After
two consecutive three goal defeats, Coventry manager Gordon Strachan
dragged his players into a crisis meeting, telling them to fight for
their pride to the end of the season. One note of consolation after
a poor run is that Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is finally
back to the fitness and form that made him a Highfield Road hero earlier
in the season after a series of niggling injuries. Keane was set free
after a neat one-two with Noel Whelan and, although his shot was saved
by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, the ball rebounded off the
unfortunate chest of Paul Ince and - almost apologetically - flew into
the back of the net. The young star finally got on the scoresheet, his
first goal since February, on the hour. The transfer-listed Noel Whelan's
cleverly weighted pass saw Keane streaking through the middle while
Boro defenders stopped with their arms in the air a la Full Monty. The
Irishman slotted the ball coolly to Schwarzer’s right.
Coventry
City’s left back David Burrows, one of the most experienced players
around the Premiership scene, believes striker Robbie Keane is the best
player for his age he has ever seen. Keane has taken the Premiership
by storm since Coventry paid out £6 million to buy the young Irishman
from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August. "A wonderful investment
by the club," declares Burrows. "Robbie is without doubt the
best player of his age I have ever seen. I was at Liverpool with Robbie
Fowler and good though he was, he was not in Keane’s class. He
is already worth £2 to £3 million more in the transfer market,
and if he keeps improving at the present rate he will prove to be a
magnificent investment by this club." Keane was also watched by
former Coventry City and Wales manager Bobby Gould at Highfield Road
last weekend when the club beat Watford and he declared later than he
thought Keane was better than Michael Owen. He scored eleven goals in
each of his two seasons at Wolves, but already he has scored six goals
in just ten Premiership matches for Coventry, as well as hitting the
net for the Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2000 qualifiers.
Coventry
made their first visit to the Stadium of Light and will be happy with
the result in one of the most intimidating atmospheres in Premier League
football. A bright start by Coventry signalled the way much of the first
half would go, as the Midlanders stroked the ball around with a confidence
that belied their very average start to the season. Coventry continued
their pressure and four times in the opening twenty minutes nearly picked
their way through a Sunderland defence which was surprisingly reluctant
to close down the Coventry midfield. This allowed Chippo and McAllister
especially to dictate the play as they searched for a way to release
Robbie Keane. The opening goal soon came as Robbie Keane rounded the
keeper and scored from an acute angle to register his 5th goal of the
season and 3rd for the Sky Blues. Sunderland came out in the second
half looking much sharper, then in the 51st minute Steve Bould should
have hit the target with a practically free header from 9 yards out.
There was no breakthrough for Sunderland however and Coventry began
to take the pace out of the game. This seemed to be working until in
the 73rd minute out of nowhere Kevin Phillips volleyed home from 8 yards
out to give him his 5th goal of the season, as Coventry failed to clear
a cross and Phillips was left unmarked.
Coventry
City gave Watford a lesson in finishing that they would do well to heed,
as the Sky Blues coasted to a 4-0 victory courtesy of strikes from Robbie
Keane, Stephen Froggatt, Mustapha Hadji and a Gary McAllister penalty.
Coventry broke the deadlock after 17 minutes. A corner from Mustapha
Hadji was only half cleared and Froggatt headed on to Keane. The six
million pound man volleyed it brilliantly first time past the despairing
dive of Alec Chamberlain from 12 yards out. But in the 34th minute it
was Keane's turn to set Froggatt up. He laid on a simple ball for the
former Aston Villa player but he still had a lot to do He burst into
the box, evading challenges before clipping a right foot shot over Alec
Chamberlain.Coventry put any points out of reach of the visitors two
minutes into the second-half with Mustapha Hadli's fine strike. Froggatt
was again the creator with a cross into the box which was controlled
by the Moroccan who struck it like lightening to hammer a rising shot
past Chamberlain from a narrow angle. Coventry were now completely dominant,
so it was hardly an eye-opener when Sky Blues skipper Gary McAllister
added to Watford's misery from the penalty spot. A long clearance from
Telfer was handled by Steve Palmer inside the area when under pressure
from Keane, to leave the referee no option but to point to the penalty
spot. Up stepped McAllister and he calmly sent Chamberlain the wrong
way to put the Sky blues 4-0 in front.
