Leicester and Coventry had to settle for a point neither side really wanted from their derby encounter.

Both were anxious to record a victory at Filbert Street which would maintain their slim hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

The Foxes played the better football and must have thought they were on course to win when substitute Stuart Wilson put them ahead with his second goal of the season with only 12 minutes remaining.

Up until then Kasey Keller had hardly been tested in the Leicester goal, but two minutes later Coventry were level when Noel Whelan netted his fifth of the campaign.

Leicester turned the form book upside down against Coventry with a sparkling start.

The Foxes went into their first home game in six weeks on the back of a three-match losing streak, while the Sky Blues boasted a three-month unbeaten run in the League.

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill has set his side a target of 20 points from their last eight game to give them any chance of qualifying for Europe and the message had not been lost on Muzzy Izzet.

The midfielder was back after suspension and an ankle injury to pull the strings for Leicester.

He headed wide from Theo Zagorakis' right wing cross before he returned the compliment for the Greek to shoot inches past the post.

Coventry could not get going, although Dion Dublin was not far away with a speculative effort from all of 40 yards out.

But Leicester were soon back in control and Matt Elliott powered a downward header just wide from Steve Guppy's corner.

Izzet continued to run the midfield and it took a fingertip save from the superlative Steve Ogrizovic to keep out his 20-yard dipping shot on 24 minutes.

Leicester twice went close in quick succession on the half hour when first Emile Heskey struggled free to find Elliott six yards out, only for Ogrizovic to block his weak shot before the fit-again Tony Cottee directed a header just wide.

Neil Lennon made an almost miraculous recovery from an ankle injury to maintain his record in playing in every game for the Foxes this season.

His leg was put in plaster after last Saturday's defeat at Bolton, but the damage was not as bad as first feared and he passed a late fitness test to play.

On 36 minutes he nearly scored with a rasping 25-yard drive which Ogrizovic palmed up into the arm before grabbing on the line with Leicester claiming the ball had bounced over.

Two minutes later, Izzet tested Ogrizovic again with a run and shot from 20 yards out, which the goalkeeper saved.

Leicester could not maintain their high tempo in the second half as Coventry, and in particular Darren Huckerby, came into the game.

Huckerby broke free for the first time on 49 minutes, but the wily Pontus Kaamark held him up and the ball went for a goalkick.

Huckerby broke down the left and cut inside only for his shot to take a deflection, which enabled Keller to gather it comfortably.

But for all of Coventry's probing, Keller had little to do in the home goal. Then the game burst back into life with two goals in two minutes.

On 78 minutes Guppy released Fenton down the left and he beat Richard Shaw before his shot took a deflection off David Burrows and Wilson, who had replaced Spencer Prior six minutes earlier, finished it off into the empty net.

But the home side's joy was shortlived as Coventry equalised when Whelan hooked home Dublin's ball from close range.

Teams

Leicester: Keller, Kaamark, Prior (Wilson 72), Elliott, Guppy, Savage, Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis, Cottee (Fenton 45), Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Parker, Ullathorne.

Booked: Lennon.

Goals: Wilson 78.

Coventry: Ogrizovic, Nilsson, Shaw, Breen, Burrows, Telfer, Boateng, Soltvedt, Whelan, Huckerby, Dublin.

Subs Not Used: Williams, Moldovan, Hedman, Boland, Strachan.

Booked: Telfer, Burrows.

Goals: Whelan 80.

Att: 21,137

Ref: G P Barber (Pyrford).