Coventry show true character

PERHAPS Stephen Lodge was hoping to get his retaliation in first. After all, the track-suited figure gesticulating wildly in his direction from the safety of the touchline was none other than a tried and convicted scourge of referees.

In a blur of bustling officialdom, Lodge strode towards Gordon Strachan and, no doubt recalling the Coventry manager's refusal to accept a reserve team dismissal earlier this season, instantly pointed his supposed aggressor back towards the dug-out. Strachan protested, a picture of bemusement: But I'm a substitute.

Strachan was not alone in being miscast. Blackburn had been billed as a team worthy of Wembley, despite an embarrassing early exit from the English League Cup at the hands of Stockport and a tight victory over more, lower league opposition in the FA variety.

Six weeks had passed between that 1-0 defeat of Port Vale and this delayed encounter: maybe longevity had been misinterpreted as progression. Tony Parkes wasn't taken in for an instant.

"People have been saying that we look like a Cup team this year, said Blackburn manager Tony Parkes afterwards. "I'd like to know what they meant by that. I can't understand it. Why don't we look like a side who can win Premier League games? I just can't work that out - it's totally unbelievable."

The manner of this defeat bore out his incredulity. Rovers played like potential victors for all of 50 seconds - long enough to take the lead after a sublime pass from the inspired Graeme Le Saux was met with an instant low left-footed Tim Sherwood shot. After that? Submission.

They struck woodwork twice in the second half and Chris Sutton botched a penalty, but those stark statistics belied a multitude of deficiencies. "If you defend like we did in the first hall, then you're going to get punished," admitted Parkes.

Take Coventry's reply. Jeff Kenna could hardly claim to be under serious pressure when his woeful attempt at a pass found a Sky Blue foot wide on the right. The cross came in, Eoin Jess chipped the ball out to Paul Telfer, whose stern volley struck his provider. Jess recovered, turned smartly and placed his shot between Colin Hendry and Tim Flowers.

Take Coventry's winner. Flowers who raced off his line to snuff out Darren Huckerby's gallop ups" field at its inception - prompted by Noel Whelan - was hands-down for pace and could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed unhindered to its destination.