In the 41st minute, Jonathan Rowe toe-poked the ball home from Jack Stacey’s pass to give the Canaries the lead in an open battle with much of attacking effort from both sides.
The Sky Blues had the majority of the goal chances, with American attacker Haji Wright in particular, but Norwich’s determination to throw bodies in front of the ball kept them at bay.
Angus Gunn twice saved from Josh Eccles, but with time winding short, the Norwich goalkeeper was powerless to stop a cross from Milan van Ewijk that glanced off Gibson’s head and into the net.
Coventry gave defender Liam Kitching his first start since joining from Barnsley, while Yasin Ayari replaced Liam Kelly in midfield, who was sidelined with an injury.
Norwich, though, got off to a fast start after a bad clearance by home keeper Ben Wilson was intercepted by Rowe, whose chip went just too high.
Wilson saved well after Adam Idah cut inside his marker, and Coventry increasingly exerted themselves in the attacking third, with Wright crowded out by the Norwich defense and Kyle McFadzean’s attempt from outside the box saved by Gunn.
Kitching’s header was similarly saved by the Canaries’ keeper, but they went ahead after Liam Gibbs regained the ball and backheeled to Stacey, whose cross into the box found Rowe in the correct place.
Ellis Simms had a chance to equalize before the interval, but he headed over from close range.
Having only managed two points from their six previous league meetings with Norwich, Coventry continued to press forward after an ambitious 35-yard effort from Ayari flew wide early in the second half.
They had 20 goal attempts during the game but, having won their last two games, it looked like they were heading for defeat until Gibson’s own goal came to their rescue.
Coventry remain 13th in the Championship following the draw, while Norwich moved up a place to seventh ahead of a tasty home fixture against Leeds United on 21 October following the international break.
Coventry defender Liam Kitching told BBC CWR:
“I thought we had a few good chances towards the end and maybe could have snuck all three points, but it’s been a great week, seven points and some tough tests.
“At half-time, the manager just said ‘keep doing what you’re doing and the chances will come’ because there was good football in the first half.
“You just need to grind teams down, keep moving the ball and it was a great cross from Milan [for the goal]. That’s what happens when you put the ball into those areas.
“It’s always hard to defend those balls, so I know how he [Ben Gibson] feels, but it got us a point so I’m happy with that.”
Norwich head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
“After our recent away results, a draw away from home is a first step – and I think it was a fair result.”
“It was a solid performance; defensively, the players did fantastic; they put in a real shift and worked extremely hard.”
“We wanted to set ourselves apart a little more from their counter, and we had our chances, but the best period was in the second half, when we were able to calm the game down.”
“You mention the goal, but I’m thinking about a block in our own box; he [Rowe] works for the team as well as scores goals.” He understands that in order to continue, he must work even harder – but he is a character that enjoys working.”
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