Coventry 3 Chelsea 2

Saturday August 9, 1997, FA Carling Premiership

City faced a tough challenge in their first meeting of the 97/98 season, up against Ruud Gullit's highly favoured Chelsea side in the midst of a summer heat wave.

From the outset, the Sky Blues were outclassed by Chelsea's quality. David Burrows and Paul Williams were met by a barrage of penetrating attacks during the first half, twice denying Romanian Dan Petrescu with last minute tackles.

Despite consistent pressure, City held on for 38 minutes before buckling. Chelsea's Frank Sinclair linked-up with Mark Hughes and Gianfranco Zola before firing a left-footed shot past Steve Ogrizovic to take the lead.

Frank Sinclair celebrates in less than traditional fashion

Chelsea's celebrations, which included a comical short-dropping by Sinclair (pictured above), were to be short lived as it took City just two minutes to get back on level terms. An unmarked Dion Dublin headed home a long throw from John Salako to see the Sky Blues go in at the break on an even keel.

Chelsea continued to dominate in the second half and it looked as though City were content to play for the point.

However, in the 71st minute, Norwegian substitute Tore Andre Flo was being hailed as Chelsea's match winning hero when he headed in a cross from Roberto Di Matteo only three minutes after replacing the tiring Hughes.

Coventry continued to fight and despite Chelsea's attacking prowess, their defensive weaknesses were becoming apparent.

Dion Dublin, making his 100th league appearance for the Sky Blues, began the fight-back just eight minutes from time, again using his head to guide in a Gary McAllister corner.

It looked as though City were sailing towards a draw and a creditable point, despite being out-played for long periods of the game, but then Dublin capitalised on a blunder by defender Frank Leboeuf.

The French fumbler headed a searching cross straight to the feet of Dublin, who completed his hat-trick with just two minutes left on the clock, sending Highfield Road into a frenzy.

It may have only been the first game of the season but City were happy to be sat in the top half of the table having narrowly avoided relegation the season before.

They ended the campaign in a respectable 11th position, aided by a 13-match unbeaten run.

Teams:

Coventry: Steve Ogrizovic, Richard Shaw, David Burrows, Paul Williams, Gary Breen (Willie Boland 80), Paul Telfer, Gary McAllister, Trond Egil Soltvedt, Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby (Kyle Lightbourne 71), John Salako.

Subs Not Used: Kevin Richardson, Marcus Hall, Magnus Hedman.

Booked: Williams, Burrows, Huckerby, Lightbourne.

Goals: Dublin 41, 82, 88.

Chelsea: Ed De Goey, Dan Petrescu, Graeme Le Saux, Frank Leboeuf, Steve Clarke, Gustavo Poyet, Frank Sinclair, Roberto Di Matteo (Jody Morris 80), Mark Hughes (Tore Andre Flo 68), Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Wise.

Subs Not Used: Gianluca Vialli, Danny Granville, Nick Colgan.

Booked: Wise, Lebeouf.

Goals: Flo 71, Sinclair 39.

Article continues
Advertisement