A Jeckyll and Hyde performance once more. For the first half an hour of this game I felt it was the best football we'd played at home all season. The passing and movement was great, although I wonder how much of that was due to Coventry's willingness to get involved in a football match, rather than just Šshutting up shop.õ Owen and Heskey were combining brilliantly, and the midfield partnership of Gerrard and McAllister (amazingly on view for the first time this season) totally dominated the game. Smicer and Barmby were also looking lively on the flanks, and it was a case of how many would we score.
Gary Mac's well taken strike should have opened the floodgates, but Coventry's young keeper had other ideas, and was absolutely sensational. Had it not been for him, we'd have been five up at the half, instead of just the one.
The second wasn't long in coming after the break, and that great header from Stevie gave us a bit of breathing room. Not for long as it turned out though, as Tommo's stunning goal set the alarm bells ringing in the reds defence, not to mention the crowd. The next fifteen minutes were almost surreal, as Coventry bombarded us and Thompson took centre stage, prompting and cajoling, and setting off on mazy dribbles into the heart of our defence.
Had Westerveld not saved smartly from Bellamy, God knows what would have happened. Thankfully Gary Mac's accuracy from set pieces again came to the fore, and Heskey's fine run in front of goal continued with a well timed header. His stunningly executed second was the icing on the cake, and on reflection, 4-1 flattered Coventry, as it could easily have been double that. Our best performers were Heskey, Gerrard and McAllister, although I also thought Vladi had a decent game too.
One point I want to make is about the booing that took place when Owen was subbed, and Gerard's subsequent comments concerning it. I happen to agree totally with the booing, as that decision smacked of cowardice. It simply handed the initiative to Coventry, and Gerard was lucky we got away with it. I have nothing against Danny Murphy, in fact I think he's a very good player - in midfield.
Unfortunately, Gerard has this habit of playing him as a withdrawn striker, and the lad isn't suited to it. This is why I believe a lot of fans have been on his case this season, and I feel for him. If Owen was tired, then fine, take him off. However, a certain Robbie Fowler was sitting on the bench and would have revelled in the space Coventry were leaving as they pushed forward looking for an equaliser.
I understand Gerard's reasons for the change, and I accept that it's common practice on the continent. That doesn't mean I agree, and on this occasion I feel the booing was justified. Ask yourself this, if you were a Coventry player and you see Owen going off to be replaced by Murphy, what would you think? I'd be rubbing my hands together thinking "they're bottle's gone, we can do this." They could have done too, but thankfully we got something from a set piece which knocked the wind out of their sails. So just because Gerard got away with the change, doesn't mean it was right, and if he does the same thing again, next time he mightn't be so lucky.
TEAM: Sander Westerveld; Markus Babbel, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, Djimi Traore; Nick Barmby, Steven Gerrard (Jamie Carragher), Gary McAllister, Vladimir Smicer (Christian Ziege); Michael Owen (Danny Murphy) Emile Heskey:
