Dele Adebola scored for the first time in over two months to earn Coventry a crucial point in an entertaining 2-2 draw that dented 10-man Cardiff's Coca-Cola Championship promotion charge at the Ricoh Arena.

Adebola, who last found the net against Preston on November 28, was on hand to head home Jay Tabb's right wing cross from inside the six-yard box just four minutes after Glenn Loovens' sending-off.

Loovens was booked in the first half and was shown a second yellow card in the 67th-minute for a foul on Michael Mifsud.

It looked like Cardiff, who had won their last three league matches, would continue to breathe new life into their promotion challenge when Peter Whittingham curled a superb 25-yard shot beyond Andy Marshall and into the top left-hand corner.

Michael Chopra's penalty on the stroke of half-time had cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener for Coventry.

Andrew Whing was adjudged to have fouled Roger Johnson and Chopra stepped up to calmly claim his 18th league goal of the season.

McKenzie had taken just eight minutes to open the scoring. Mifsud broke down the right wing before crossing low for McKenzie, who beat Neil Alexander from 12-yards out.

The striker came close to doubling his and Coventry's tally when Alexander spilled Isaac Osbourne's shot but he lifted the rebound over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Cardiff almost equalised in the 19th minute after Robert Page - the Coventry captain back in the side after being left out against Luton and Sunderland following a training ground bust-up with Michael Doyle - brought down Paul Parry but Chopra curled the resultant free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

Tabb flashed an effort wide and Mifsud crashed a shot against a post before Chopra struck from the spot.

The second half started brightly and Whittingham flashed a warning shot across Coventry's bow in the 57th-minute before finding the net just moments later.

Mifsud and McKenzie went close before Loovens was shown the red card and the hosts set about making their numerical advantage count with gusto.

Coventry launched wave after wave of attack before they were finally rewarded with Adebola's header. But they did not stop there and went in search of a winning goal.

Alexander produced a fine one-handed save to tip McKenzie's 75th-minute shot around the post before Kevin McNaughton was forced to clear a dangerous-looking cross from David McNamee from under his own crossbar.

Tabb and Doyle both saw shots blocked as the two sides were made to settle for a point that will do little to enhance their respective relegation and promotion challenges.

Teams:

Coventry Marshall, McNamee, Hawkins, Page,Whing (Giddings 58), Osbourne, Tabb, Doyle, Mifsud, Adebola,McKenzie.

Subs Not Used: Steele, Birchall, Bunce, Virgo.

Booked: McKenzie, Tabb, Page.

Goals: McKenzie 8, Adebola 71.

Cardiff Alexander, Gilbert (Flood 79), Loovens, Johnson,Ledley, Whittingham (McNaughton 68), McPhail, Walton, Parry,Chopra, Thompson (Redan 73).

Subs Not Used: Forde, Campbell.

Sent Off: Loovens (67).

Booked: Loovens, Gilbert.

Goals: Chopra 45 pen, Whittingham 58.

Att: 17,107

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).