Season 1998-99 - Aston Villa vs Coventry City
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Transcript
00:0027th of February 1999, and Villa Park was the setting for this Midlands clash between Aston Villa and Coventry City.
00:07Villa started the game in a very respectable 4th place, while Coventry were hovering just above the relegation zone.
00:13The Villans boasted a proud record against Coventry, they'd beaten them 7 times in a row in the league, and hadn't lost in the last 12 meetings.
00:21Dion Dublin started against the club that had sold him in November, he'd settled quickly, scoring 9 goals in 15 games.
00:29But Stan Collimore was out of favour, he'd only scored 7 goals since his £7m transfer from Liverpool.
00:36Villa named an unchanged side from the one that had drawn away at Wimbledon.
00:40Youngster Lee Hendry partnered Paul Merson in midfield, Julian Joachim started up front with Dublin.
00:46Darren Huckabee was Coventry's trump card, on his day the tricky winger was a handful for anybody more than able to create and score goals.
00:55The only change to the team that had lost to Manchester United at home was the inclusion of recent Australian signing John Aloisi.
01:01He replaced Noel Whelan up front.
01:04Villa manager John Gregory was competing his first year at the club, after guiding them to 7th place the previous season.
01:10Your Match Commentator is John Champion.
01:13Aston Villa against Coventry, a good Midlands scrap.
01:18Amazing that Coventry have never won a league game on this ground, they made their first visit way back in 1936.
01:26Aston Villa started so well under John Gregory, but this is their worst spell under his management.
01:31They've not won in their last four Premier League outings.
01:35Defeat at Newcastle, and at home to Blackburn and Leeds, and then a draw at Wimbledon.
01:43It's Merson, lofting it towards Hendry.
01:45Paul Williams with the header clear for Coventry.
01:48Who has so often, in the past, come to one of their closest geographical rivals, struggling.
01:55And that's a decent early effort.
01:57A shot across the bowels from Simon Grayson.
02:04Magnus Hedman has been a goalkeeper, who's felt like a target in a coconut shy this season.
02:12Southgate.
02:16Hedman will gather, but then, his momentum took him outside the area.
02:21Or did it?
02:23Ian Taylor was challenging.
02:27And in fact a free kick has been given against Taylor.
02:33Uriah Rennie from Sheffield is the man in charge.
02:40Huckabee.
02:43McAllister with a quick look up.
02:44And Aloisi was in there, lurking.
02:47It's Steve Watson who's guided it behind.
02:53Only his third start for the club today, the Australian Aloisi.
03:00Gary McAllister with this.
03:03Watson got a foot to it.
03:10David Burrows.
03:12And Southgate taking charge.
03:25Coventry have only won once in this calendar year so far.
03:30Defeated in the last two games. 4-1 at Newcastle.
03:34Manchester United visited Highfield Road last week and won 1-0.
03:42Hendry, just lost track of the ball.
03:54Shot from a prodigious distance.
03:58George Boetting.
04:03It's easy enough for Michael Oakes in the Villa goal.
04:13Merson.
04:23Villa playing the crisper football in the opening stages of this game.
04:42Dublin.
04:46Burrows.
04:49Help from Williams.
04:55Now Froggatt.
04:56McAllister.
04:58Releasing Huckabee, who's probably the quickest player on the pitch.
05:04Faced by Schimacher who made the block.
05:08Ian Taylor.
05:12Good size following from Coventry.
05:17It's only a journey of perhaps some 15 miles.
05:25Aloisi.
05:30Froggatt.
05:32That's a good turn. It's a lovely finish by John Aloisi.
05:42And the Sky Blues have the lead here at Villa Park.
05:46A ground where they have never triumphed in the league.
05:52And those worry lines are deepening on the forehead of John Gregory.
06:01The first touch made it possible.
06:04He wanted some space in which to get away the shot.
06:08Aston Villa.
06:10Who began the season so brightly.
06:13Don't seem to know where the next win is coming from.
06:23Roland Nilsen.
06:29Back in the good times for Villa.
06:32I.e. Autumn.
06:33They won 2-1 at Coventry.
06:35Another couple of goals from Ian Taylor.
06:43Coventry City.
06:46Third from bottom of the table but no team is more attuned to relegation struggles.
06:52They've been in so many over the years since they were promoted back in 1967 to the top division under the management of Jimmy Hill.
07:00It's their 32nd consecutive season.
07:03There have been so many last day escapes along the way.
07:14It's too long for Watson from Southgate.
07:24Burrows.
07:25Burrows.
07:44That goes Alan Wright.
07:55Hendrick.
