A LATE rally saw the Canaries pluck a draw from the jaws of defeat at Carrow Road, with teenager Chris Martin again getting City out of jail for the second consecutive home game.
Just as he had helped Norwich overcome Blackpool in the FA Cup last time round, this time Martin tucked away a close range finish inside the final 10 minutes after Jay Tabb had given the visitors a deserved first half lead.
In truth, a draw was probably a fair result on a day when City had huffed and puffed for long periods, with the visitors quick into the tackle and no doubt inspired by new boss Iain Dowie.
All the same, it was a point which could still prove crucial come the final reckoning.
City boss Peter Grant was forced to ring the changes for the visit of Iain Dowie's Coventry City.
With Dion Dublin not recovering from the tight calf picked-up at Preston in midweek, this saw Gary Doherty reinstalled at the heart of defence alongside Jason Shackell, who bagged his first City goal at Deepdale.
Chris Martin was handed his full home debut alongside Chris Brown, with Andy Hughes keeping his place at right back.
With Lee Croft moved to the bench, this allowed Mark Fotheringham to start on the right, with Dickson Etuhu and Simon Lappin in midfield.
For the visitors there was a familiar face in the line-up in the shape of former City 'keeper Andy Marshall. His name was greeted by predictable boos from the Barclay Stand as he took his place for kick off.
City's first half chance came inside five minutes, Fotheringham playing a corner into the near post, with Brown meeting it with a powerful header which flew a yard wide as the former Sunderland man continued to search for his first goal in Canary colours.
But two minutes later the Canaries were thwarted by the man they love to hate.
A flick-on by Martin was hooked clear by the Coventry defence, but Etuhu reacted well to send a header back into the danger zone.
The visiting defence froze, expecting an offside man against Huckerby as he collected the ball.
But he was easily level as he took control of the bouncing ball, but could not lift his lob over the advancing figure of Marshall, allowing the Sky Blues to see off the danger.
It had been a bright start from Norwich, with the home side stringing some intricate passing moves together and Etuhu carrying on from where he left off at Stamford Bridge, imposing his physical style on the opposition.
But on 15 minutes Norwich were almost made to pay when Coventry had their first sight of goal of the afternoon.
Midfielder Jay Tabb was left in a criminal amount of space away on the right, just inside the 18-yard box, and he fizzed an excellent low ball across the six yard line.
Adebola looked set for a simple tap-in, but Doherty did enough to put off the big striker, with the former Crewe and Birmingham man missing his kick horribly.
On 18 minutes there was a loud cheer from the home fans as Etuhu came off better in 50-50 challenge with Marshall, leaving the 'keeper in a heap on the floor.
Martin's hooked pass invited both players to challenge for the ball on about the penalty spot.
Etuhu got their first, and while his effort spun just wide of goal, Marshall was left needing treatment after colliding with the 6ft 3in Nigerian.
At the other end it was City 'keeper Gallacher in his first meaningful action of the game, clutching a Kyle header close to his chest after Tabb had again found space on the right.
Coventry were certainly dominating things in the air in attack, with the likes of Adebola and Kyle causing all sorts of problems.
And on 25 minutes Adebola might have done better than glancing a header inches past the far post after he met a corner from the left.
Coventry were beginning to enjoy the better of the game, and Gallacher did well to hang onto a low free kick from Andrew Whing on 36 minutes from 25 yards.
But minutes before half time Coventry scored the goal which had been coming.
Adebola held the ball up well on the edge of the D before turning and finding Tabb who had scampered into the box.
He shrugged off the challenge of Hughes before tucking the ball beneath a horribly exposed Gallacher.
It was a hammer blow for City, but no more than Coventry's approach play had deserved after Norwich's bright start had petered out.
As the half approached injury time, City had a good chance to level things.
A quick break saw Martin bring the ball into the Coventry third, holding play up to allow Hughes to catch-up on the right.
His first time cross was perfect for the far post and for Brown, but his first time volley from the corner of the six-yard box flew well over the bar.
Half time: Norwich City 0-1 Coventry City
City boss Grant made one change at the break, replacing Brown with Lee Croft.
And within moments of the second half City wasted an amazing chance to level things.
Etuhu did brilliantly to win the ball in the Coventry half before finding Huckerby racing across the halfway line.
He in turn passed to Martin in space on the right, who got to the by-line before hitting a low pass across the six-yard box.
Fotheringham had done well to keep up with the move and looked a certainty to score. But the Scotsman lost his footing at the vital moment, slicing agonisingly wide of the right post.
It was a great chance, and one you hoped City would not live to rue.
Carrow Road was suddenly hit by a sudden but intense rain-shower, with City still struggling to find a way back into the game.
A smart break on the hour mark saw Etuhu break-up the play again before finding Croft away in space on the right.
He made in-roads into the Coventry half before finding Huckerby away on the left.
And while Hucks did well to turn his man, his curling shot was over angle of bar and post.
City's frustrations were beginning to manifest themselves in the crowd as Norwich continually caused problems of their own at the back.
But on 65 minutes only a smart save from Marshall preserved Coventry's lead. Martin had plenty of work to do when he collected the ball wide right.
He showed poise and directness though to bring the ball into the area before hitting a low left foot shot which Marshall got down well to his right to save.
With the game ebbing away for City, Grant made his second change on 70 minutes, with Youssef Safri coming on to bolster the midfield in place of Hughes.
This saw the Canaries switch to three at the back as they went in search of something to give them hope.
Paul McVeigh joined Safri five minutes later in place of Fotheringham.
On 80 minutes there were loud shouts for a penalty when Huckerby went to ground under a heavy challenge from Elliott Ward in the area.
It looked a spot kick, but referee Andy D'Urso merely showed a yellow card to Huckerby for divisng.
But a minute later and Norwich were level at last - and again they had teenage starlet Chris Martin to thank.
Huckerby was the creator, getting the better of Whing down the left. He got into the area and rolled a simple pass along the floor and into the path of the 18-year-old to blast into the roof of the net.
It was a cool finish from the Academy product, and seemed to inspire City as they suddenly surged forward looking for a winner.
It was now all Norwich, who had a new lease of life following the equaliser.
Deep into stoppage time Croft found Huckerby on the right, but his run finished with a shot a yard over Marshall's bar.
Full time: Norwich City 1-1 Coventry City
Norwich City: Gallacher, Drury (c), Shackell, Huckerby, Brown (Croft 46), Fotheringham (McVeigh 75), Hughes (Safri 70), Lappin, Etuhu, Doherty, Martin. Subs: Lewis, Colin.
Coventry City: Marshall, Whing, Hall, Ward (c), Hughes, Doyle, Adebola (Mifsud 71), Kyle, Osbourne (Birchall 90), Hawkins, Tabb (Fadiga 88). Subs: Steele, Virgo.
