The Sky Blues continued their resurgence under caretaker boss Adrian Heath but had to settle for a point in a fiery affair against 10-man Cardiff at the Ricoh Arena.
Dele Adebola grabbed a 71st minute equaliser after a disputed penalty from Michael Chopra and a Peter Whittingham strike cancelled out Leon McKenzie's early opener.
McKenzie handed City a dream start when he rifled in from ten yards after Michael Mifsud had disposed his marker on the right and cut the ball back from the byline.
The Bluebirds' response saw Chopra, the Championship's top goalscorer, send a free-kick flying over the bar, but the home side continued to dictate the play and could have added a second in the 16th minute.
Michael Doyle's precise through-ball sent Jay Tabb racing through on goal, but the pint-sized midfielder fired straight at Cardiff 'keeper Neil Alexander before McKenzie lifted the rebound over.
The woodwork came to the visitors rescue on the stroke of half-time when Mifsud side-footed against the post.
But referee Graham Poll took centre stage moments later when he awarded Cardiff a penalty after spotting a push on Roger Johnson by skipper Robert Page in the area as the visitors prepared to take a corner.
Chopra stepped-up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to hand the Bluebirds a route back into the game, albeit against the run of play.
Mifsud tested Alexander shortly after the interval as the Sky Blues looked to build on an industrious first-half display, but it was Cardiff who seized the initiative in the 58th minute.
Winger Whittingham picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a magnificent effort with his left foot beyond a helpless Andy Marshall.
But the game turned on its head again nine minutes later when Poll dished out a second yellow card to Bluebirds centre-back Glenn Loovens for a foul on Mifsud.
And City instantly made their extra-man pay as Adebola stooped to head home Tabb's teasing cross at the far post.
McKenzie then saw two goals disallowed for fouls either side of forcing Alexander into a superb reaction save from point-blank range.
City continue to pile men forward put couldn't make their numerical advantage prevail and were forced to settle for a point.
Coventry (4-4-2): Marshall; McNamee, Page (c), Hawkins, Whing (Giddings, 57); Mifsud, Doyle, Osbourne, Tabb; Adebola, McKenzie. Subs (Not Used): Steele (GK), Birchall, Bunce, Virgo.
Cardiff (4-4-2): Alexander; Gilbert (Flood, 79), Johnson, Loovens, Ledley; Parry, McPhail (c), Walton, Whittingham (McNaughton, 68); Thompson (Redan, 73), Chopra. Subs (Not Used): Forde (GK), Campbell.
