09/10/2001  Coventry 0 Chelsea 2
 
Two prospective managers may be having second thoughts 
after Chelsea's Scandinavian connection combined to ruin Gary 
Montgomery's debut at Highfield Road on Tuesday.

Roland Nilsson is expected to be installed as Coventry boss 
later this week, and the watching Dave Bassett could be 
appointed even faster if strong rumours linking him with 
Leicester prove correct.

But neither will have been too happy with the outcome of 
this Worthington Cup fourth round clash.

Nineteen-year-old Montgomery will have been disappointed as 
well, although the youngster made a couple of saves to be 
proud of as he made an unexpected Coventry debut.

Nilsson has enjoyed an encouraging start to life on the 
managerial treadmill, steering Coventry up the table as a 
temporary replacement forGordon Strachan.

But the limitations of his side were exposed by crisp 
Chelsea passing, although they are unlikely to encounter such 
formidable opposition as they strive for a return to the 
Premier League.

Bassett meanwhile, will have been given plenty to ponder, 
particularly as star striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink remained 
on the Chelsea bench ahead of Saturday's visit by Leicester to 
Stamford Bridge.

And when the likeable Londoner heard the outcome from 
Filbert Street tonight, he may wonder atthe wisdom at the 
decision he is thought to have made.

Nilsson endured another new experience in his fledgling 
managerial career when first choice keeper Magnus Hedman 
pulled out with an injury in thepre-match warm-up.

Montgomery was handed his first team debut at 10 minutes 
notice and promptly kept Chelsea at bay during the opening 
period with two smart saves.

His first was a brave block at the feet of Boudewijn 
Zenden, who was played in by Gianfranco Zola after a 
horrendous blunder by Marc Edworthy.

Later in the half, he stopped Graeme Le Saux's angled, low 
drive with hisfeet and then enjoyed a slice of good fortune 
when the rebound ballooned over the bar.

Zola looked the most potent attacking threat for the 
visitors, and came closest to putting them in front when his 
deep free-kick caught Montgomery unawares and struck the base 
of a post.

David Thompson battled away with his customary tenacity for 
the home side, and was the first Coventry player booked for a 
robust challenge which sent Le Saux spinning into the air.

Referee Paul Durkin also produced a yellow card for Jay 
Bothroyd as the Sky Blues tried to combat Chelsea's silky 
skills with an imposing physical presence.

Coventry briefly rallied after the break, when Lee Hughes, 
not even among the substitutes before Hedman's late 
withdrawal, was obstructed by William Gallas as he entered the 
penalty area.

But there was no Beckham-esque free-kick from Thompson, who 
blasted into the wall.

Chelsea immediately swept to the other end, and with Mikael 
Forssell - on as a half-time replacement for Albert Ferrer - 
causing more problems that Coventry could cope with, the game 
was dead before the home side broke forward again.

Icelandic front-man Eidur Gudjohnsen opened Chelsea's 
account after 55 minutes when he took Zenden's pass, weaved 
his way into the area and calmly lifted the ball over 
Montgomery from 10 yards to bag his fourth goal of the 
campaign.

Then, after Forssell had wasted his first opportunity, the 
Finnish striker looped a header over the stranded Montgomery 
after Zenden's far post cross had dropped beyond the Coventry 
defence.