The old adage that says a team is never more vulnerable than when they have just scored was given additional weight last night when Coventry, through sheer hard graft and occasional inspiration, twice went ahead against Chelsea only to be brought back to parity within 60 seconds on each occasion.
When Robbie Keane guided a header in off the post with nine minutes remaining hardly anybody dared believe that Chelsea could repeat the trick that had seen Tore Andre Flo squash Cedric Roussel's earlier celebration. They did and he did, thanks to the guile of Gianfranco Zola.
It seemed only a matter of time before Keane would produce something dynamic. In the 11th minute Gary McAllister's quick thinking at a free-kick gave Keane a yard on Marcel Desailly, but unfortunately for the Irishman he lacked the extra inch which would have allowed him to bring the ball under control. Seconds later Keane again threatened as his markers once again allowed him to escape from view.
Then, when Roussel played in Keane down the right, Ed de Goey smothered at his feet. That came after Mustapha Hadji, again capitalising on a Roussel prompt, had dragged a drive across the goal-mouth.
As the first half ended Coventry were still creating moments of danger but now they were having to share them with Chelsea, belatedly discovering the means to bring Zola into the contest. Twice he provided headers for Tore Andre Flo which the tall Norwegian could not keep down.
Chelsea's best chance came as McAllister and Carlton Palmer allowed themselves to become distracted by Wise's niggly ways, ignoring their defensive duty as Zola prepared to take a corner. It resulted in a pair of shooting opportunities, both of which were blocked and then led to Emerson Thome taking aim. His low attempt flew wide of the left upright.
Wise, keeping pace with Flo's right-wing surge, put a volley on target which Magnus Hedman was grateful to clutch above his head. Keane and McAllister, both from further out, proved less accurate at the other end.
The first of two goals came after 54 minutes, the first when a bout of close passing set up Hadji for a shot which Roussel blocked and then reacted quickest to steer home. However, straight after Zola beat his man before cutting the ball back for Flo to steer in his first.
Coventry: Hedman, Telfer, Williams, Breen, Froggatt, Chippo, McAllister, Palmer, Hadji, Roussel (Whelan 87), Keane. Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Normann, Eustace, Gustafsson. Booked: Hadji. Goals: Roussel 54, Keane 81.
Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, Desailly, Thome, Babayaro, Poyet (Petrescu 74), Deschamps (Morris 78), Wise, Di Matteo (Sutton 85), Flo, Zola. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Lambourde. Booked: Di Matteo. Goals: Flo 55, 82.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
