Australian bargain buy John Aloisi hammered two goals to secure Coventry
City's first ever league win at Villa Park after a wait of 63 years.
Aloisi, snapped up for a cut-price £700,000 from cash-strapped Portsmouth in
December, ensured that the Sky Blues 24-game sequence without a win at their
Midland rivals' headquarters came to an end.
The former Cremonese player was in the starting line-up only because of a
shoulder injury to Noel Whelan.
But Aloisi took his chance with a vengeance, scoring the opener and the
decisive third goal to smash Villa's hopes of a second-half revival.
Then midfielder George Boateng rubbed salt into Villa's wounds by also firing
a double to silence the Villa majority in the 38,000-plus crowd.
It was a massive boost to Coventry's hopes of avoiding relegation - and
another massive blow to Villa's fast-fading title chances.
Villa manager John Gregory had celebrated his first game in charge 12 months
ago with a memorable triumph against Liverpool thanks to two goals from Stan
Collymore.
But a year on what had started as a little blip is starting to develop into a
worrying slide and Villa have now collected just one point from their last five
games and suffered three successive home defeats.
Their defence is leaking goals and the spark and purpose has gone out of their
attacking play despite the efforts of the tireless Lee Hendrie.
But in contrast, Coventry manager Gordon Strachan can look forward with
renewed optimism of the Sky Blues pulling clear of the danger zone.
Coventry's recent performances have been better than results have suggested
and they played with a confidence not normally associated with a side in the
bottom three.
Skipper Gary McAllister and the tireless Boateng controlled the midfield and
up front the pace and sharp turns of Darren Huckerby and Aloisi caused Villa
problems.
Villa midfielder Simon Grayson was the first to threaten when his 25-yard
effort was deflected only inches wide.
But it was Coventry who quickly found their touch. A quick spin in the box by
Aloisi took him past Riccardo Scimeca but the end product was a weak left-footed
shot straight at Michael Oakes.
Steve Watson then denied the onrushing Aloisi with a tackle at full stretch
after McAllister sent a teasing low centre across the area.
Villa were restricted to long-range efforts and it came as no surprise when
Coventry went ahead in the 25th minute.
Former Villa favourite Stephen Froggatt sent the ball into Aloisi who again
held off Scimeca's challenge before sliding a low shot across Oakes into the
corner of the net.
Scimeca was having problems containing the sharpness of the Coventry front
players and the Sky Blues had penalty claims rejected after he had wrestled with
Huckerby following a through-ball from McAllister.
Then Aloisi again had space to burst forward but this time Villa were relieved
to see his low effort fly straight at Oakes.
All Villa could muster before half-time was a long-range effort from Steve
Watson which was saved away to his right by Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman.
But Watson was then stretchered off with an ankle injury and replaced by
Gareth Barry. It was Villa's second enforced switch of the half after Ian Taylor
had been replaced by Mark Draper.
And the gloom increased for the home side six minutes into the second half
when Boateng doubled Coventry's lead.
Huckerby played a low centre into the near post where Boateng's way to goal
looked to be blocked by Scimeca.
But the former Dutch Under-21 skipper turned and squeezed the ball past Oakes
from the narrowest of angles.
Coventry hardly had time to bask in the glory of their two-goal cushion before
former Sky Blues hero Dublin gave Villa a lifeline.
Paul Merson and Hendrie combined well before Joachim was brought down in the
penalty area by Richard Shaw - and Dublin thumped in the spot-kick.
It was his first goal of 1999 and sparked a spell of Villa pressure but with
19 minutes left, that man Aloisi struck again to give Coventry breathing space.
Froggatt floated in the free-kick from the left and Aloisi got in front of
Gareth Southgate to volley the ball past the exposed Oakes.
Then, with six minutes left, Boateng raced clear of the Villa defence and, as
Oakes came racing out of his goal, Boateng chipped over him into the net.
Teams
Aston Villa: Oakes, Wright, Southgate, Watson (Barry 44),
Scimeca, Taylor (Draper 29), Merson, Grayson, Hendrie, Dublin,
Joachim, Draper (Collymore 55).
Subs Not Used: Samuel, Bosnich.
Booked: Grayson, Hendrie, Southgate, Dublin.
Goals: Dublin 55 pen.
Coventry: Hedman, Nilsson, Burrows, Williams, Shaw, McAllister,
Froggatt, Boateng, Telfer, Huckerby (McSheffrey 90), Aloisi.
Subs Not Used: Konjic, Soltvedt, Edworthy, Kirkland.
Booked: Williams.
Goals: Aloisi 25, 73, Boateng 51, 84.
Att: 38,799
Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).
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