Godden stars but magnificent seven evades Sky BluesCoventry City’s unbeaten home run continued but they were denied a magnificent seventh win out of seven by a late Derby equaliser.
The Sky Blues were on course for the full three points after Matty Godden had given them a deserved first half lead from the penalty spot.
But the visitors grew in confidence after the break as City’s energy faded, and Graeme Shinnie pulled his side level 12 minutes from time to spoil the party.
City made a positive start to the game with plenty of high pressing and intricate play just outside the Derby box as they looked for an early advantage against their cautious looking opponents who were happy to sit and soak up the pressure.
The atmosphere was brilliant from the first whistle with over 20,000 of a bumper 23,829 CBS Arena crowd getting right behind their team and urging them on every step of the way.
Although the Sky Blues enjoyed 67 per cent of the early possession, they struggled to break down a well organised Rams side content to play a waiting game on the counter attack.
But Coventry’s own patience paid dividends on 19 minutes when some quick first touch passing, sparked by Ben Sheaf, resulted in Godden darting into the area and being taken down by left-back Lee Buchanan.
Referee Dean Whitestone pointed straight to the spot and the returning striker calmly slotted his penalty straight down the middle as the keeper Kelle Roos dived to his right to give the home side a deserved lead.
Godden then went agonisingly close to doubling the lead as City looked take advantage of their momentum, again working the ball into the box where the striker’s left footed effort was pushed wide for a corner by Roos.
The striker then got on the end of City’s fourth corner but his flicked header nestled on the roof of the net as City pushed for a second before the break.
The Rams hit their first effort o goal from a deflected shot in first half stoppage time – the first time Simon Moore had been called upon to make a save.
Derby huffed and puffed as they tried to spark a second half fight-back but Coventry continued to push for the all important next goal.
City, however, worryingly started to sit deeper on the hour as the visitors began to have more possession as Robins’ men defended their slender lead.
The manager freshened things up by adding Tyler Walker for a tired looking Gyokeres up front and replacing Sheaf with the experienced Liam Kelly to help manage the game.
The Sky Blues rode their luck in the 69th minute when substitute Colin Kazim-Richards got the better of Kyle McFadzean in the air from a long ball up to the penalty box and hit a shot that beat the keeper but bounced off the inside of the post before being scrambled clear.
Coventry then had a goal disallowed when a thunderous Gus Hamer free-kick rattled the crossbar and Godden followed up with a header that found the back of the net but was ruled out for off-side.
Derby, however, continued to plug away and got their rewards 12 minutes from time when a pull-back to the unmarked Greame Shinnie left Moore exposed and the midfielder fired home the equaliser.
City pushed for a winner into three minutes of added time, Ian Maatsen slashing over the bar from a Fankaty Dabo cross.
But they had to settle for a point in the end as their 100 per cent winning record came to an end.
ATTENDANCE: 23, 829 (3,482 away)