Ryan Giggs marked his return to Manchester United's starting line-up with a
late winner to kill off gutsy Coventry's challenge at Highfield Road.
The Welshman, who suffered a hamstring injury against Derby on February 3,
struck 12 minutes from time to cap a spell of ever-increasing United pressure.
He had been off target with two earlier good opportunities but eventually
found his shooting boots to break Coventry's hearts and send them deeper into
relegation trouble.
Gigg's goal was his eighth of the season but his first in the Premiership
since Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
It enabled the Red Devils to retain their unbeaten record in 1999 and stretch
their sequence since they were last beaten to 12 matches.
But they were made to battle all the way by a Coventry side who could probably
count themselves unfortunate not to have collected a share of the spoils.
They had the man of the match in central defender Paul Williams while George
Boateng was also an inspirational figure in the middle of the park.
United never threatened to repeat their 6-2 and 8-1 demolition jobs of their
previous two visits to the Midlands against Leicester City and Nottingham
Forest.
They seldom played with their usual fluency and their best player was defender
Ronny Johnsen.
But in the cold light of the day the three points have enabled United to take
another significant step towards reclaiming the Premiership crown.
However, Coventry can take heart from the fact that they will surely move
clear of trouble if they can repeat their level of performance.
United began in confident fashion and Giggs squandered a good chance when he
fired over from 15 yards out after Andy Cole had turned the ball invitingly into
his path.
But they struggled to break down a determined Coventry rearguard and as the
half developed Strachan's side started to play with more purpose and looked
increasingly menacing.
With Boateng pulling the strings and Paul Telfer an increasing influence, they
enjoyed a purple patch - and could have twice taken the lead inside a 60-second
spell.
First United keeper Peter Schmeichel pulled off a flying save to tip a rising
20-yard thunderbolt from Boateng around the post after good play by Gary
McAllister and Telfer.
Then Telfer sent in a dipping cross from the right wing and Noel Whelan got in
front of Jaap Stam and hooked a first-time effort inches over the bar.
Schmeichel also beat out a fierce effort from McAllister after he had been
found in space by Boateng.
But United, apart from that Giggs effort, caused few problems in the opening
45 minutes with Williams showing up well against Yorke and Cole.
Paul Scholes, Stam and Cole were all yellow carded in the opening 45 minutes.
Ferguson brought on Henning Berg in place of Stam at half-time and United
tried to impose their authority on the game.
Cole had an effort disallowed for offside and Telfer got in a vital block on a
goal-bound shot from Beckham just inside the area.
Cole then burst down the right and squared the ball across the area for Giggs
but he wasted his second good chance of the afternoon when he sliced his shot
wide.
Williams continued to be a rock-like figure in the Sky Blues defence as United
started to enjoy the greater share of the possession - but Coventry were still
willing to attack at every opportunity. Denis Irwin deflected a shot from
Boateng for a corner but with 12 minutes left Giggs finally got his sights right
to put United ahead.
Beckham's cross skidded off the head of substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to
Giggs on the left and his low shot beat Hedman with Shaw's efforts to clear from
under his own bar in vain.
Coventry staged a late rally and Huckerby managed to scoop the ball over
Schmeichel but Berg was able to come around and clear the danger.
Teams
Coventry: Hedman, Nilsson, Burrows (Soltvedt 85), Williams, Shaw,
McAllister, Boateng, Telfer, Froggatt, Huckerby,Whelan (Aloisi 64).
Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Konjic, Quinn.
Booked: Burrows, Boateng.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Stam (Berg 45),
Giggs, Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Cole (Solskjaer 73),Yorke (P. Neville 85).
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Blomqvist.
Booked: Scholes, Stam, Cole.
Goals: Giggs 78.
Att: 22,596
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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