DION DUBLIN'S dramatic injury tinge equaliser earned Coventry a replay in the English FA Cup fourth round game at Highfield Road last night.

Gary Flitcroft seemed to have set up a Manchester derby in the fifth round at Old Trafford on Sunday week when his first goal of the season put Alan Ball's team in front for the first time with just nine minutes left.

But Coventry refused to obey the script which demanded a last 16 clash between the Manchester rivals and Dublin appeared on the end of veteran Gordon Strachan's cross to save the tie `with almost the last kick of the' game.

It was a dramatic finish to add to a stunning start in which Noel Whelan gave Coventry the lead with just over two minutes on the clock. But Coventry failed to build on their £2 million striker's, sixth goal in 10 games and gave away the equaliser when David Busst turned Uwe Rosler's skidding low cross into his own net after 33 minutes.

An exciting first half gave way to a scrappy second half as deteriorating conditions Coventry's pitch had been cleared of snow yesterday affected the quality of passing and movement.

But Flitcroft kept his feet firmly on the ground to stab in a Steve Lomas cross which sparked a wild celebration from the visiting fans who were convinced it was enough to earn them the win.

Manchester City supporters felt Dublin should have been sent off two minutes before the interval for bringing down Georgian mid fielder Georgi Kinkladze, who had sprinted clear in the penalty box. Referee Gerald Ashby amazed an 18,000 crowd by refusing to award a penalty and it led to a bombardment of snow balls by the travelling Maine Road fans at a linesman, quickly followed by a police warning.