Source: Telegraph
Coventry live up to Chris Coleman's promise
People probably thought Chris Coleman was dreaming when he insisted that not only would Coventry beat Blackburn, but that they had the ability to advance beyond Chelsea into the semi-finals of the FA Cup. [LNB]It's time for him to put his money where his mouth is. For the first time since 1998, Coventry are in the quarter-finals, and Guus Hiddink's men are waiting. [LNB] Related ArticlesFulham 2 Swansea City 1[LNB]Zola: FA Cup still matters[LNB]Scott Dann dares to dream of play-offs after Coventry beat Birmingham[LNB]Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink sees value in FA Cup success[LNB]Birmingham miss chance to return to top[LNB]Crystal Palace pile on pressure as Paul Sturrock stumbles[LNB]Coleman's side deservedly dispatched Blackburn from the Cup for the second year running last night, taking advantage when the Premier League side slackened in the second half. Leon Best, resembling something out of The Phantom of the Opera in a white mask protecting a fractured cheekbone, tormented Blackburn by heading home in the 59th minute. [LNB]Last week Sam Allardyce could be heard praising the Cup, suggesting it ranked even over qualification for the Champions League. But not relegation, it seems. Any emotion the Blackburn manager harbours for the Cup was replaced by pragmatism. With more than half an eye on their trip to the KC Stadium at the weekend, Allardyce made 11 changes to the team that started against Manchester United on Saturday. [LNB]Sensing ambivalence, Coventry - as full-strength as suspension, injury and competition clearance would allow - started full of grit, shaking off any concerns a goal-bound effort from Carlos Villanueva in the first minute might have aroused.[LNB]Aron Gunnarsson's long, looping throws had potential but it was a corner swung in by Danny Fox after 20 minutes which exposed weakness in Blackburn's defence. Elliot Ward had the height, but he headed wide.[LNB]Blackburn, meanwhile, vacillated. One minute they were charging forward, the next their goalkeeper was being booked for time-wasting - irritating, as only 11 minutes had elapsed since the restart. [LNB]It was therefore with some sense of validation that Coventry seized the lead three minutes later. Caught dithering, Blackburn's defence scrambled to intercept a delightful cross into the box from Gunnarsson, but Best rose highest and finished from six yards. [LNB]Roque Santa Cruz and Stephen Warnock were introduced as Allardyce seemed to finally remember he wanted to win this match. But it was too little, too late. 'I'm always down when I lose a football match,' Allardyce said. 'I'm always down when another dream drifts by.' [LNB]It so nearly didn't. Chris Samba, who scored Blackburn's equaliser in the original match in the 91st minute, came within a yard of ruining it once again, but his injury-time header went just wide. No wonder Coleman was wired. 'That is probably the best game and the best night since I have been at Coventry,' he buzzed. 'That is the tops.'[LNB]Match details[LNB]Coventry City (4-4-2): Westwood; Wright, Ward, Turner, Fox; Henderson, Gunnarsson, Doyle, Eastwood (Simpson 87); Best, Morrison.Subs: Marshall, Hall, Beuzelin, Osbourne, Thornton, Cain.Booked: Gunnarsson, Ward, Westwood.Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Brown; Simpson, Samba, Khizanishvili (Givet 81), Olsson; Villanueva (Warnock, 68), Mokoena, Tugay, Treacy (Santa Cruz, 68); McCarthy, Roberts.Subs: Robinson, Nelsen, Pedersen, Doran.Booked: Brown.Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire). [LNB]
