An 88th-minute penalty from Don Hutchison rescued a point for Coventry in a drab 1-1 draw at Southampton.

With both sides likely to be remaining in the Coca-Cola Champiship come the end of the season, the opening 45 minutes lacked any moments of real excitement.

But a Grzegorz Rasiak strike midway through the second half looked to have won it for Saints before Hutchison intervened.

Southampton restored Nathan Dyer to the starting line-up, while Robert Page had overcome a groin problem to take his place in the the Sky Blues' side.

This match also saw the return of Dennis Wise to St Mary's for the first time since he left Saints in acrimonious circumstances following the appointment of George Burley as manager in December.

In a slow start, the first effort did not arrive until the 10th minute when Rasiak drilled a shot wide from 18 yards.

Five minutes later Stern John tested Saints' Paul Smith when he launched a shot which the goalkeeper managed to push away to safety.

Rasiak headed a Darren Potter corner into the hands of Marton Fulop in the 20th minute, before Dele Adebola fired wide for Coventry.

Ten minutes before half-time, Dyer could not beat Fulop with his effort from 20 yards before Danny Higginbotham's powerful shot again tested the on-loan Tottenham man who turned the ball over the bar to safety.

Rasiak produced the last shot of the half deep in stoppage time, but his low drive was collected by Fulop.

After the interval, Rasiak, the main threat for Saints throughout, forced a good save from Fulop though a pass to Dexter Blackstock may have presented a better opportunity of opening the scoring.

Then Blackstock provided Andrew Surman with an opportunity from six yards but the youngster contrived to fire wide from close range.

Coventry had so far failed to work an opening in the second period but they were presented with a good chance when Kevin Thornton drove a low shot into the hands of Smith.

But finally the deadlock was broken with nine minutes remaining as Rasiak climbed at the back post to send a looping header beyond Fulop for his second goal since joining on loan.

Dyer came close to adding a second soon after but his drilled effort was blocked by Page.

And just as the Saints looked set to be celebrating the three points Claus Lundekvam brought down Adebola in the box and the referee blew for a penalty.

Hutchison stepped up to blast the ball high into the back of the net to rescue a point for the Sky Blues.

Teams:

Southampton Smith, Ostlund (Potter 11), Lundekvam,Higginbotham, Brennan, Dyer, Chaplow, Wright, Surman, Rasiak,Jones (Blackstock 45).

Subs Not Used: Miller, Powell, Madsen.

Goals: Rasiak 81.

Coventry Fulop, Whing, Page, Shaw, Hall, Scowcroft,Wise (Impey 86), Doyle, Morrell (Thornton 65), Adebola,John (Hutchison 74).

Subs Not Used: Ince, Williams.

Booked: Shaw.

Goals: Hutchison 88 pen.

Att: 21,980

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).