Coventry hammered in four goals in 20 minutes past Bolton in a crushing 5-1
victory at the Reebok Stadium today.
Scott Sellars had given the home side a 22nd minute lead, but a strike from
Noel Whelan (26) and a brace each from Darren Huckerby (58 and 65) and Dion
Dublin (73 and 78) sealed the victory.
The Sky Blues who had entered the game having scored just four times in 11
Premier League away matches, completely overran the strugglers in a second half
display dominated by Huckerby.
The youngster, who has been tipped for England honours again, proved just why
Glenn Hoddle is taking the idea seriously. The former Newcastle player was
involved in virtually everything - his two goals and an assist for Dublin's
first of the afternoon.
But it had been Bolton who had given an early warning of their intention when
Nathan Blake whipped in a low third minute cross. But Coventry defender Gary
Breen cleared just as Bob Taylor closed in.
Then in the 22nd minute Bolton were rewarded for their territorial dominance
through Sellars. Blake stole between Breen and George Boateng before the ball
rolled clear to Per Frandsen.
The Dane's shot hit the upright but the rebound fell to the feet of Sellars
who hit home only his second of the season.
But the response was swift and just four minutes later Whelan smashed home the
equaliser from the edge of the area after Paul Telfer's inswinging corner was
only partially cleared by the Wanderers' defence.
Ten minutes later the home side were screaming for a penalty.
Andy Todd hit a strike against Breen but the defender raised his arms to
protect himself. The Bolton player chased match official Dermot Gallagher but
the man in black remained stoic in his denial of their spotkick claims.
And as if to prove the point Breen remained motionless on the ground before
treatment was administered.
Six minutes into the second period Blake again rushed free, but his eventual
strike was poor and Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman comfortably saved. But
Coventry were still in the game.
Prior to the half-time whistle Huckerby had shown his first signs of life when
he fooled Todd into falling over himself and taking a Richard Shaw pass on the
halfway line before running at goal.
He was then unfortunate to see his shot drift wide.
Then in the 58th minute Chris Fairclough, who was making his return to the
first team for the first time since December 28, failed to control a Dublin
flick-on from a Hedman goal-kick and Coventry golden boy Huckerby rushed through
to fire home his ninth of the season under Keith Branagan.
In the 65th minute the youngster struck again. Telfer's corner was met by the
head of Dublin and as the ball headed goalwards Huckerby turned in front of
keeper Branagan but only fired against the Bolton number one.
Fortunately the ball bowled straight back to his feet and he nudged home his
second and Coventry's third.
Eight minutes later the Sky Blues were again indebted to Huckerby when he
flicked on Telfer's corner at the near post. Coventry Sky Blues skipper Dublin
jumped to meet the ball and nodded home to make it 4-1.
Strachan brought off Huckerby in place of Viorel Moldovan in the 78th minute
to applause from both home and away supporters.
A minute later Whelan crossed straight to the feet of Bolton defender Jimmy
Phillips. But the veteran hit his clearance straight up in the air, leaving
Dublin clear to fire his second goal of the game under Branagan to end the game
5-1.
Teams:
Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Frandsen, Pollock (Beardsley 68), Sellars,
Blake, Todd, Phillips, Fairclough, Sheridan,
Taylor (Holdsworth 68).
Subs Not Used: Johansen, Fish, Ward.
Booked: Blake, Phillips.
Goals: Sellars 21.
Coventry: Hedman, Shaw (Hall 80), Burrows, Breen,
Huckerby (Moldovan 78), Whelan, Dublin, Telfer, Soltvedt,
Boateng (Strachan 84), Nilsson.
Subs Not Used: Howie, Boland.
Booked: Telfer.
Goals: Whelan 26, Huckerby 58, 65, Dublin 73, 79.
Att: 25,000
Ref: D J Gallagher (Banbury).
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