Two sides battling for the play-offs produced an action-pack game at Selhurst Park, but were forced to share the spoils.

Substitute Gary McSheffrey put Coventry ahead midway through the second half, but Ade Akinbiyi levelled for Palace three minutes later - the first goal Coventry had conceded in five games.

Both sides threw everything into attack from the start and keepers Alex Kolinko for Palace and Morten Hyldgaard for Coventry were forced into early saves, with Palace's Tommy Black proving particularly threatening.

The home continued to press and Julian Gray had a good chance from the centre of the penalty area, but his weak shot went wide.

Coventry replied with a spell of pressure which brought two corners, both taken by Gary McAllister, but Kolinko was up to the threat, first punching clear and then catching cleanly with Coventry players threatening.

McAllister continued to probe the Palace defence and Kit Symons cleared a dangerous free-kick, while Kolinko had to deal with another threatening corner from the Coventry player-manager

Coventry had their best chance when Dean Gordon hit a fierce 20-yard drive, but the ball flew wide of the left upright.

The half ended with another dangerous corner from McAllister being scrambled clear by Aki Riihilahti.

Palace almost took the lead soon after the restart when Black lifted a curling 25-yard shot over Hyldgaard's head, but agonisingly also clear of the bar.

Black threatened again with a tricky, inswinging corner, but this time Hyldgaard was up to the task and plucked the ball out of the air.

Palace manager Trevor Francis gambled on a double substitution in the 58th minute, bringing on strikers Wayne Routledge and Akinbiyi for Dele Adebola and Gray, but it was Coventry who almost scored with a powerful shot from Craig Pead which was well saved by Kolinko.

Yet the impressive Kolinko was at fault when Coventry finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute.

Kolinko looked to have Gary Caldwell's cross safely covered, but he dropped the ball and Coventry sub McSheffrey, who had only been on the field for four minutes, stabbed the ball home.

Three minutes later Palace were level when a well-flighted cross from the impressive Black was neatly headed home by Akinbiyi.

Palace had a couple of late chances to clinch the game, but Riihilahti's 25-yard shot flew over the bar and Wayne Routledge shot across the goal from a good position on the right.

Teams

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Granville, Symons, Popovic, Mullins, Butterfield, Derry, Gray (Routledge 59), Riihilahti, Adebola (Akinbiyi 59), Black.

Subs Not Used: Antwi, Berthelin, Borrowdale.

Goals: Akinbiyi 72.

Coventry: Hyldgaard, Caldwell, Konjic, Shaw, Gordon, Bothroyd (McSheffrey 65), Pead, McAllister, Partridge, Holdsworth, Mills.

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Eustace, Betts, Davenport.

Booked: McSheffrey.

Goals: McSheffrey 69.

Att: 17,362

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucestershire).