Coventry still need a point to secure their top-flight future for the 33rd
successive season despite a vital Highfield Road victory against Wimbledon.
The much-needed win ended a run of three successive defeats for the Sky Blues
who continue to hover precariously over the relegation zone.
Boss Gordon Strachan's side are still not out of the mire - they can be caught
by both Blackburn and Southampton.
But the Scot will be heartened by a rampant display - at least for the opening
74 minutes until Wimbledon staged a late rally which nearly brought with it a
point.
The angry words of Strachan, however, following last week's 1-0 loss at
Leicester must have still been ringing in the ears of his players prior to
kick-off. Strachan is a manager who can stomach defeat providing he gets
commitment and effort in the process, but he was left seething at Filbert Street
after a performance which lacked both ingredients.
With such a stinging rebuke reverberating around the dressing room, it perhaps
came as no surprise the Sky Blues made a lightning start. Wimbledon, though,
appear to be a side going through the motions at present, lost in a sea of
mediocrity without their anchor of Joe Kinnear.
Since that night when the Dons' guiding light and inspiration had a heart
attack prior to a victory at Sheffield Wednesday, they have been riding the
crest of a slump.
Fortunately for Kinnear's side, currently in the hands of Mick Harford and
David Kemp, enough points were accrued ahead of the game at Hillsborough to
prevent them being sucked into the relegation battle.
This latest defeat means Wimbledon have now won just two points from the last
27 on offer, a none-too-proud record which even already-doomed Nottingham Forest
can better.
The summer, and the close season when Kinnear will again be back in harness,
cannot come soon enough for Wimbledon who had no answer to Coventry's cut and
thrust early on.
City started in determined fashion and were rewarded for their swift attacking
play with two beautifully-crafted goals, with Dutch Under-21 international
George Boateng the architect.
A Dons defence which had conceded eight goals in their last two away matches
were again looking at themselves in bewilderment as Boateng provided the
ammunition for Coventry to fire themselves into a two-goal lead by the 29th
minute.
The right-winger's first pass was sublime - a raking, inch-perfect diagonal
60-yard ball which fell serenely into the path of Darren Huckerby in the 17th
minute. From his position just inside the left-hand edge of the penalty area,
Huckerby was able to deftly beat advancing keeper Neil Sullivan with a superbly
executed flick.
It was the striker's 12th goal of the season and an overdue moment to savour
as it ended a 14-match drought stretching back to mid-January.
The second delivery from Boateng was not as breathtaking, but it was just as
incisive, deep into the heart of the penalty area for Noel Whelan to reclaim the
club's leading goalscorer tag. Having been joined by Huckerby at the top,
Whelan's first-time sidefoot beyond Sullivan ensured he had outright sole
ownership again on 13.
Huckerby should have rejoined him before the break, but fluffed a point-blank
shot - allowing Sullivan to mop up the danger - after being given a clear sight
of goal by Whelan.
City keeper Magnus Hedman was tested, but all from distance as Ceri Hughes,
John Hartson and Duncan Jupp all drilled in shots which forced the Swede into
fine saves.
Coventry then proceeded to dominate the second period before the game was
turned on its head in the 74th minute as Wimbledon finally showed the fighting
spirit for which they are renowned.
Hartson made it two goals in two games, having previously ended his own
14-match blank last week following his £7.5million move from West Ham a few
months ago.
City's defence looked for handball as Hartson controlled a Jupp cross from the
left, but the Welsh international slotted untroubled past Hedman. It set in
motion a grandstand finish as Robbie Earle headed over from six yards, Jason
Euell saw a piledriver saved by Hedman and spurned another opportunity in the
dying seconds.
Skipper Gary McAllister was also guilty of wasting a gilt-edged chance as he
blazed over with the goal at his mercy, which ultimately didn't prove costly as
City hung on.
Teams:
Coventry: Hedman, Edworthy, Burrows (Hall 45), Shaw, Breen,
Telfer, Soltvedt, McAllister, Boateng, Huckerby, Whelan.
Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Clement, Aloisi, Quinn.
Booked: Whelan.
Goals: Huckerby 16, Whelan 29.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Blackwell, Thatcher, Jupp,
Kennedy, Euell, Earle, Hughes (Leaburn 54), Gayle, Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Heald, Kimble, Castledine, Francis.
Booked: Thatcher, Jupp.
Goals: Hartson 74.
Att: 21,200
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
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