IT was symbolic of the superb team spirit which has flourished in the Blackburn Rovers squad since Brian Kidd's arrival that the senior players couldn't wait to single out 19-year-old debutant Martin Taylor for special praise.

Plunged into his first Premiership game to solve Kidd's defensive crisis "Tiny" Taylor repaid every ounce of his manager's faith in him.

True, Rovers only salvaged one point from another of their relegation rivals and it was not enough to haul them out of the bottom three.

But, with the sort of togetherness demonstrated by players and fans on a tough afternoon of hypertension, the survival dream lives on.

Under the previous managerial regime, the spirit of the squad had been shattered. Whatever the eventual outcome of the struggle to beat the drop, at least Rovers are giving themselves a fighting chance - and how they fought.

It was summed up by Jason McAteer, who had poured every available drop of effort, energy and enthusiasm into the battle for Premiership safety.

And he was, by some distance, the last man to leave the field, having dragged one final effort from weary legs to go to the supporters on the opposite side of Highfield Road's ploughed field of a pitch to show the team's appreciation of the fact that the players are not standing alone in their struggle.

"The fans were absolutely brilliant," said the man who has willingly taken on whatever role he has been asked to fill in these desperate times.

"We've got tremendous support. I've seen clubs at away games before where the crowd have not been behind the team or not taken as many fans as we did.

"We are battling for our lives and they are battling with us.

"That's what we need and it's tremendous."

There are no lifelines in the relegation game. You can't phone a friend, take 50-50 or ask the audience. You have to help yourself and that is exactly what Rovers did.

No-one more so than Taylor.

As McAteer said: "Young 'Tiny' has come in and done tremendously well."

And point-saver Jason Wilcox echoed the compliment: "He was superb. He has shown tremendous potential as have all the other young lads and to come in for his debut at such a time speaks volumes for his character and his ability."

Rovers earned a standing ovation from their travelling support, because fans are not easily fooled. They know when players are putting everything into a cause and the commitment and sheer passion of the Rovers play deserved some reward.

On a diabolical pitch, they were ready to do whatever was necessary and if they continue in that manner then there is always hope.

Kidd took on an unenviable task with Rovers cut adrift at the bottom and the job has become even more difficult as the squad has been depleted week by week.

But he has certainly brought a sense of purpose back to the team.

In this case it was a deserved point and it's worth noting that the reshaped defence restricted Coventry to just two on-target attempts - the goal and an easy save for John Filan, facing his former club.

Taylor might have been a little naive for the goal but he deserved rich praise for his all-round contribution under the intense pressure that comes with football at this level.

He will be able to look back in the years ahead on a highly satisfying debut.

Trailing at half-time was rough justice on Rovers who had looked the better of the two sides in a tense atmosphere that brought confrontations on the pitch and off it.

Wilcox down the left and McAteer on the opposite flank often threatened to create chances but it was a superb piece of finishing by John Aloisi in the 23rd minute which separated the teams.

Coventry rarely looked like breaking down Rovers but, when George Boateng got in a low cross towards the near post, Aloisi managed to nip in before Taylor and finished with a ferocious shot high into the net.

In the meantime, a bruising battle saw players squaring up at one stage not to mention Kidd and Coventry coach Garry Pendrey becoming involved in an angry exchange of views after another rough-tough clash between Chris Sutton and Muhamed Konjic.

Konjic had taken a battering said Coventry boss Gordon Strachan later, which was a back-handed compliment to Sutton's effort.

Aloisi could have scored a second for Coventry early in the second half but Rovers continued to have a go, made significant substitutions and were rewarded with a richly-deserved equaliser.

Damien Johnson was at the heart of it as he ripped apart the left flank of Coventry's defence before pulling the ball back perfectly into the path of Wilcox who produced a stunning finish, firing home left-footed from beyond the penalty spot high past the impressive Magnus Hedman.

It said a lot that, in the end, Rovers were disappointed they had not taken all three points from a game which had earlier looked a daunting prospect.

But if they can maintain this standard, and get one or two players back, who knows what will happen between now and May.

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