Blackburn 1 Coventry 4 - FA Cup 3rd Rnd - 05/01/2008
Blackburn 1 Coventry 4 FA Cup 3rd Rnd - 05/01/2008
Blackburn: Brad Friedel, Brett Emerton (Morton Gamst Pedersen, 60), Zurab Khizanishvili, Christopher Samba, Bruno Berner, David Bentley, Kerimoglu Tugay, Aaron Mokoena, Keith Treacy (Matt Derbyshire, 69), Maceo Rigters (Gunnar Nielsen, 60), Benni McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Jason Brown (GK), Stephen Warnock.
Booked: Zurab Khizanishvili
Goals: David Bentley (85)
Coventry City: Dimi Konstantopoulos, IsaacOsbourne, Elliot Ward, Ben Turner, Gary Borrowdale, Jay Tabb, Michael Doyle (c), Michael Hughes, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best, Dele Adebola.
Subs Not Used: Arjan de Zeeuw, Kevin Kyle, Robbie Simpson, Julian Gray, Kevin Thornton.
Booked: Michael Doyle
Goals: Michael Mifsud (34, 90), Elliot Ward (64 pen), Dele Adebola (83)
Attendance: 14,421
Referee: L Probert
Teamtalk
Michael Mifsud scored twice as giantkillers Coventry marched into the FA Cup fourth round with a shock 4-1 win at below-par Blackburn.
The Malta international, nicknamed the Mosquito due to his 5ft 5in frame and deadly finishing, opened the scoring and added a late fourth to take his season's tally to 15.
His goals sandwiched second-half strikes from Elliott Ward and Dele Adebola and sent 3,000 visiting supporters into raptures.
Iain Dowie's men are currently languishing in 17th in the Championship, but they left their Premier League hosts utterly humiliated and can add this scalp to their Carling Cup win at Manchester United earlier in the season.
Mifsud's brace against the Red Devils clinched the famous 2-0 win at Old Trafford and he enhanced his reputation further with a 34th-minute opener at Ewood Park.
Defender Ward's expertly-taken penalty put Dowie's men 2-0 ahead before Adebola made sure with a clinical third to ensure David Bentley's late effort meant little to stunned Rovers boss Mark Hughes.
It was fitting that Mifsud had the final say with a superb fourth and while hundreds of Blackburn followers marched out of Ewood Park in disgust, Coventry fans toasted another memorable success.
Little more than a fortnight ago the Sky Blues - FA Cup winners in 1987 - were faced with the grim prospect of entering administration and being docked 10 points.
Ray Ranson's group Sisu Capital bought the club to avert that fate and Dowie's men again showed their potential on the pitch.
Rovers boss Hughes, who tasted FA Cup glory four times as a player, was without Roque Santa Cruz through injury.
But he will surely rue his decision to start with established regulars Stephen Warnock, Ryan Nelsen and Morten Gamst Pedersen on the substitutes' bench.
Holland under-21 striker Maceo Rigters, homegrown midfielder Keith Treacy and defensive pair Bruno Berner and Zurab Khizanishvili all came into the side and Blackburn dominated early on.
In the eighth minute Treacy used his electrifying pace to reach the left-hand byline and whip in a vicious cross which drew a fine block from Isaac Osbourne at the near post.
Buoyed by their early escape, Coventry engineered an even better chance in the 18th minute.
Some neat interplay in midfield led to Leon Best producing a delightful backheel which allowed Mifsud to scamper clear behind Blackburn left-back Berner.
Mifsud advanced forward at blistering pace and thrashed a shot goalwards which Brad Friedel tipped around the post for a corner.
Benni McCarthy spurned an an excellent opportunity to open the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark, firing straight into Dimi Konstantopoulos' midriff after beating the offside trap and racing clean through.
Coventry grew in confidence and with Adebola a menacing presence alongside Best, the visiting supporters sensed a famous upset.
The Sky Blues' most potent weapon is undoubtedly Mifsud - and he proved as much with the opening goal 11 minutes before the break.
