But United fought back to level through on-loan midfielder Jack Cork's first goal for the club, and held on for a point despite ending the match with two players less than the opposition after Kelly Youga was booked twice in quick succession.
"We have a great team spirit and camaraderie and loyalty to each other and we also have tremendous character," said Adkins.
"All of that showed through and it was superb to watch."
Adkins also had some sympathy for both Murphy and Youga, who will both now face one-game suspensions.
"Kelly is enthusiastic and I suppose that after the referee had booked him earlier, he was left with no choice but to send him off because the second was probably a booking," said Adkins.
"However, I think his first yellow card was a bit harsh, andthen I don't think Kelly should have been booked if it wasn't a penalty for his second.
"As a former goalkeeper myself, it is a bug-bear for me when keepers are sent off for bringing a player down inside the box.
"I believe it should be a penalty and nothing more otherwise you are punished twice."
Coventry chief Iain Dowie was disappointed to have not taken all three points from the game.
"I have a lot of time for Nigel Adkins and Scunthorpe ,nd they deserve credit for being resilient," he said.