Wimbledon guaranteed their Premiership future for next season despite
stretching their remarkable goal drought to almost seven hours.
Only a maximum six points from Bolton's last two games and a miracle run of
results can deny the Dons top-flight safety for another year.
But this was a scoreline that was always on the cards, because although Joe
Kinnear's side have been unable to find the net, they have also been keeping
them out at the other end.
Their sixth clean sheet in seven League games - champions-elect Arsenal's 5-0
thrashing the only blot on their copybook - has also probably denied Coventry
their chance of a UEFA Cup spot for next term.
They could have moved to within two points of seventh-placed West Ham with a
victory, but their sixth draw in eight Premiership matches leaves them four
adrift with just two games to play.
Gordon Strachan's side rarely looked like ending a barren home spell against
Wimbledon which has now seen them fail to win in their last eight meetings at
Highfield Road.
Chances were as rare as an England fan trying to get a World Cup ticket during
a typical end-of-season struggle, which in years past would have been a bitter
relegation battle.
But Coventry have avoided their customary Houdini-style escape act on this
occasion, mainly due to a home record which has seen them lose just twice in all
competitions.
Wimbledon barely threatened that statistic and they have now failed to score
since the 38th minute of a 1-0 win at Southampton on April 11 - atotal of 6hrs
52mins.
They still possess the worst goalscoring record in the Premiership alongside
Crystal Palace, having bagged a miserly 31 this term.
Their best chance came in the seventh minute, when the Coventry back line
could only half-clear a corner to Michael Hughes.
His pass over the top sprung City's offside trap and gave leading scorer Jason
Euell the simplest of opportunities, but Sweden keeper Magnus Hedman, back in
the starting line-up for the first time in two months, spread himself superbly
to block the striker's shot.
Within three minutes Coventry conjured up their best moment of the game and
this time it was Wimbledon's failure to clear a Paul Telfer corner which set up
the opportunity.
Gary Breen flicked the ball on for England international Dion Dublin tofire in
a spectacular overhead kick which only just cleared the bar - and that was as
good as it got in a dire advert for top-flight football.
Kinnear's side, who have been plagued by horrendous injury problems throughout
the season, then suffered another blow in the 16th minute with Dublin again
involved.
City's leading scorer jumped for a high, hanging ball with Dean Blackwell and
the Dons defender came off worst after a clash of heads. He was eventually led
off with double vision and replaced by Brian McAllister.
Wimbledon then continued to look the more dangerous side, peppering the City
goal with long-range shots, despite a couple of mazy Noel Whelan runs which were
only thwarted by desperate, last-ditch defending.
The only other gilt-edged chance of the match arrived in the 40th minute, when
a long throw gave Breen a shooting opportunity which keeper Neil Sullivan just
managed to palm away.
Darren Huckerby - hat-trick hero against Leeds in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road
on Saturday, but kept quiet in the first half - finally used his explosive pace
to good effect in the 47th minute.
A lucky ricochet afforded him a run on goal as his speed took him away from
three Dons players, but last-man Kimble produced a vital saving tackle just
outside the area.
A couple of bookings, for Kimble and Andy Roberts, were the only noteworthy
moments after that in an even worse second period, but one in which Wimbledon
confirmed their 13th season in the top flight.
Teams
Coventry: Hedman, Shaw, Burrows, Breen, Huckerby, Whelan, Dublin,
Telfer, Soltvedt (Moldovan 78), Boland, Nilsson.
Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Williams, Hall, Strachan.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Kimble, Blackwell (McAllister 15), Thatcher,
Roberts, Perry, Hughes, Ardley, Euell (Ekoku 76), Leaburn,
Kennedy (Fear 81).
Subs Not Used: Heald, Gayle.
Booked: Roberts, Kimble.
Att: 17,968
Ref: J T Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
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