Coventry were moments away from a giant step towards preserving their Coca-Cola Championship status, before having to settle for a draw at Home Park as Plymouth grabbed a last-ditch equaliser.

Tony Capaldi hammered the ball home five minutes into stoppage time to deny the visitors.

Coventry had been under pressure for much of the opening 45 minutes until Stern John struck in first-half injury time to put them in front at the break.

John kept his cool to steer the ball home from the centre of the penalty area.

The game started slowly with chances at a premium.

The home side won an early corner, taken by Paul Wotton, but Coventry's veteran defender Steve Staunton was on hand to clear.

Coventry, still in the thick of the battle to avoid relegation, found themselves on the defensive during the opening stages.

Wotton had a long-range effort blocked by Michael Doyle, and Staunton was again on hand to deal with a cross from Peter Gilbert.

John sent an overhead shot just wide of the target after 10 minutes.

Plymouth had another opportunity after 17 minutes when Akos Buzsaky's corner found Graham Coughlan at the far post - but he could only direct his header over the bar.

Micky Evans tried his luck from 25 yards, but his shot failed to trouble Coventry goalkeeper Luke Steele as it flew wide of the target.

The hosts looked more likely to make the breakthrough, with Stephen Hughes clearing another Buzsaky corner on the half-hour.

Coventry threatened shortly afterwards when Lloyd Dyer's cross found Gary McSheffrey, but his shot from the right side of the penalty area was blocked by Gilbert.

Hughes then had a goalbound effort blocked by Buzsaky, and Andrew Whing had a header cleared as the visitors gradually began to look more threatening in attack.

They gained their reward just minutes before the half-time whistle through John.

The goal was just the tonic the visitors needed, and they threatened again shortly after the re-start.

Whing's cross found Dele Adebola, but his shot was saved by Luke McCormick in the Plymouth goal.

Wotton let fly from 30 yards as Plymouth pushed, but Steele gathered comfortably.

Another chance went begging after 65 minutes when Evans got on the end of a David Norris cross but sent his header wide of the target.

Coventry continued to threaten and could have added to their tally through substitute Shaun Goater shortly afterwards, but his close-range header sailed the wrong side of the post. John also sent a right-foot shot just wide with seven minutes remaining.

Plymouth had the final say, however, thanks to Capaldi's last-gasp heroics.

Teams

Plymouth McCormick, Worrell (Taylor 81), Coughlan, Aljofree (Doumbe 69), Gilbert, Norris, Wotton, Buzsaky, Chadwick (Capaldi 64), Evans, Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Lasley, Summerfield.

Goals: Capaldi 90.

Coventry Steele, Whing, Page, Staunton, Duffy, McSheffrey, Doyle, Hughes, Dyer (Jorgensen 66), Adebola (Goater 53), John (Benjamin 83).

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Morrell.

Booked: Doyle, Duffy, Hughes.

Goals: John 45.

Att: 18,443

Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).