Coventry 1 Palace 1

DARREN Ambrose made it five goals in as many games but Palace were forced to settle for a point as a tight match at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena ended 1-1.

Ambrose struck his 11th goal of the season after 27 minutes to give the Eagles the lead on a wet and windy afternoon in the Midlands, but the goal was cancelled out minutes after the break by a Leon Best header.

Neil Warnock named an unchanged team with Paddy McCarthy and Calvin Andrew deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.

The game was scrappy to begin with as both sides struggled to adjust to the awkward conditions.

Ambrose had the first shot on goal but his left footed effort flew just over the bar after six minutes.

The visitors went close to taking the lead when Ambrose crossed from the left and Neil Danns’ powerful header was clawed away by Keiren Westwood.

The home side pressed without creating any clear opportunities, before Ambrose opened the scoring.

Johnny Ertl broke down the right and cut the ball back to Danny Butterfield who put over a good cross. The ball fell to the feet of Freddie Sears, the young striker fired across goal and Ambrose was all alone at the back post to turn the ball into the empty net.

Palace felt they should have been further ahead before half-time, but Ambrose’s vociferous appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Right on the stroke of the interval the home side went close to an equaliser when Aron Gunnarson flicked a header just wide from Michael McIndoe’s corner.

The Coventry faithful didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser after the break though.

The tricky McIndoe dribbled down the left and put over an inviting cross, Best rose highest and powered his header past Julian Speroni to level the scores.

The home crowd roared their side on and the Sky Blues almost went ahead just moments later. David Bell whipped a free-kick into the box and Speroni spilled the slippery ball. Former Eagle Clinton Morrison tried desperately to turn the losse ball into the net but thankfully for the South American it squirmed away for a corner.

As the rain hammered down the Sky Blues pushed desperately for the second. A series of set pieces were given away and defended by the Eagles. Palace centre backs Claude Davis and Jose Fonte certainly had their hands full with the powerful Best.

Warnock’s side needed an outlet and the manager introduced Andrew and Stern John for Alan Lee and Sears in an all new strike force.

With one of his first touches Andrew forced a corner with a sharp turn and shot. Ambrose’s set piece was whipped into the near post and Fonte flashed a header just wide.

Back came the home side and from yet another corner Morrison should have put them ahead, but his shot on the turn was flicked wide for a corner by Fonte.

A goal seemed likely for either side as the clock ticked down.

But, despite one or two close calls, the game ended all square and both teams had to settle for a point.

Coventry: Westwood, Wright, Bell, Best, Morrison (Madine), van Aanholt, Gunnarsson, Cork, McIndoe, Barnett, Wood. Subs: Konstantopoulos, McPake, Eastwood, Cranie, Cain, Grandison.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Hill, Fonte, Davis, Derry, Ertl, Danns (N'Diaye), Ambrose, Lee (Andrew), Sears (John). Subs: Clyne, McCarthy, John, Carle, Moses.