14 mins The second goal that we conceded at Birmingham was replayed by this City; a free header from Gary McAllister's free kick saw Carlton Palmer to nod in his first goal for Coventry. Bobby Robson urged his defence pre-game to take special care of Palmer because of his aerial ability. Doh!  0-1.

22 mins Shay Given, in the "lucky" goal (not) at Highfield Road (remember Dion Dublin?), stood motionless Didier Domi's headed clearance of a Coventry corner succeeded only in reaching Chippo, who promptly teed up Paul Williams to crash home a 35 yard shot with his right peg. 0-2.

39 mins Given again, totally misjudging a ball into the area from Mustapha Hadji, leaving Robbie Keane with a tap-in. The Kop End goalmouth now bears a sign "You are now entering the Irish Free state." 0-3.

Half time: Sky Blues 3 Magpies 0

82 mins Didier Domi scored his second goal in a United shirt, slotting home in by the near post from just inside the area after the ball fell to him after a corner was played back by Shearer and headed on by Gary Speed.  1-3

90 mins Moroccans 1 Racists 0 as Mustapha Hadji belted home a centrally-located free kick from about 20 yards distance. The award came following a two-footed lunge by Nicos Dabizas on Cedric Roussel. 1-4

Full time: Sky Blues 4 Magpies 1

Bobby Robson:

"We could have been two up in the first 10 minutes. Then our discipline and organisation on set plays, which we've talked about and worked on, let us down. We're going to have to get ratty with them about it. And you won't win anything by getting sent off. 

"I'm very angry with Warren. He will be disciplined. The challenge was not vicious but it was enough for the referee to make the decision he did. I have no complaints against the referee for that decision: Barton reacted stupidly and once he did that, any chance of salvaging the game virtually went.

"He was very upset afterwards for doing something that was out of character but you can't give teams a man over like we have in the last two games.

"Overall I was pleased with our performance and if you took away the goals, you would say that the territorial advantage and the control of play was with us."

Gordon Strachan:

to follow

 

To say that the Barton dismissal turned the game though - as Robson did in the after-match aftermath -is to be economical with the truth. Seasoned away watchers know that the appearance of Aaron Hughes in the back four inevitably results in a goals tally against of at least three. 

Robson is simply trying to use straw to build his Premiership house on: at various times this season the inept and injured Marcelino, the variable talents of Hughes and Nicos Dabizas, the rabbit in headlights panic of David Beharall and dubious virtue of Alain Goma have all contributed to our gaping goals against column (not to mention the perennial crockedness of Steve Howey.) 

Rumours of an elder statesman arriving to marshal our rearguard may not be a "sexy" option but in the current climate a reasonable short-term alternative. Better to take Colin Hendry now, before we're so far behind we need his brother Stephen to put some points on the board..... 

Biffa