07:58Now Joe Chimp.
08:04First attempt blocked.
08:07Now Taylor.
08:11Watson.
08:12Robert was in at him very quickly to make the challenge.
08:16And that's what Coventry are all about today.
08:19They're fighting for each other.
08:21They realise the seriousness of their predicament.
08:27McAllister.
08:28Good ball.
08:29Huckabee goes down.
08:32And appeals in vain.
08:36Ricky Schimacher was the Villa defender.
08:43No question that Huckabee was looking for it.
08:45But he was impeded.
08:51Huckabee.
08:56This rain now more than just steady.
08:58It's heavy.
09:01And increasingly it's becoming a factor.
09:09Froggatt.
09:12Huckabee is well found.
09:19McAllister.
09:21Huckabee.
09:25Boateng.
09:28Paul Telfer lets fly.
09:30Doesn't score very often these days, Telfer.
09:34Picture of industry, mind you.
09:35Ron Atkinson, the old Coventry manager, described him as the hardest working player he'd ever signed.
09:41When he bought him from Luton Town.
09:46Off goes Joe Chimp.
09:47And out comes Hedman.
09:49At speed.
09:55It's a precious lead that Coventry have.
10:03Hendry.
10:06Alan Wright.
10:10Back goes the experienced Swede, Nielsen.
10:15And he was fouled by Lee Hendry.
10:1921 year old trying to make his way in the Villa first team.
10:38Watson.
10:40Weston Villa were top of the table from mid-September through to Christmas.
10:45Fourth now.
10:47Seem to have a lead weight attached to their name.
10:51Really have dropped off the pace.
10:57Dublin.
10:59Has been fouled by Richard Short.
11:02Former Coventry man, of course, until recently.
11:06In fact, he scored four goals for Coventry at the start of this season.
11:13Hendry.
11:14That's way short of Alan Wright.
11:18Boateng.
11:23In the midst of a Midlands monsoon.
11:27And it's not just rain, it's sleety rain as well.
11:36Hendry.
11:38Turn straight into McAllister. Here's Draper.
11:41Steve Watson.
11:47In the conditions, probably worth a go.
11:58Won't be able to talk to them in person in just a moment.
12:11Coventry.
12:17Boateng.
12:20Coventry have the lead at Villa Park.
12:23It hasn't happened often, they've never won a league game here.
12:26But Alois' goal separates these two sides at the midway point.
12:34Coventry get the second half going.
12:36Defending the Holt end.
12:39And defending.
12:41The lead afforded them by John Aloisi.
12:43With his second goal for the club after 25 minutes.
12:49Coventry's away form has been miserable.
12:52Nearly as grim as the weather today.
12:55Here's Aloisi.
12:58Now Southgate for Villa.
13:03Williams to turn and play it back to Hedman.
13:06Joachim is following it in.
13:17Coventry did manage to win here in the FA Cup last season.
13:22Again 1-0 with a goal from the Romanian, Virel Moldovan.
13:28Some of these players know what it's like to win at Villa Park.
13:31And if the club has never managed it in league competition.
13:43Willem Nielsen just being forced to wait.
13:45Whilst the referee sorts out a problem involving Lee Hendry.
13:50And so slippery are the conditions that he's dropped his card.
13:54Headwear too for John Gregory.
14:00Hendry.
14:08Burrows.
14:14Aloisi.
14:18And now it's 1-0.
14:20Aloisi.
14:26Froggatt.
14:27Former Villa man.
14:30Just over Boateng.
14:33He's getting forward well from that midfield station of his.
14:40Huckabee.
14:42Using his pace.
14:46And Boateng!
14:50Right in front of the Coventry supporters.
14:54Who may be on the point of seeing a piece of history.
15:03George Boateng, the Dutchman.
15:05Signed from Feyenoord.
15:10Puts Villa in even deeper water.
15:14And there's plenty of that around today.
15:17Discovered by the club's European scout, Ray Clark.
15:29Hendry.
15:32Joachim.
15:36Villathrop.
15:39There's plenty of disquiet on the Holt end.
15:43Draper.
15:47Schimacher.
15:50Merson.
15:55Hendry.
15:57Joachim.
15:58Now, was he pushed by Shaw? He was.
16:01It's a penalty for Aston Villa.
16:05And now it's 1-0.
16:08And now it's 1-0.
16:11And now it's 1-0.
16:14And now it's 1-0.
16:17And now it's 1-0.
16:21The obligatory protest to the referee.
16:24It seemed as much of a slip as anything by Joachim.
16:32The choice of penalty taker is interesting.
