Norwich City substitute Paul McVeigh salvaged a point for the First Division's second-place side with a last-minute equaliser at Coventry.

A stunning strike by on-loan Ritchie Partridge appeared to have won it for the hosts and looked set to end Norwich's unbeaten away run.

But McVeigh, on after the break, drilled home a dramatic leveller from 25 yards - his ninth of the season - as Norwich cut Portsmouth's lead at the top of the table to three points.

They say fortune favours the brave and it paid off for us Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington

Coventry were left to rue a couple of chances they had to kill off the game, with Norwich goalkeeper Rob Green pulling off fine saves to first thwart Gary McSheffrey and then twice denying half-time substitute John Eustace.

Norwich had the better of the possession in the first half but failed to create many clear-cut chances.

Coventry took the lead in the 22nd minute when Partridge, on loan from Liverpool, collected the ball wide on the left and cut inside to unleash a super shot from 30 yards which flew into the top corner of the helpless Green's net.

They had a lot of possession but did not create many problems and we had the gilt-edged chances Coventry City manager Gary McAllister

Norwich hit back and came close to equalising in the 53rd minute when David Nielsen, starting in place of McVeigh, went on a fine individual run and struck a shot which flew just wide.

Two minutes later Norwich manager Nigel Worthington introduced McVeigh, who started on the bench after taking a knock to his ankle against Millwall on Saturday, with Paul Heckingbottom coming off.

Coventry looked set to hang no, only for Norwich to snatch a point thanks to McVeigh's late leveller.

Coventry City: Debec, Caldwell, Konjic, Davenport, Quinn, Chippo, Safri, McAllister, Partridge, Mills, McSheffrey. Subs: Hyldgaard, Shaw, Eustace, Bothroyd, Pipe.

Norwich City: Green, Nedergaard, Kenton, Mackay, Drury, Southall, Mulryne, Holt, Heckingbottom, Nielsen, Roberts. Subs: Crichton, Fleming, Emblen, McVeigh, Henderson.

Referee: M Pike (Cumbria)