Derby County 1-1 Coventry City: Tom Lawrence penalty denies Sky Blues victory at Pride Park

Tom Lawrence's second-half penalty denied Coventry City victory over Derby County but the 1-1 draw at Pride Park did little to aid the hopes of either side for the season.

Hard-working Derby were behind to a more clinical Coventry side at the break, as in-form Matt Godden notched an 11 goal in 17 games by finishing off a slick one-two with Callum O'Hare.

A half-time change of shape from Wayne Rooney aided Derby's cause for the second half, but the manner of their equaliser was fortuitous and came after Ben Sheaf was adjudged to have fouled Lawrence in the box, after what appeared a theatrical fall from the Rams captain.

After picking himself up he smashed the ball beyond Simon Moore, and turned the final half-hour into an end-to-end encounter with both sides desperate for three points.

Substitute Viktor Gyokeres should twice have found the back of the net before Louis Sibley's header glanced the post in added time, as both Rooney and the returning Mark Robins were forced to settle for a point which neither were particularly satisfied with.

Shared spoils dent survival and promotion hopes

Derby flew out of the blocks at Pride Park, winning a succession of early corners without testing Moore in the Coventry goal.

He was first troubled by Ravel Morrison's curling effort from the edge of the box, but would find that less problematic than Ryan Allsop's limp hand on Godden's finish at the other end minutes later, which would give the visitors the lead.

The Rams continued to push, with Malcolm Ebiowei enjoying running against Ian Maatsen down the Coventry left, but a number of crosses produced little as they huffed and puffed with little to show for it.

The withdrawal of Liam Thompson at the break for Luke Plange produced instant results for Rooney, with Derby immediately on the front foot from the restart and Lawrence guilty of missing a pair of presentable chances, the first a weak header from a Nathan Byrne cross before a poor touch on Ebiowei's lay-off.

The young winger was at it again in the build-up to the equaliser, finding his captain after drifting in from the right, and after throwing himself to the floor Lawrence did enough to convince referee Darren Bond to give a penalty.

Derby fans unable to bring themselves to watch the spot-kick need not have worried with Moore well beaten from 12 yards, although the goal did more to spark Coventry back into life than assist Derby's resurgence.

Gyokeres found himself through on goal after picking up a loose ball and pacing past Derby's high line, but blasted into the stands with only Allsop to beat. From another fine opportunity, he at least found the target but was denied by Allsop with a second wasted effort.

Derby committed more men forward as they became increasingly desperate for a winner of their own, and almost found it through substitute Sibley, but the width of the post denied him an injury-time goal - as the game ended in a deserved draw.

Man of the match - Malcolm Ebiowei

Ebiowei did not look a player making only his fourth league start, with the 18-year-old's direct dribbling and enthusiasm to run at Coventry wing-back Maatsen evidence of his impressive confidence.

He can credit himself with the assist for the foul on Lawrence which led to the Derby equaliser and may have had another if his captain had finished off one or more of his deliveries with more clinical finishing.

What's next?

Derby host Preston North End at Pride Park after the international break on Saturday, April 2; kick-off at 3pm.

Coventry are back on home soil too for their next game, with promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers the visitors on the same day.