FA Cup: Coventry enters 4th round

Striker Lee Fowler scored his first goal for Coventry City to send the first division club on their way to a 3-0 win over Cardiff City in th...

Striker Lee Fowler scored his first goal for Coventry City to send the first division club on their way to a 3-0 win over Cardiff City in their English FA Cup third round replay on Wednesday.

Striker Dean Holdsworth and midfielder Jay Bothroyd scored further goals as Coventry, held 2-2 at second division Cardiff 10 days ago, became the last team to reach the fourth round where they will visit third division Rochdale on January 25.

In a typically hard-fought and fast tie, Cardiff missed a string of chances and hit the woodwork twice after

Fowler had put the home side, trophy winners in 1987, ahead in the 21st minute.

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Fowler, playing in his first cup tie, sped on to a low through ball slotted between the two central defenders by Bothroyd and steered it past advancing goalkeeper Neil Alexander.

Holdsworth added the second with a superb, curling shot from outside the box that went in off the far post in the 57th minute and Bothroyd sealed victory with a low, deflected strike two minutes from time.

Coventry’s Bosnian defender Mohamed Konjic dived to head a mis-hit, close-range volley from Cardiff’s Wales striker Robbie Earnshaw on to the bar after half an hour.

The match marked the 800th club career start for Coventry’s player-manager Gary McAllister, the former Leeds United, Liverpool and Scotland midfielder.