August 24 2002

Crystal Palace

That man Lee Hughes yet again scored against Palace to give Coventry City this time, the three points as Palace left Highfield Road defeated 1-0.

Every time we played West Brom in the past he scored a hatful and he only took five minutes tonight to do the honours, winning and converting a penalty.

Hughes raced onto a long ball as Darren Powell lost him then bundled him down in the penalty area. Hughes made no mistake from the spot.

Six minutes after Hughes headed a chance straight to Matt Clarke. Then Youssef Safri skied over the bar and Julian Joachim had a shot saved by Clarke.

Palace thought they had got an equaliser but the referee disallowed Tony Popovic's goal for a handball which looked very dubious.

The referee was handing out yellow cards like confetti and this lead to Coventry's Moroccan midfielder Safri getting sent off for a second bookable offence following a foul on Danny Butterfield on 63.

Palace briefly made the extra man count and Danny Granville had an effort saved by goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard from a Butterfield corner.

Coventry manager Gary McAllister brought on defenders to tighten up at the back and Palace's weak attack looked less likely to score.

Jay Bothroyd had a chance to double Coventry's lead near the end of the match but his close range effort went over the bar.

Palace: Clarke, Powell, Popovic, Granville, Fleming (Thomson 81), Mullins, Derry (Johnson 67), Riihilahti (Black 77), Butterfield, Freedman, Adebola.

Subs not used: Kolinko, Austin.