton were unchanged following last Saturday's 2-2 draw with title-chasing Birmingham.

Coventry manager Chris Coleman, meanwhile, made three changes after the 4-0 capitulation at Plymouth, with Marcus Hall, Elliott Ward and Kevin Thornton all coming in.

City's Doyle headed wide from Isaac Osbourne's cross after six minutes and Thornton missed a gilt-edged chance four minutes later, shooting straight at Addicks stopper Elliot from six yards following Daniel Fox's cross.

Zheng Zhi had a shot blocked before Bailey fired over from the edge of the area and Therry Racon shot wide from long range.

Shelvey, seeking his second goal in three games, put the ball in the net only to see the offside flag raised and Zheng fired over from 20 yards.

Zheng crossed for Shelvey early in the second half, but the 17-year-old had his effort deflected wide.

Darren Ward headed wide from Shelvey's corner before the teenager again threatened, shooting off target from long range.

Freddy Eastwood shot wide from the edge of the box and the striker missed the target from 12 yards.

Shelvey had a shot blocked by Scott Dann before Elliot denied Coventry with a fantastic save from Doyle's 20-yard shot.

Eastwood again failed to test the Charlton stopper with a weak shot from close range following Fox's cross as City again failed to puncture the Charlton defence.

Substitute Darren Ambrose and Lloyd Sam went close before Coventry replacement Ashley Cain had his effort blocked by a last-ditch Mark Hudson challenge.

Hudson headed straight at Kieren Westwood from Bailey's corner and Cain shot wide after running at the visiting defence from his own half.

Bailey almost won it for Charlton, but the striker saw his left-foot shot from 12 yards hit the upright.

Teams

Coventry Westwood, Hall, Ward, Dann, Fox, Osbourne,Beuzelin (Walker 75), Doyle, Thornton (Cain 65), Eastwood,Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Turner, Grandison.

Charlton Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga,Sam (Dickson 76), Shelvey (Ambrose 68), Racon, Zhi, Bailey,Kandol (Burton 85).

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Holland.

Booked: Sam.

Att: 16,121

Ref: Carl Boyeson (E Yorkshire).