The Sky Blues were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in a scrappy encounter at the Ricoh Arena.

Leon McKenzie's 51st minute header, his second of the season, wasn't enough for Iain Dowie's men as Hull responded through former England international Nick Barmby.

Julian Gray and Michael Mifsud both went close scoring late on but Hull, who had defender Sam Ricketts sent-off midway through the second-half, held out to claim a point.

Goalmouth action was a rarity during a cagey first-half as both sides kept things tight at the back.

The Sky Blues, unchanged from last weekend's 4-1 opening day victory at Barnsley, went closest to breaking the deadlock when Jay Tabb headed narrowly wide of the post from a deep Gray cross on the half hour mark.

Earlier on, Hull striker Stuart Elliott had headed wide while Kevin Kyle felt he should have had a penalty for City after appearing to be bundled to the ground by Damien Dalaney.

But the home side started the second-half with much more potency and swiftly earned their reward.

Kyle picked up a lose ball midway inside the visitors' half and delivered a pin-point cross to the back-post where McKenzie rose to send a downward header past 'keeper Matt Duke.

Gray dragged an effort wide as the Sky Blues looked to build on their advantage, but their lead lasted just eleven minutes.

Barmby, arguably the smallest player of the pitch before the introduction of City substitute Mifsud, stole in at the front post to head a Sam Ricketts cross from the right past Dimi Konstantopoulos, who, despite his best efforts, could only push the ball into the top-corner of the net.

Barmby could have bagged another soon after, but shot straight at Konstantopoulos after finding himself unmarked in the area.

And it was a moment Barmby would be left to rue as Hull were reduced to ten-men after 68 minutes when Ricketts was sent-off after picking up a second yellow card for pulling back the influential Gray.

A McKenzie header was saved by Duke as City embarked on an assault at the Hull goal which also saw substitute Michael Mifsud fire into the side-netting after a quick breakaway involving McKenzie and Gray.

Captain Michael Doyle tried his luck from 20-yards but Duke kept out his low effort before another substitute, striker Dele Adebola, headed over under pressure at the back-post.

But that elusive goal wasn't to be and the Sky Blues remain unbeaten in 2007/08.

Coventry City: Konstantopoulos, Osbourne, Ward, Hall, Borrowdale, Tabb (Mifsud 77), Doyle (c), M Hughes (S Hughes 46), Gray, McKenzie, Kyle (Adebola 74). Subs (not used): Marshall (GK), Best.

Scorer(s): Leon McKenzie (51)

Booked: None

Hull City: Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Delaney, Marney, Ashbee (c), Elliott (Dawson 70), Garcia, Barmby (Livermore 77), Windass (McPhee 74). Subs (not used): Myhill (GK), Bridges

Scorer(s): Nick Barmby (62)

Booked: Ricketts, Marney (Hull)
Sent-off: Ricketts (Hull)

Referee: Mr B Knight
Attendance: 21,059 (1,015 Hull fans)