Coventry
striker Robbie Keane is hoping that lightening will strike twice next
Saturday as the Sky Blues travel to Norwich in the FA Cup. It was at
Carrow Road that Keane made his debut for Wolves two years ago. It was
a debut to remember as he scored twice in a fine away win. He said:
"I was 17 years old and making my debut so to score twice was an
absolute dream and I do remember the goals very well."He added:
"It would be great if I could do that again but the main thing
is that Coventry go to Norwich, win the match and progress in the competition."
Coventry
City manager Gordon Strachan has heaped praise on striker Robbie Keane
after the £6 million man tormented lowly Watford. The 19-year-old’s
17th minute strike was his sixth for the club in ten Premiership games,
but it was his all round game that has most impressed the City boss.
Strachan described Keane’s precocious talent as "among the
best in Europe" and is convinced that the player would be a hit
in any team in the world. "I've wanted Robbie since I first watched
him as a kid. I watched his progress with envy. I wanted someone with
his ability, but didn't realise we had the money. "However, Keane
is keeping his feet firmly on the ground and admits he is just grateful
to Coventry for giving his a Premiership stage to showcase his talents.
He said: "It is flattering to have Gordon say that but I am just
happy to be in the Premiership. I have always believed in my own ability.
I know that people said could I do it at a higher level but by the time
I came here I had played for the Republic nine times against the likes
of Argentina and I had done the business. I am always striving to be
a better player and I believe that Gordon Strachan can help me achieve
that aim." Gordon Strachan told the gathered media, and anyone
else who cared to listen. "Robbie Keane is definitely one of the
greatest talents in British football. He is better than I realised when
I bought him and he can go right to the top. Every manager we play against
says he would love to have him in his side. He is doing things not many
British players are capable of doing. It might sound crazy to outsiders,
but I say people should watch Coventry just to see Robbie play."
After
two consecutive three goal defeats, Coventry manager Gordon Strachan
dragged his players into a crisis meeting, telling them to fight for
their pride to the end of the season. One note of consolation after
a poor run is that Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is finally
back to the fitness and form that made him a Highfield Road hero earlier
in the season after a series of niggling injuries. Keane was set free
after a neat one-two with Noel Whelan and, although his shot was saved
by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, the ball rebounded off the
unfortunate chest of Paul Ince and - almost apologetically - flew into
the back of the net. The young star finally got on the scoresheet, his
first goal since February, on the hour. The transfer-listed Noel Whelan's
cleverly weighted pass saw Keane streaking through the middle while
Boro defenders stopped with their arms in the air a la Full Monty. The
Irishman slotted the ball coolly to Schwarzer’s right.
Coventry
City’s left back David Burrows, one of the most experienced players
around the Premiership scene, believes striker Robbie Keane is the best
player for his age he has ever seen. Keane has taken the Premiership
by storm since Coventry paid out £6 million to buy the young Irishman
from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August. "A wonderful investment
by the club," declares Burrows. "Robbie is without doubt the
best player of his age I have ever seen. I was at Liverpool with Robbie
Fowler and good though he was, he was not in Keane’s class. He
is already worth £2 to £3 million more in the transfer market,
and if he keeps improving at the present rate he will prove to be a
magnificent investment by this club." Keane was also watched by
former Coventry City and Wales manager Bobby Gould at Highfield Road
last weekend when the club beat Watford and he declared later than he
thought Keane was better than Michael Owen. He scored eleven goals in
each of his two seasons at Wolves, but already he has scored six goals
in just ten Premiership matches for Coventry, as well as hitting the
net for the Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2000 qualifiers.
