Hometown hero Gary McSheffrey was the toast of Coventry after his second-half equaliser earned the Sky Blues a share of the spoils against Ipswich at the Ricoh Arena.

The visitors had taken a second-half lead courtesy of Gavin Williams but Coventry were back on terms within five minutes thanks to McSheffrey's sixth goal of the season.

And it was the hosts who had started the brighter with Claus Jorgensen setting McSheffrey on his way along the right channel before play was spread to the wing from where Dele Adebola cut in and fired a low shot diverted over the crossbar by James McEveley for a fruitless Sky Blues corner.

At the other end, Richard Naylor went close to opening the scoring when marginally failing to connect with Jim Magilton's 13th-minute corner from the Ipswich left.

Next Adebola found McSheffrey with a cute pass inside the penalty box but the latter was caught on his heels and unable to take advantage before Adebola met with a left-wing cross from Marcus Hall although Town goalkeeper Lewis Price collected the looping header without fuss.

And Sky Blues 'keeper Marton Fulop was quickly off his line to save at the feet of Nicky Forster who was wide with a header in the 27th minute after meeting a cross from James McEveley at the back post.

Then, on the half hour, Micky Doyle tapped a free-kick to Sky Blues skipper Stephen Hughes who unleashed a left-footed curler, hit from 20 yards out, which hit the post when Price was well beaten.

McSheffrey threatened with a volley on the turn shortly before the break ahead of Fulop saving from Forster.

The second period began with Ipswich manager Joe Royle opting to replace Ian Westlake with Matt Richards and the visitors soon set about dominating possession before taking the lead through Williams in the 51st minute.

But the Sky Blues were contributors to their own downfall after failing to clear their lines and instead presenting the ball to substitute Richards on the Ipswich left.

And after the low cross was fired into the danger area, Williams hung out a foot and diverted the ball home despite Fulop getting a hand to the ball.

Coventry boss Micky Adams responded by replacing Doyle with Kevin Thornton but it was McSheffrey who restored parity with a shot in the 56th minute as the Ipswich defence dithered.

A free-kick routine almost brought another goal for the hosts but Adebola glanced his header marginally wide before his lunging effort moments later was also directed off target.

At the other end, Sam Parkin was disappointed to have hacked a shot into the stand when under no pressure 18 yards out when teed up by Forster ahead of a short interruption while stewards tackled a youth who had run onto the pitch.

With Andy Morrell having replaced Adebola and Dean Bowditch on for Forster, the game meandered to its stalemate conclusion although Parkin threatened during injury tim

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