Rampant Sky Blues Shatter Diamonds With Goal Rush
By Kev Monks
Date: 3/10/2002
Coventry City 8 Rushden & Diamonds 0 "Can We Play You Every Week" sang some of the West Terrace as the Sky Blues progressed to the Third Round of the Worthington Cup with their biggest win since the FA Cup massacre of Macclesfield nearly four years ago
And it made Rushden's first ever visit to Highfield Road one they will want to forget.
Gary McAllister used the opportunity to field some of the younger players as he, like Chippo and Eustace failed to recover from injury and Dean Gordon was dropped for Barry Quinn against a Rushden side who included former City Reserve striker Paul Hall up front.
It took longer than to open the scoring that it did against Colchester in the previous round but when the opening goal came, it was again Gary McSheffrey, who found the net after nine minutes from six yards out, putting away a superb cross from David Pipe.
Jay Bothroyd - two goals in the second half
Robert Betts had a shot kicked off the line, after Diamonds keeper Billy Turley had been unable to gather McSheffrey's cross on the wet surface, before City went further ahead to a bizarre goal in the 23rd minute. Barry Hunter tried to pass the ball back to his keeper however Turley raced out and missed the ball. Lee Mills nipped in and walked the ball into an empty net.
Things got even worse for the visitors who were backed by a very healthy following of well over 1,000 noisy fans, when Barry Hunter decided to follow in the foot steps of his father Norman and hacked down Lee Mills on the half-hour mark. Hunter had already been cautioned for a foul and the second yellow produced by referee Graham Salisbury meant a red and an early bath for the Diamonds defender.
With only ten men, Rushden, who were playing the likes of Bedworth and VS Rugby only six years ago, looked very susceptible and panicked every time a City player had the ball.
In the 35th minute, Gary McSheffrey notched his second when his diving header from a Partridge cross flew past Turley in a manner reminiscent of a certain Keith Houchen goal in 1987.
Two minutes later, Mo Konjic went off on another of his famous runs through a team's defence and forced a corner which the visitors just managed to clear. The run must have worn out the Bosnian who looked like he had picked up a knock and he was replaced by Richard Shaw.
Rushden finally managed their first decent effort in the 41st minute when Paul Hall set up the impressive Gary Mills but Debec was equal to his shot.
On the stroke of half-time, City went four goals clear when a great pass from Youssef Safri found Lee Mills who advanced to slot the ball past Turley.
There was talk at half-time of whether City would take it easy in the second period like they had done against Colchester. However, our fears were soon allayed as Gary McSheffrey completed his hat-trick.
With Bothroyd on for Mills, Gary Caldwell found Safri who laid the ball off to Robert Betts. The former Doncaster midfielder could have shot but saw his team-mate and good friend in Gary McSheffrey unmarked and laid off the ball which McSheffrey tucked into the net from six yards. McSheffrey raced to celebrate with the City fans in the West Terrace and the look of sheer delight on his face was a joy to behold (just wish I had brought my camera).
Two minutes later, McAllister decided to introduce yet another youngster and 17-year-old Eddie Stanford came on for Safri.
Shortly after, the visiting keeper complained to the referee that he had been struck by objects thrown from City supporters which prompted a chorus of "Just Because You're Losing".
If anything was thrown, it must have upset Turley as three minutes later he was picking the ball out of the net for the sixth time when Stanford crossed for Bothroyd to loop a header over the flapping keeper and into the net.
Betts, Quinn, Bothroyd and Partridge all should have increased the tally and it was not until the 80th minute that City scored again. The hard working Richie Partridge sent over a cross and John Dempster for some reason decided that it was easier to handle the ball then use his chest to clear the ball. Mr Salisbury reached for his pocket and sent off Dempster who was also asked to leave the field in the Nene Park friendly between the two clubs in August.
The City fans were chanting for Richard Shaw to take the kick, but he declined and allowed Robert Betts to step up and score his first goal.
Brian Talbot's side were being well and truly slaughtered against a City team who should have been 20-0 up at this point and credit must be given to the vast majority of visiting fans who kept singing and stayed to witness Jay Bothroyd add an eighth goal when he scored from an acute angle with five minutes left.
Granted, we were only playing a Division Three side who ended up with nine men but nothing should be taken away from what was an excellent performance and the biggest victory of the round, eclipsing 7-0 wins by Palace and Sunderland and one that will be long remembered by those who were there.
Goals: McSheffrey (9, 1-0), Mills (23, 2-0), McSheffrey (35, 3-0), Mills (45, 4-0), McSheffrey (51, 5-0), Bothroyd (61, 6-0), Betts (pen, 80, 7-0), Bothroyd (85, 8-0).
City: Debec, Caldwell, Davenport, Konjic (Shaw, 38), Quinn, Partridge, Safri (Stanford, 52), Betts, Pipe, Mills (Bothroyd, 46), McSheffrey. Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, Ford
Referee: G Salisbury.
City bookings: None.
Attendance: 8,570.
Man Of The Match: Gary McSheffrey but every City player was excellent
Mare Of The Match:Take your pick out of the visitors' 14 players.
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