STRACHAN OFF AS LATE DI MATTEO GOAL
KEEPS BLUES TOP

                                      Chelsea 2-1 Coventry

                                      Roberto Di Matteo struck deep
                                      into injury time to give Chelsea
                                      victory and keep them
                                      top-of-the-table in a heated affair
                                      at Stamford Bridge where Sky
                                      Blues manager Gordon Strachan
                                      was sent off from the dugout.

                                      Strachan's dismissal came in the
                                      closing stages as a row over
                     throwing back the ball on to the pitch led to a furious
                     scuffle involving staff on both the Coventry and Chelsea
                     benches.

                     Police and stewards quickly intervened to settle the
                     argument, and referee Jeff Winter responded by ordering
                     Strachan and Chelsea kit man Aaron Lincoln from the
                     dugouts.

                     Chelsea fell behind in the ninth minute when the Sky
                     Blues' goal machine Darren Huckerby lobbed Ed de Goey
                     after Gary McAllister's ball over the top caused confusion
                     in the Blues' defence.

                     But Frenchhman Frank Leboeuf levelled matters on the
                     stroke of half-time with a solo effort, side-stepping two
                     challenges and firing a shot into the top corner of the net.

                     The game looked to be heading for a draw but Di Matteo's
                     20-yard effort four minutes into stoppage time kept the
                     Blues top to leave Strachan in despair

                     Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer (Goldbaek 85), Lambourde,
                     Leboeuf, Le Saux, Petrescu, Wise, Di Matteo, Babayaro,
                     Vialli, Zola.
                     Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Nicholls, Terry, Morris.
                     Goals: Leboeuf 45, Di Matteo 90.

                     Coventry: Hedman, Nilsson, Shaw, Williams, Burrows,
                     Telfer, McAllister (Aloisi 90), Soltvedt, Froggatt,
                     Huckerby, Boateng. Subs Not Used: Breen, Jackson,
                     Ogrizovic, Edworthy.
                     Booked: Hedman, Burrows, Telfer, Boateng.
                     Goals: Huckerby 9.

                     Att: 34,869

                     Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).