Dion Dublin destroyed Derby's FA Cup hopes with a devastating double to steer
Coventry into the fifth round at Highfield Road.
The Sky Blues skipper, who recently turned down a £4million move to
Middlesbrough, struck twice in seven first half minutes to avenge last season's
exit at the hands of Jim Smith's side.
He collected his 12th of the season after 37 minutes with a diving header past
Estonian international Mart Poom from George Boateng's cross.
And he made the game secure with number 13 just seconds before half-time as he
beat team-mate Noel Whelan to Gary Breen's flick-on to volley his fifth goal in
five games.
It gave the half time scoreline a lopsided look for a game that had seen very
little between the two sides in both quality and sometimes ferocious
commitment.
But there could be no denying that Coventry were the better side on the day
and most importantly they took their half chances when they came.
Coventry boss Gordon Strachan had made just one enforced change from the side
that had drawn 2-2 with Arsenal in the league last week, hernia victim Paul
Williams replaced by Richard Shaw.
Jim Smith welcomed back Stefano Eranio and Darryl Powell in place of Gary
Rowett and Ron Willems as Derby aimed to bounce back from their disappointing
0-0 draw at Wimbledon.
The Rams have an excellent recent record against Coventry having won the last
four meetings between the two sides.
But the problems that had plagued them at Selhurst Park had followed them to
Highfield Road and they failed to really test Magnus Hedman in the first half.
Hedman had to be alert to cut out a couple of low dangerous crosses and he did
well to race off his line to gather the ball at the feet of the advancing Paolo
Wanchope.
That however was the only glimmer of brilliance from the Costa Rican who was
effectively shackled by Breen and Shaw.
Dublin and Huckerby were being given few chances at the other end as well,
defences were on top and Coventry were often forced to shoot unsuccessfully from
long range.
Just as the half looked destined to finish goalless however, Dublin struck
twice to swing the tie in the home side's favour.
Derby failed to clear a Telfer corner and as Boateng swung the ball back into
the area Dublin stooped to head past a stranded Poom.
Derby looked in vain for an offside flag but Dublin had timed his run
to perfection and the goal was allowed to stand.
Coventry had thrown away an identical advantage however last year in the fifth
round at Derby when they lost 3-2 after leading 2-0 at one stage.
But Derby lacked a cutting edge up front with Wanchope having one of
his infuriating off days and Baiano more interested in becoming involved in
tussles with Telfer.
Derby's search for a vital goal became increasingly desperate but it was the
home side that came closest to adding to the scoreline.
Dublin's overhead kick from near the touchline fell perfectly for Whelan as he
made a late run into the area but his half volley flew just wide.
Smith then brought on Ron Willems for Baiano who looked in danger of picking
up a yellow or red card in an increasingly bad-tempered game.
Dublin then came close to a hat-trick on 72 minutes that would have well and
truly killed off the game but his neat flick lacked the power to seriously worry
Poom who saved low at his near post.
Nothing was going right for Derby and even when presented with a golden
opportunity they wasted it. Hedman failed to hold on to a deflected cross but
when the ball dropped to substitute Willems he blasted it well wide of the
target.
In fact Derby had very little to show for their second half efforts as they
struggled to get behind the resolute home defence.
And even when Wanchope did manage to get to the byline he failed to get over a
cross that gave his team-mates any chance of reaching it.
It summed up Derby's afternoon and long before the end some of the sizeable
visiting contingent began to make their way to the exits accompanied by a
rousing chorus of "Cheerio" from the delighted home faithful.
Coventry: Hedman, Shaw, Burrows, Breen, Nilsson,
Whelan (Hall 78), Telfer, Soltvedt, Boateng (Strachan 90),
Dublin, Huckerby (Moldovan 84).
Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Salako.
Booked: Whelan.
Goals: Dublin 38, 45.
Derby: Poom, C. Powell, D. Powell, Yates, Stimac, Laursen,
Carsley (Rowett 73), Eranio, Wanchope, Burton (Dailly 73),
Baiano (Willems 64).
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Hunt.
Booked: Burton, Carsley, Wanchope.
Att: 22,824
Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe).
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