Chelsea battle to stay on top

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan yesterday defended himself after being sent off following a touchline row at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

More than 20 substitutes, coaches and backroom staff became embroiled in an unseemly scuffle, minutes prior to Roberto Di Matteo driving home a winner for table-topping Chelsea.

Strachan had, perhaps unwittingly, sparked the incident by holding onto the ball after it went out of play as he attempted to summon treatment for injured midfielder George Boateng.

While Strachan, who was dismissed along with Chelsea kit man Aaron Lincoln, will call on video replays to defend himself, others may find themselves in the dock once the Football Association starts investigations.

Chelsea assistant physio Terry Byrne led the charge towards the Coventry dug-out, with substitute Mark Nicholls a step behind him, while Coventry coach Gary Pendrey and Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu also became involved.

Strachan insisted that he had removed himself from the scuffle immediately it began and defended his actions. "Obviously I get passionate during the 90 minutes but I watch other managers - Italian coaches, German coaches - and they're doing the same things.

"I would apologise if I was abusing people, swearing at them or spitting at them. But my players just need constantly reminding of what they're doing because we're not the perfect side."

Despite the row, Coventry had succeeded in penning Chelsea back in the first half, taking a ninth-minute lead through the exceptional Darren Huckerby. But Frank Leboeuf equalised deep into added time in the first-half and Di Matteo was on hand to drive home the late winner.

Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer (Goldbaek 85), Lambourde, Leboeuf, Le Saux, Petrescu, Wise, Di Matteo, Babayaro, Vialli, Zola. Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Nicholls, Terry, Morris. Goals: Leboeuf 45, Di Matteo 90.

Coventry City: Hedman, Nilsson, Shaw, Williams, Burrows, Telfer, McAllister (Aloisi 90), Soltvedt, Froggatt, Huckerby, Boateng. Subs Not Used: Breen, Jackson, Ogrizovic, Edworthy. Booked: Hedman, Burrows, Telfer, Boateng. Goals: Huckerby 9.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).