A game of few memorable moments but one where it was important for City both to improve their poor recent away form and not to allow their season to tail off now that both relegation and the play-offs both look distant prospects.
The Sky Blues were arguably the better side in a game where chances at a premium but they looked to have slipped to another reverse when Gregorz Rasiak’s header rebounded in off Dennis Wise, despite a despairing attempt to keep it out by the veteran midfielder.
City’s other golden oldie, Don Hutchison then made his mark on the game after coming on as a 74th minute sub.
As he shaped to shoot following a goalmouth scramble, Hutchison felt Nathan Dyer at his back and used all of his experience to convince the referee that he had been fouled.
He picked himself up to score the spot-kick and keep City bubbling over for the upcoming home games against Sheffield United and Leeds.
Both of those should attract 20,000+ crowds to the Ricoh and could have a major bearing on the promotion race if the Sky Blues can continue their excellent home form.
Adams:
Reaction: Sky Blues manager Micky Adams:
‘Hutch is a terrific pro and he must have been a hell of a player when he was younger.’
Saints boss George Burley:
‘We had a very young side out and perhaps they showed a bit of naivety at the end.
‘Coventry were chasing the game and kept on lumping long balls into the box, which we should have been able to deal with. We sat too deep and that cost us in the end.
‘The average age of our team is a good 10 years younger than theirs and we are learning all the time but as long as we keep progressing that’s all I can ask.’
Adams:
‘I am disappointed we did not come away with all three points.
‘We were the better side for phases in the game but lacked a cutting edge.’