Philliskirk late show earns deserved point

GOAL . . . Danny Philliskirk

COVENTRY 1, ATHLETIC 1

UPDATE: Check out the updated full report.

DANNY Philliskirk celebrated the birth of his baby girl with a late headed equaliser after a battling effort from Athletic brought a deserved point.

Former Sky Blues man Philliskirk, whose first child was born on Friday, rose to nod home in added time from a Mike Jones corner to send the visitors' band of travelling fans into raptures.

Aaron Martin's header looked to have condemned Athletic to another defeat, after a spirited show at high-flying Coventry.

The centre-back powerfully converted from close range at the far post on 48 minutes.

Jake Cassidy and Danny Philliskirk both tested home goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook's reflexes in the second half, but the visitors couldn't seem to find a way back to parity – despite enjoying the bulk of possession after the break.

Athletic goalkeeper David Cornell was rarely called into action in the first half, with one sharp low save from Jim O'Brien and another from a cross-shot by Aaron Phillips his main action.

Athletic were solid, their five-man midfield stifling the home team for whom Joe Cole was kept quiet before being substituted.

And after the blow of conceding, heavy pressure was brought to bear. Substitute Michael Higdon's header was tipped over the top in the second minute of added time, but Philliskirk had the final word.