Mifsud, who joined Coventry from Norwegian outfit Lillestrom 12 months ago, seized on Chris Samba's weak defensive header and hooked a volley from 12 yards which deflected off Berner and looped over Friedel and into the far corner.
Blackburn improved after the break and threatened to draw level in the 50th minute when Bentley swung in a corner from the left which Samba nodded onto the crossbar.
The ineffective Rigters then volleyed over when well placed from another dangerous Bentley cross but soon after it was 2-0 to Coventry.
Jay Tabb hit a brilliant shot from 20 yards which smacked the crossbar and bounced up for Best, who was shoved in the back by Khizanishvili as he tried to head the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
It was a blatant penalty which Ward ruthlessly dispatched to put the Sky Blues in total control.
Adebola was allowed to race clear to fire home left-footed for a third and, although Bentley's low strike raised a brief cheer among the home fans, Mifsud's delightful strike in stoppage-time almost burst the net and ensured Coventry had the final say.
CCFC
Coventry City pulled off another major cup shock by dumping Premier League Blackburn out of the FA Cup at the third round stage in impressive style at Ewood Park.
The Sky Blues were ahead in the 34th minute when Michael Mifsud's looping volley found the net.
Elliott Ward doubled their lead from the penalty spot just after the hour and then a superb individual goal from in-form striker Dele Adebola added a third.
England international David Bentley pulled a goal back for the home side, but Mifsud made a magnificent result sure in stoppage-time when he fired past Brad Friedel.
Mark Hughes' men become City's second top-flight scalp this season after a victory over Manchester United in the Carling Cup back in October.
Ben Turner slides in on Benni McCarthy
Goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos, one of three changes to the side beaten 2-1 against Bristol City on New Year's Day, was called into action for the first time in the thirteenth minute when he spilled David Bentley's free-kick before Ward hacked the ball away from danger.
Mifsud went close for the visitors shortly after when he latched onto a clever back-heel from Leon Best and hit a powerful shot from a tight angle which Blackburn keeper Friedel did well to block.
Defender Ward, making his 100th career appearance, then saw a goal-bound shot blocked after sneaking away from his marker to connect with an Isaac Osbourne free-kick from the left.
But Blackburn squandered a great chance to take the lead on the half-hour when Benni McCarthy found himself in behind the defence but fired straight at Konstantopoulos from eight yards.
And it was opportunity the home side were left to rue in the 34th minute as Mifsud's volley took a deflection and looped over a stranded Friedel into the far corner.
Michael Mifsud's shot beats finds the net
Rovers' response saw McCarthy blast over from the edge of the area while young debutant Keith Treacy fired wide at the end of the first-half.
A header from Zurab Khizanishvili bounced back off the top of the crossbar before a shot from midfielder Aaron Mokoena was touched onto the post by Konstantopoulos as the home side started the second-half strongly.
But after surviving that pressure, the Sky Blues went agonisingly close to increasing their advantage eleven minutes into the second-half when Adebola headed Michael Doyle's corner over from close-range with only Friedel beaten.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes introduced Norwegian international playmaker Morten Gamst Pedersen and moved towering centre-back Samba upfront on the hour in hope of reigniting the Rovers attack.
However, it was City who continued to cause trouble at the other end and after a superb 20-yard drive from Tabb cannoned back off the crossbar, Best was pushed as he followed up the rebound.
Referee Lee Probert swiftly pointed to the penalty spot and Ward made no mistake, rifling his spot-kick high into the top corner beyond Friedel's reach.
The home side were still reeling from that when Adebola's centre was grabbed by Friedel and then Mifsud's sent the ball flashing across the face of goal.
Mifsud should have put the result beyond doubt in the 77th minute, heading a cross from Osbourne wide after finding himself unmarked in the area.
But the hardworking Best missed an even easier chance to score soon after when he latched onto a loose back-pass and rounded Friedel, only to shoot into the side-netting with the goal gaping.
City continued to dominate, though, and they finally got their reward with seven minutes left when Adebola picked up the ball on the left, rode three challenges and clinically fired the ball into the bottom corner for his third goal in as many games.
