Record signing Viorel Moldovan came off the substitutes' bench to score the goal that enabled Coventry to gain their first-ever win at Villa Park and march into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Moldovan has had to be patient since his £3.25million move from Swiss Grasshoppers last month after the outstanding form of Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby.

But he entered the fray in the 56th minute of a pulsating fifth-round clash and 16 minutes later snatched the goal which ended a 62-year hoodoo.

It was no more than Coventry deserved for although Villa had a fair share of the possession it was Gordon Strachan's side which looked the more menacing throughout.

On another day impressive midfielder Trond Soltvedt could easily have scored a hat-trick and Villa were indebted to goalkeeper Mark Bosnich for pulling off some fine saves to keep them on level terms for so long.

Huckerby also showed why he is regarded as one of the most explosive young talents in the Premiership with his pace and power always a threat to the Villa rearguard.

Villa huffed and puffed but they clearly missed the presence of injured striker Dwight Yorke and in truth Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman was rarely tested.

Now Villa have only the UEFA Cup to look forward to in a season which has been a massive disappointment on the domestic front.

Stan Collymore produced the first on-target effort, a low 20-yard drive through a ruck of players which Hedman did well to cling on to.

The former Liverpool player also had a shot deflected over the bar courtesy of a vital last-ditch tackle by Richard Shaw after a fine move also involving Alan Wright, Lee Hendrie and Julian Joachim.

But it was the Sky Blues who created the more clear-cut openings in the opening 45 minutes and Villa defender Riccardo Scimeca had to make several telling interceptions.

New England B cap Huckerby posed problems on the right flank with his pace and midfielder Soltvedt got forward into the Villa penalty area to telling effect.

Bosnich beat out a fierce drive from Soltvedt before producing a remarkable save to deny the Norwegian international.

Bosnich looked to be going the wrong way and beaten by a rising effort from the edge of the box but he somehow managed to stick out his left leg and divert the ball back into play.

Then in first-half injury time Soltvedt squandered a golden chance to put Coventry ahead.

Huckerby found him in space on the right of the area with only Bosnich to beat but he screwed his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Villa dominated the opening phase of the second period, although the nearest they came to a goal was when Mark Draper screwed his shot wide after bursting into the area.

The Sky Blues retaliated and Bosnich had to turn a curling free-kick from Gavin Strachan, the manager's son, around the post.

But he was indebted to Joachim for keeping Villa on level terms in the 66th minute when he turned Soltvedt's powerful shot off the line following a Strachan corner.

Bosnich then did well to block a shot from Moldovan after he had been sent clear by more trickery from Huckerby.

But Moldovan was not to be denied and in the 72nd minute he pounced at close range after Bosnich could only beat out Boateng's fiercely-struck effort from inside the area.

Teams

Aston Villa: Bosnich, Wright, Staunton, Southgate, Ehiogu, Grayson, Scimeca, Draper (Byfield 67), Hendrie, Collymore, Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Nelson, Collins, Walker, Oakes.

Coventry: Hedman, Shaw (Moldovan 56), Burrows, Soltvedt, Boateng, Breen, Huckerby, Hall, Dublin, Nilsson, Strachan (Boland 88).

Subs Not Used: Johansen, Haworth, Ogrizovic.

Booked: Boateng, Breen, Soltvedt, Hall.

Goals: Moldovan 72.

Att: 36,979

Ref: G S Willard (Worthing).