16:36Dion Dublin is only playing at 70% fitness at the moment because of a hernia problem.
16:41Began the season as a teammate of many of those he's now trying to score against.
16:48This for a Villa lifeline.
16:51Oh, good penalty.
16:54Still rising as it arrowed into the roof of the Holt end net.
17:03And Dion Dublin who gave such good service to Coventry City helped to keep them in the Premier League for season after season.
17:12Has handed home to Villa and here comes some help as well.
17:17Dublin's penalty pulls him back to 2-1.
17:21And Stan Collymore is being sent on.
17:24Who is hardly John Gregory's favourite player at the moment because of the number of training sessions he's missed due to his stress counselling.
17:34John Gregory I think has been as sympathetic as he has felt able to be.
17:41And has found his patience tested by the man he refers to as Stanley Victor Collymore.
17:51Undoubtedly talented.
17:54Also without question rather temperamental.
17:57But he is a match winner on his day.
17:59And there is a match to be won.
18:02Over half an hour to be played at Villa Park.
18:05And a test of Coventry's resolve and strength of character now.
18:19Darling of the fans.
18:21And he's a difficult man to work with.
18:33McAllister.
18:35Shaw.
18:48Shaw.
18:55Now Boateng.
19:00Surrounded by three.
19:02Nielsen.
19:03Telfer.
19:06And Boateng pulled over by Alan Wright.
19:23McAllister is very much stracking his eyes and ears out there on the pitch.
19:29Two teammates in that wonderful Leeds midfield.
19:33And in the championship win of 1992.
19:41And a hit from distance.
19:44Swinging away off the left boot of Boateng.
19:49He scored one, he might have had three.
19:53Dublin.
19:54Merson.
19:56Hendry.
19:59Collymore.
20:00Here's Dublin!
20:07Well George Boateng, back defending his own goal.
20:10Did just enough.
20:15He's proving a key figure in the league.
20:19And he's got the ball.
20:22And he's got the ball.
20:24He's proving a key figure at both ends of the pitch, Boateng.
20:41It was out of play.
20:47Telfer.
20:49Gary McAllister.
20:53Free kick.
20:56As Telfer was held.
20:58By Simica.
21:02Comes from Coventry Territory, Leamington Spa.
21:05Ricky Simica.
21:16Froggatt.
21:18Aloisi!
21:20This, at long last, could be the day.
21:2663 years since their first league visit to Villa Park.
21:31Coventry City stand on the brink of their first league win here.
21:38Paul Merson.
21:42And here's Coventry City.
21:43Paul Merson.
21:47Lee Hendry.
21:50Went for the sand wedge pass.
21:52Here's Dublin.
21:59And the introduction of Collymore doesn't seem to have had much effect for Villa.
22:04Came on at 2-1 down, they now trail 3-1.
22:08And he's barely had a touch.
22:11And he's barely had a touch.
22:17Gordon Strachan was compelled to play John Aloisi today because of an injury to Noel Whelan.
22:24It's worked out a treat for him.
22:31Joe Chin, good tackle.
22:32By Nielsen, good save!
22:34Here's Collymore!
22:41First time he's had a real chance.
22:45Driven powerfully by Dublin.
22:48And a desperate scramble by Hedman to cover that post.
22:59Still no sign of an end to this run for Villa.
23:04If it stays like this it will be five consecutive Premier League games without the taste of victory.
23:10They've also gone out of the FA Cup to Fulham here in that time.
23:17Lionsmen flagging.
23:21Fowl against Huckerby.
23:30Victory here would be an enormous boost for Coventry.
23:34Only one away win all season.
23:36McAllister.
23:39And through the middle is Boateng!
23:43It's four!
23:45And it's very definitely game over now.
23:57Coventry City are on the point of winning here in the league for the first time in a while.
24:04On a day when they desperately need the points.
24:10And need has become a motivating force.
24:24Collymore.
24:26Merson.
24:28On the bounce through to Hedman.
24:30And Coventry City.
24:34Are delighted with the final whistle which is greeted by boos from the Holt End.
24:41Five without a win for Villa.
24:43Coventry's first league victory at Villa Park.
24:46Sixty-three years after their first ever visit.
24:51So Coventry finally rediscovered their winning touch against Villa annually.
24:56So Coventry finally rediscovered their winning touch against Villa and in some style.
25:01It was a victory they desperately needed and one which helped them to avoid the drop.
25:06They finished the season in 15th place, just six points clear of relegated Charlton Athletic.
25:13The defeat affected Aston Villa badly and they went on to lose their next three.
25:17Indeed they only managed three more wins all season but still ended up in sixth place.