Ipswich completed their first mission of avoiding defeat, but had to come from behind twice to salvage a point away to Coventry at the Ricoh Arena. Clinton Morrison put the home side ahead after just 37 seconds, before Lisbie levelled on 12 minutes.
Freddie Eastwood came close to restoring Coventry’s advantage just before the interval, when his curling shot hit the post, but managed to find the back of the net in the second half to put the Sky Blues 2-1 up, although Richard Naylor looked to have been fouled in the build up to the goal. Ex-Colchester United striker Lisbie came to the rescue again when he took advantage of shaky defending to salvage a point for Town.
Pablo Counago, Darren Ambrose, Jon Walters could only find themselves on the bench, while Macedonian midfielder Veliche Shumulikoski was left out of the squad altogether despite being a fixed member of the starting eleven in recent weeks.
Owen Garvan, who picked up his fifth booking of the season and the mandatory one-match ban against Cardiff a week ago, and Ben Thatcher, who was sent-off for two bookings in the same game, were both missing, as was Alex Bruce who serving his second game of a four match suspension.
Striker Kevin Lisbie and David Wright returned to the line-up, as did Danny Haynes, Tommy Miller and Alan Quinn who had found themselves rarely in the squad in recent weeks. Town lined-up with Jon Stead on the left and Danny Haynes on the right of a three-pronged attack.
Morrison found himself with the ball at his feet inside the box with less than a minute on the clock after a punt downfield, and he had time to pick his spot and score past Richard Wright, despite a last-ditch from the Blues defence.
GOAL: Coventry City 1-0 Ipswich Town (Clinton Morrison)
Prior to Ipswich equalising, Jon Stead hit a shot that was saved by Sky Blues keeper Kieren Westwood. Lisbie’s good work on the edge of the Coventry box was rewarded with a goal, his first since scoring at Plymouth at the end of October.
GOAL: Coventry City 1-1 Ipswich Town (Kevin Lisbie)
Both sides were giving it a go, despite creating many clear cut chances. Neither side looked like they wanted it more than the other, although Jon Stead was eager to break his away goal duck, being denied by Kieren Westwood once more.
Mortiz Volz appeared to be lacking in confidence, and Freddy Eastwood eased past him prior to the break before smashing a shot against the post. It was as close as the either side came to adding to their goals in the first-half, although Kevin Lisbie had a good chance at the other end.
HALF-TIME: Coventry City 1-1 Ipswich Town
Jamaican striker Lisbie had another effort at Westwood, which the former Carlisle keeper saved. On 55 however, the home side took the lead as Richard Naylor and ex-Southend United striker Eastwood tussled for a long ball over the top of the Ipswich defence. Eastwood looked to have fouled Naylor, but referee Rob Style waved play on and Coventry took the lead once more.
GOAL: Coventry City 2-1 Ipswich Town (Freddy Eastwood)
Town equalised just ten minutes later, as they did in the first-half after going behind. Lisbie capitalised on a poor back pass, and lobbed Westwood to make him joint top scorer with Jon Stead and Pablo Counago.
GOAL: Coventry City 2-2 Ipswich Town (Kevin Lisbie)
Eastwood went close again, before Lisbie had the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. Stead also managed to find the target but was denied by Westwood.
Chances were becoming evermore frequent at either end, as Jon Walters was brought on to give Town a more attacking threat.
There still seemed to be one more goal in the game, as with just over a minute remaining Darren Ambrose smashed a long range strike that the Sky Blues keeper could only parry. Jon Walters had his effort saved from close range although squaring the ball to Lisbie could have been a better option.
Both teams had decent spells on top of the game, and either side could have won. Unfortunately, the game looked nothing more that two decent mid table sides.
On a brighter note, it was a delight to see Kevin Lisbie return to scoring form and should only get better from here. Under-pressure manager Jim Magilton’s bold decision to leave out Darren Ambrose, Pablo Counago and Jon Walters also seemed to pay off, which fans will be pleased to see.
FULL-TIME: Coventry City 2-2 Ipswich Town
