Football: Kitson thwarts Coventry

Coventry City 1 West Ham United 1

Coventry and West Ham shared the points in a tight game last night in which the quality of football left a great deal to be desired. Application and determination were in plentiful supply, but skill was lacking.

West Ham's goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko had been given little to do before being beaten by Darren Huckerby seven minutes from half-time. John Salako's corner was nodded down by Dublin for Huckerby to prod home from inside the six-yard box.

The Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic, a spectator for the first hour, let in a 64th-minute goal by Paul Kitson. Stan Lazaridis delivered a deep cross from the right which found the head of John Hartson and, although the woodwork initially came to City's rescue, Kitson was on hand to head home.

Coventry City: Ogrizovic, Shaw, Burrows, Williams, Breen, Salako, Telfer, Soltvedt (Boland, 66), Richardson, Huckerby (Lightbourne, 75), Dublin. Substitutes not used: Hedman (gk), Nilsson, O'Neill.

West Ham United: Miklosko, Breacker, Unsworth, Rieper, Ferdinand, Lazaridis, Moncur, Lomas, Berkovitch, Hartson, Kitson (Dowie, 84). Substitutes not used: Forrest (gk), Potts, Lampard, Hughes.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).