Coventry
made their first visit to the Stadium of Light and will be happy with
the result in one of the most intimidating atmospheres in Premier League
football. A bright start by Coventry signalled the way much of the first
half would go, as the Midlanders stroked the ball around with a confidence
that belied their very average start to the season. Coventry continued
their pressure and four times in the opening twenty minutes nearly picked
their way through a Sunderland defence which was surprisingly reluctant
to close down the Coventry midfield. This allowed Chippo and McAllister
especially to dictate the play as they searched for a way to release
Robbie Keane. The opening goal soon came as Robbie Keane rounded the
keeper and scored from an acute angle to register his 5th goal of the
season and 3rd for the Sky Blues. Sunderland came out in the second
half looking much sharper, then in the 51st minute Steve Bould should
have hit the target with a practically free header from 9 yards out.
There was no breakthrough for Sunderland however and Coventry began
to take the pace out of the game. This seemed to be working until in
the 73rd minute out of nowhere Kevin Phillips volleyed home from 8 yards
out to give him his 5th goal of the season, as Coventry failed to clear
a cross and Phillips was left unmarked. 
Coventry
City gave Watford a lesson in finishing that they would do well to heed,
as the Sky Blues coasted to a 4-0 victory courtesy of strikes from Robbie
Keane, Stephen Froggatt, Mustapha Hadji and a Gary McAllister penalty.
Coventry broke the deadlock after 17 minutes. A corner from Mustapha
Hadji was only half cleared and Froggatt headed on to Keane. The six
million pound man volleyed it brilliantly first time past the despairing
dive of Alec Chamberlain from 12 yards out. But in the 34th minute it
was Keane's turn to set Froggatt up. He laid on a simple ball for the
former Aston Villa player but he still had a lot to do He burst into
the box, evading challenges before clipping a right foot shot over Alec
Chamberlain.Coventry put any points out of reach of the visitors two
minutes into the second-half with Mustapha Hadli's fine strike. Froggatt
was again the creator with a cross into the box which was controlled
by the Moroccan who struck it like lightening to hammer a rising shot
past Chamberlain from a narrow angle. Coventry were now completely dominant,
so it was hardly an eye-opener when Sky Blues skipper Gary McAllister
added to Watford's misery from the penalty spot. A long clearance from
Telfer was handled by Steve Palmer inside the area when under pressure
from Keane, to leave the referee no option but to point to the penalty
spot. Up stepped McAllister and he calmly sent Chamberlain the wrong
way to put the Sky blues 4-0 in front.
Coventry
striker Robbie Keane is hoping that lightening will strike twice next
Saturday as the Sky Blues travel to Norwich in the FA Cup. It was at
Carrow Road that Keane made his debut for Wolves two years ago. It was
a debut to remember as he scored twice in a fine away win. He said:
"I was 17 years old and making my debut so to score twice was an
absolute dream and I do remember the goals very well."He added:
"It would be great if I could do that again but the main thing
is that Coventry go to Norwich, win the match and progress in the competition."
Coventry
City manager Gordon Strachan has heaped praise on striker Robbie Keane
after the £6 million man tormented lowly Watford. The 19-year-old’s
17th minute strike was his sixth for the club in ten Premiership games,
but it was his all round game that has most impressed the City boss.
Strachan described Keane’s precocious talent as "among the
best in Europe" and is convinced that the player would be a hit
in any team in the world. "I've wanted Robbie since I first watched
him as a kid. I watched his progress with envy. I wanted someone with
his ability, but didn't realise we had the money. "However, Keane
is keeping his feet firmly on the ground and admits he is just grateful
to Coventry for giving his a Premiership stage to showcase his talents.
He said: "It is flattering to have Gordon say that but I am just
happy to be in the Premiership. I have always believed in my own ability.
I know that people said could I do it at a higher level but by the time
I came here I had played for the Republic nine times against the likes
of Argentina and I had done the business. I am always striving to be
a better player and I believe that Gordon Strachan can help me achieve
that aim." Gordon Strachan told the gathered media, and anyone
else who cared to listen. "Robbie Keane is definitely one of the
greatest talents in British football. He is better than I realised when
I bought him and he can go right to the top. Every manager we play against
says he would love to have him in his side. He is doing things not many
British players are capable of doing. It might sound crazy to outsiders,
but I say people should watch Coventry just to see Robbie play."