However, any hopes of a clean-sheet were dashed two minutes later as Mokoena laid the ball on for Bentley to crack a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
But there was still time for Mifsud to cap a fine team performance with a fourth goal in stoppage-time when he raced onto Tabb's through-ball and beat Friedel at his near post.
Telegraph
Michael Mifsud scored twice as Coventry marched into the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of below-par Blackburn.
Malta international Mifsud opened the scoring with a hooked volley from 12 yards before Elliot Ward expertly slotted home from the penalty spot.
Dele Adebola made the game safe with a clinical third to ensure David Bentley's low strike was only a consolation to a weakened Rovers side.
And Mifsud's rasping drive in stoppage-time completed the rout.
Iain Dowie's side are currently languishing in 17th in the Championship, but they left their Premier League hosts humiliated and can add this scalp to their Carling Cup win at Manchester United earlier in the season.
Mark Hughes started with established regulars Stephen Warnock, Ryan Nelsen and Morten Gamst Pedersen on the substitutes' bench.
But Holland under-21 striker Maceo Rigters, homegrown midfielder Keith Treacy and defensive pair Bruno Berner and Zurab Khizanishvili failed to cope with the rampant visitors.
Benni McCarthy spurned an excellent opportunity to open the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark, firing straight into Dimi Konstantopoulos's midriff after beating the offside trap and racing clean through.
But from then on, Rovers were pegged back and crumbled under pressure.
Mifsud, who joined Coventry from Norwegian outfit Lillestrom 12 months ago, seized on Chris Samba's weak defensive header and hooked a volley from 12 yards which deflected off Berner and looped over Brad Friedel into the far corner.
Jay Tabb's fine shot from 20 yards smacked the crossbar and bounced up for Leon Best, who was shoved in the back by Khizanishvili as he tried to head the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
Ward ruthlessly dispatched the spot kick to put the Sky Blues in total control at 2-0.
Adebola was then allowed to race clear to fire home left-footed for a third.
And although Bentley's low strike raised a brief cheer among the home fans, Mifsud's delightful strike in stoppage-time almost burst the net and ensured Coventry had the final say.
Blackburn: Brad Friedel, Brett Emerton (Morton Gamst Pedersen, 60), Zurab Khizanishvili, Christopher Samba, Bruno Berner, David Bentley, Kerimoglu Tugay, Aaron Mokoena, Keith Treacy (Matt Derbyshire, 69), Maceo Rigters (Gunnar Nielsen, 60), Benni McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Jason Brown (GK), Stephen Warnock.
Booked: Zurab Khizanishvili
Goals: David Bentley (85)
Coventry City: Dimi Konstantopoulos, IsaacOsbourne, Elliot Ward, Ben Turner, Gary Borrowdale, Jay Tabb, Michael Doyle (c), Michael Hughes, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best, Dele Adebola.
Subs Not Used: Arjan de Zeeuw, Kevin Kyle, Robbie Simpson, Julian Gray, Kevin Thornton.
Booked: Michael Doyle
Goals: Michael Mifsud (34, 90), Elliot Ward (64 pen), Dele Adebola (83)
Attendance: 14,421
Referee: L Probert
Teamtalk
Michael Mifsud scored twice as giantkillers Coventry marched into the FA Cup fourth round with a shock 4-1 win at below-par Blackburn.
The Malta international, nicknamed the Mosquito due to his 5ft 5in frame and deadly finishing, opened the scoring and added a late fourth to take his season's tally to 15.
His goals sandwiched second-half strikes from Elliott Ward and Dele Adebola and sent 3,000 visiting supporters into raptures.
Iain Dowie's men are currently languishing in 17th in the Championship, but they left their Premier League hosts utterly humiliated and can add this scalp to their Carling Cup win at Manchester United earlier in the season.
Mifsud's brace against the Red Devils clinched the famous 2-0 win at Old Trafford and he enhanced his reputation further with a 34th-minute opener at Ewood Park.
Defender Ward's expertly-taken penalty put Dowie's men 2-0 ahead before Adebola made sure with a clinical third to ensure David Bentley's late effort meant little to stunned Rovers boss Mark Hughes.
