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Pressley galvanised by late show

Image: Steven Pressley: Proud of Coventry display

Steven Pressley believes Coventry can claw their way out of relegation trouble after they rescued a point in a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe.

The Iron were looking to run the clock down but in the third minute of injury time they allowed Coventry to steal the ball and it ended with Marcus Tudgay lobbing home over goalkeeper Luke Daniels. For much of the game an equaliser looked unlikely after former City striker Gary McSheffrey had put the visitors in front in the 21st minute, but Pressley believes the salvaged point could prove vital. He said: "I am extremely proud of our players and I don't think they could have given any more to the team. "It is a difficult environment because the frustrations are spilling over from the stands. "That is understandable, but our players stuck to our principles and showed great patience. "For long periods of the game we dominated and although we scored late on we still went searching for the winner. "We had lot of opportunities and we pressured the game brilliantly. They posed a slight problem on the counter, but they created very few opportunities. "I was pleased with the effort and I don't think they can give any more. And if we maintain the levels we have shown in the last three games I have no fears about us getting us out of trouble. "I am very proud of the players and we certainly merited the draw." For a long while it looked as if it would be a home defeat. McSheffrey, who played in the first ever game at the Ricoh a decade ago, showed his dead-ball skills when he curled a free-kick over the wall and in past home goalkeeper Jamie Jones. McSheffrey refused to celebrate as he knew the potential significance of the goal and until Tudgay staged his late show, it looked decisive. Coventry, who last won at home in the league back in November, could well have pulled level when Aaron Martin forced a good save out of Daniels with a good header. Home defender Aaron Phillips should have tested the goalkeeper in the first half when he burst clear, but blasted over. McSheffrey blotted his copy book when he was booked for an obvious dive in the penalty area. Scunthorpe's time wasting was blatant and it cost them dear when Robert Fleck played Tudgay in and he finished very calmly. Visiting boss Mark Robins said: "It was disappointing to only pick up a point and not to come away with a win, but there are a lot of positives to come away with. "It was important not to lose the game.. We are six points from the bottom four and we have pulled a little further away and have games in hand. "We would all admit that we are disappointed not to have taken all three points. We threw away a point on Saturday and we threw two away here. "McSheffrey's goal was brilliant, but he is capable of that. "He has scored goals here at the Ricoh and it might have been fitting if it had won the game, but that said I thought they took their equaliser very well indeed."

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