Victor Torp’s late penalty salvaged a draw for Frank Lampard against Cardiff City in his first game in charge of Coventry City.
In a frantic start to Lampard’s reign, Yakou Meite headed Cardiff in front after four minutes but Coventry hit back immediately with Ephron Mason-Clark’s first-time finish.
Alex Robertson restored Cardiff’s lead early in the second half with a superb swerving 25-yard drive.
Then with only two minutes left, referee James Bell penalised Bluebirds defender Calum Chambers for handball and Torp scored from the spot.
It was a controversial decision which infuriated Cardiff, with two of their players booked for their protestations.
Both teams are now winless in five games, with Coventry moving up to 16th in the Championship table and Cardiff remaining 20th.
Lampard only took his first training session on Thursday, and he certainly enjoyed an eventful start to his tenure at the CBS Arena.
Coventry trailed after just four minutes when an unmarked Meite headed Cardiff in front from Robertson’s corner from the right.
But that lead lasted less than three minutes when Tatsuhiro Sakamato’s lofted through ball was volleyed in by Mason-Clark to earn him his first goal for the club - and Coventry's first of the Lampard era.
While the Sky Blues enjoyed more possession than their opponents, Cardiff had chances to restore their lead when David Turnbull tested Brad Collins with a powerful long-range strike and Meite fired wide.
Norman Bassette missed two good chances for Coventry before the break, having one header saved by Jak Alnwick and sending another wide.
Cardiff started the second half brightly and, after Meite had a shot saved, Robertson fired them in front with a low, swerving long-range effort.
That goal lifted the visitors’ confidence as they chased a much-needed victory, while Coventry’s attempts to equalise were limited, with Jack Rudoni and Bobby Thomas denied by Alnwick.
But the major talking point came late on when referee Bell awarded Coventry their penalty for a Chambers handball, despite initially appearing to wave play on.
Robertson and Alnwick were booked for their protestations but Torp scored to rescue a draw for Coventry and earn former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard his first point.
Post-match reaction
Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:
“Some good, some not so good in our performance. It’s to be expected after two days’ work, with where we are in the league.
“We started well until we conceded from a set-piece. The biggest issue with the second half was the staleness of our performance.
“But I’m not here to criticise the players after two days. I’m pleased with their character to get the result we got in the end. We take the point and move on.”
Cardiff interim manager Omer Riza told BBC Radio Wales:
“I don’t think it was a penalty but a decision has been given and we have to continue.
“I’ve had a discussion with a referee and the assistant and I’m not happy with the conversation they’ve had but I don’t want to discuss refereeing decisions.
"It’s happened. We’ve drawn the game 2-2. It has cost us three points when we should have won 2-1. We played quite well in patches. We were worthy of a win.”