COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

A sending-off decision steeped in controversy, a West Bromwich Albion player stretchered off and tackles aplenty — this encounter might not quite qualify geographically as a derby but there was certainly plenty of drama as the East Midlands met the West Midlands at the Ricoh Stadium last night.

By the end Albion had the three points to take them up to second in the Championship table. A fiercely contested first half may have been shaded by ten-man Coventry City, but finally the pressure told and four second-half goals secured the points for the visitors.

From the opening seconds of this Championship battle, tackles were ten a penny on both sides as each tried to stamp their authority on the action.

And it wasn't long before referee Phil Dowd was called into action when, in the 11th minute, there was real drama as Coventry's top scorer Michael "The Mosquito" Mifsud was shown a straight red card after clattering into Albion defender Carl Hoefkens with his elbow.

The Albion defender lay on the pitch for a couple of minutes stunned by the ferocity of the blow.

As he struggled to his feet the man in the middle summoned Mifsud across the field before giving him his marching orders.

But the fact Dowd appeared to confer with fourth official Alan Hall before fetching the card from his pocket infuriated the Coventry officials and in turn the supporters who immediately launched into a chorus of boos.

From then on every tackle on a City player was met with loud jeers from the home fans in the Tesco stand.

Ishmael Miller — without the support of his regular striking partner the injured Kevin Phillips — started the game as the solitary striker and immediately got the better of Coventry defender Ben Turner after a good pass from midfielder Robert Koren.

His left-footed strike however trickled wide of Dimi Konstantopoulos' goal to deny the Baggies a second minute opener.

In the 17th minute former Blues striker Dele Adebola headed just wide leaving manager Iain Dowie with his head in his hands before the Baggies had earned a free kick at the other end of the field.

Up stepped skipper Jonathan Greening but Leon Barnett's header veered over the crossbar.

In the 30th minute Bostjan Cesar was booked for a harsh challenge on Coventry midfielder Jay Tabb after sending the diminutive player flying underfoot.

Carl Hoefkens then saw his long range effort float high over Konstantopoulos's goal on 34 minutes before the next big drama of the game.

In the 35th minute young Albion midfielder James Morrison seemed to go down awkwardly as he chased a loose ball and twisted his knee.

He became the second Albion player in a week to be stretchered from the field — a major blow to manager Tony Mowbray who highly rates his £1.5 million purchase from Middlesbrough this summer.

Coventry were now looking the team most likely to score first with Leon Best going close before a fine challenge by Albion's Belgian International Carl Hoefkens and then Hoefkens again did well to keep Tabb at bay as he tried to dig out Adebola before half time.

In the dying seconds Miller did well to keep the ball in play in the Coventry goalmouth but his pass to the advancing Paul Robinson was cruelly intervened.

Portuguese midfielder Filipe Teixeira then saw his chip just tipped over the bar by the City keeper in the dying seconds of the half.

As the second half got under way it was Coventry again who appeared on top in the early stages with skipper Michael Doyle blasting the ball over Dean Kiely's net.

But then in the 56th minute Brunt found an inch perfect cross to Robert Koren who in turn linked with Zoltan Gera and there was Paul Robinson to fire home with his debut goal of the season.

Within a minute Tony Mowbray's men had made it 2-0 through Filipe Teixeira after good work from loan star Ishmael Miller who had chased down the City defenders.

In the 69th minute Adebola climbed highest to collect the ball from a Steven Hughes free kick after he had been fouled by Hoefkens but as the giant striker attempted to head it goalward, he was met by the robust arms of Dean Kiely.

But then it was Albion's supporters celebrating again as their side added to their healthy goal difference in this division once again with Teixeira finding the back of Konstantopoulos' goal for the second time that evening to put the game out of Coventry's reach.

Robert Koren made it 4-0 with three minutes of additional time added but his celebrations were tempered slightly when he was given a booking at the close of play for a foul on needless McKenzie.

Scorers: Robinson (56), Teixeira (58, 73), Koren (90).
COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2): Konstantopoulos, Osbourne, Turner, De Zeeuw, Hall, Tabb, Hughes, Doyle , Mifsud , Adebola, (McKenzie, 80) Best (Kyle, 45). Subs: Marshall, Ward, Cairo.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-1-1): Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar, Robinson, Gera, Greening, Koren, Morrison (Brunt) , Teixeria, Miller (Bednar, 76). Subs: Hodgkiss, Pele.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Bookings: Coventry — Hoefkens (foul); Albion — Cesar (foul).
Sending-off: Coventry — Mifsud (serious foul play).
Attendance: 18,566.
Albion man of the match: Filipe Teixeira — delightful goals and a real asset to the Albion midfield.