It was fitting that Mifsud had the final say with a superb fourth and while hundreds of Blackburn followers marched out of Ewood Park in disgust, Coventry fans toasted another memorable success.
Little more than a fortnight ago the Sky Blues - FA Cup winners in 1987 - were faced with the grim prospect of entering administration and being docked 10 points.
Ray Ranson's group Sisu Capital bought the club to avert that fate and Dowie's men again showed their potential on the pitch.
Rovers boss Hughes, who tasted FA Cup glory four times as a player, was without Roque Santa Cruz through injury.
But he will surely rue his decision to start with established regulars Stephen Warnock, Ryan Nelsen and Morten Gamst Pedersen on the substitutes' bench.
Holland under-21 striker Maceo Rigters, homegrown midfielder Keith Treacy and defensive pair Bruno Berner and Zurab Khizanishvili all came into the side and Blackburn dominated early on.
In the eighth minute Treacy used his electrifying pace to reach the left-hand byline and whip in a vicious cross which drew a fine block from Isaac Osbourne at the near post.
Buoyed by their early escape, Coventry engineered an even better chance in the 18th minute.
Some neat interplay in midfield led to Leon Best producing a delightful backheel which allowed Mifsud to scamper clear behind Blackburn left-back Berner.
Mifsud advanced forward at blistering pace and thrashed a shot goalwards which Brad Friedel tipped around the post for a corner.
Benni McCarthy spurned an an excellent opportunity to open the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark, firing straight into Dimi Konstantopoulos' midriff after beating the offside trap and racing clean through.
Coventry grew in confidence and with Adebola a menacing presence alongside Best, the visiting supporters sensed a famous upset.
The Sky Blues' most potent weapon is undoubtedly Mifsud - and he proved as much with the opening goal 11 minutes before the break.
Mifsud, who joined Coventry from Norwegian outfit Lillestrom 12 months ago, seized on Chris Samba's weak defensive header and hooked a volley from 12 yards which deflected off Berner and looped over Friedel and into the far corner.
Blackburn improved after the break and threatened to draw level in the 50th minute when Bentley swung in a corner from the left which Samba nodded onto the crossbar.
The ineffective Rigters then volleyed over when well placed from another dangerous Bentley cross but soon after it was 2-0 to Coventry.
Jay Tabb hit a brilliant shot from 20 yards which smacked the crossbar and bounced up for Best, who was shoved in the back by Khizanishvili as he tried to head the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
It was a blatant penalty which Ward ruthlessly dispatched to put the Sky Blues in total control.
Adebola was allowed to race clear to fire home left-footed for a third and, although Bentley's low strike raised a brief cheer among the home fans, Mifsud's delightful strike in stoppage-time almost burst the net and ensured Coventry had the final say.
CCFC
Coventry City pulled off another major cup shock by dumping Premier League Blackburn out of the FA Cup at the third round stage in impressive style at Ewood Park.
The Sky Blues were ahead in the 34th minute when Michael Mifsud's looping volley found the net.
Elliott Ward doubled their lead from the penalty spot just after the hour and then a superb individual goal from in-form striker Dele Adebola added a third.
England international David Bentley pulled a goal back for the home side, but Mifsud made a magnificent result sure in stoppage-time when he fired past Brad Friedel.
Mark Hughes' men become City's second top-flight scalp this season after a victory over Manchester United in the Carling Cup back in October.
Ben Turner slides in on Benni McCarthy
Goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos, one of three changes to the side beaten 2-1 against Bristol City on New Year's Day, was called into action for the first time in the thirteenth minute when he spilled David Bentley's free-kick before Ward hacked the ball away from danger.
Mifsud went close for the visitors shortly after when he latched onto a clever back-heel from Leon Best and hit a powerful shot from a tight angle which Blackburn keeper Friedel did well to block.
Defender Ward, making his 100th career appearance, then saw a goal-bound shot blocked after sneaking away from his marker to connect with an Isaac Osbourne free-kick from the left.
But Blackburn squandered a great chance to take the lead on the half-hour when Benni McCarthy found himself in behind the defence but fired straight at Konstantopoulos from eight yards.
And it was opportunity the home side were left to rue in the 34th minute as Mifsud's volley took a deflection and looped over a stranded Friedel into the far corner.
Michael Mifsud's shot beats finds the net
Rovers' response saw McCarthy blast over from the edge of the area while young debutant Keith Treacy fired wide at the end of the first-half.
A header from Zurab Khizanishvili bounced back off the top of the crossbar before a shot from midfielder Aaron Mokoena was touched onto the post by Konstantopoulos as the home side started the second-half strongly.
But after surviving that pressure, the Sky Blues went agonisingly close to increasing their advantage eleven minutes into the second-half when Adebola headed Michael Doyle's corner over from close-range with only Friedel beaten.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes introduced Norwegian international playmaker Morten Gamst Pedersen and moved towering centre-back Samba upfront on the hour in hope of reigniting the Rovers attack.
However, it was City who continued to cause trouble at the other end and after a superb 20-yard drive from Tabb cannoned back off the crossbar, Best was pushed as he followed up the rebound.
Referee Lee Probert swiftly pointed to the penalty spot and Ward made no mistake, rifling his spot-kick high into the top corner beyond Friedel's reach.
The home side were still reeling from that when Adebola's centre was grabbed by Friedel and then Mifsud's sent the ball flashing across the face of goal.
Mifsud should have put the result beyond doubt in the 77th minute, heading a cross from Osbourne wide after finding himself unmarked in the area.
But the hardworking Best missed an even easier chance to score soon after when he latched onto a loose back-pass and rounded Friedel, only to shoot into the side-netting with the goal gaping.
City continued to dominate, though, and they finally got their reward with seven minutes left when Adebola picked up the ball on the left, rode three challenges and clinically fired the ball into the bottom corner for his third goal in as many games.
However, any hopes of a clean-sheet were dashed two minutes later as Mokoena laid the ball on for Bentley to crack a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
But there was still time for Mifsud to cap a fine team performance with a fourth goal in stoppage-time when he raced onto Tabb's through-ball and beat Friedel at his near post.
Telegraph
Michael Mifsud scored twice as Coventry marched into the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of below-par Blackburn.
Malta international Mifsud opened the scoring with a hooked volley from 12 yards before Elliot Ward expertly slotted home from the penalty spot.
Dele Adebola made the game safe with a clinical third to ensure David Bentley's low strike was only a consolation to a weakened Rovers side.
And Mifsud's rasping drive in stoppage-time completed the rout.
Iain Dowie's side are currently languishing in 17th in the Championship, but they left their Premier League hosts humiliated and can add this scalp to their Carling Cup win at Manchester United earlier in the season.
Mark Hughes started with established regulars Stephen Warnock, Ryan Nelsen and Morten Gamst Pedersen on the substitutes' bench.
But Holland under-21 striker Maceo Rigters, homegrown midfielder Keith Treacy and defensive pair Bruno Berner and Zurab Khizanishvili failed to cope with the rampant visitors.
Benni McCarthy spurned an excellent opportunity to open the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark, firing straight into Dimi Konstantopoulos's midriff after beating the offside trap and racing clean through.
But from then on, Rovers were pegged back and crumbled under pressure.
Mifsud, who joined Coventry from Norwegian outfit Lillestrom 12 months ago, seized on Chris Samba's weak defensive header and hooked a volley from 12 yards which deflected off Berner and looped over Brad Friedel into the far corner.
Jay Tabb's fine shot from 20 yards smacked the crossbar and bounced up for Leon Best, who was shoved in the back by Khizanishvili as he tried to head the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
Ward ruthlessly dispatched the spot kick to put the Sky Blues in total control at 2-0.
Adebola was then allowed to race clear to fire home left-footed for a third.
And although Bentley's low strike raised a brief cheer among the home fans, Mifsud's delightful strike in stoppage-time almost burst the net and ensured Coventry had the final say.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:38 pm
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