FOOTBALL: Milosevic finally comes good

Aston Villa 4 Coventry City 1

Perhaps it was a desire to represent his country in a better light before the foreign dignitaries who were in town for the European Championship draw. Maybe it was just that playing against Coventry is his equivalent of a benefit match. Either way, Savo Milosevic finally came good with a vengeance.

Aston Villa's Serbian striker plays internationally for Yugoslavia, who were barred from the qualifying tournament which culminated in yesterday's extravaganza. Their inclusion in the World Cup draw made Milosevic's hat- trick especially timely, even if the afternoon overall did not enhance the image of the English derby.

What riled Ron Atkinson was the dismissal of the player who followed him from Villa, Kevin Richardson, when only Tommy Johnson's goal separated the sides. The Coventry manager, already ungracious in using the word "persistent" to describe Johnson's superb solo effort, considered the midfielder's exit the crucial moment.

Two wrongs, or two bookable offences, apparently make a right. "Our man's got a smashed nose and stud marks down his back, and yet he's been sent off," Atkinson said. "The result would have been a lot different had the teams stayed even.''

No amount of righteousness could excuse Richardson's recklessness. Coventry are hardly a violent team, but four red cards in five games is indicative of indiscipline in a broader sense.

Villa's top scorer, Dwight Yorke, also suffered a broken nose in a rugged challenge by Dave Busst. Yorke was subjected to abuse from some Coventry fans as he left on a stretcher; an unedifying spectacle to lay before the European visitors.

Yorke's misfortune put even greater onus on Milosevic. When he failed to break his home duck from two yards, the Holte End bowed in mock obeisance. But within half an hour, he lurched from the ridiculous to the sublime, adding to two "British" centre-forward's headers with a deftly chipped third goal.

There was also a beautifully fluid run across midfield, followed by a pass with the outside of the left foot that would have graced next summer's finals. More typically, after taking the return, Milosevic trundled the ball wide.

Having spent three months denying his concern, Brian Little admitted: "Everyone's been worried about him". The Villa manager's phlegm would never allow him to say as much, but having paid a club-record pounds 3.5m for the 22-year-old on the strength of an agent's video, Savo's salvo was probably a load off his mind too.

Nor was it facile, according to Little, to suggest that peace in his homeland, albeit fragile, had helped Milosevic. His family live in a relatively troubled area, and only in the past week, with the lifting of sanctions against Serbia, had he been able to buy them a flat in Belgrade. Coincidence or not, a "quiet lad" was suddenly much brighter in training.

Dion Dublin's ninth goal in eight matches had briefly given the 10 men hope. Coventry, however, have never won at Villa and never will if they leave gaps along the flanks in which a jet could have landed. Mark Draper, spared Richardson's attentions, provided a prolific service to his wing- backs and is still worth a chance with England in the Paul Gascoigne role.

Villa's victory leaves them and Atkinson's new team poles apart as the season approaches its half-way stage. As for Milosevic, five of whose eight goals have come against Coventry, an FA Cup reunion cannot come soon enough.

Goals: Johnson (12) 1-0; Milosevic (49) 2-0; Dublin (55) 2-1; Milosevic (64) 3-1; Milosevic (79) 4-1.

Aston Villa (3-4-1-2): Bosnich (Spink, h-t); Ehiogu, McGrath (Scimeca, 69), Southgate; Charles, Taylor, Draper, Wright; Johnson; Milosevic, Yorke (Townsend, 36).

Coventry City (3-5-2): Filan; Shaw, Busst, Williams; Telfer, Richardson, Whelan, Salako (Rennie, 73), Hall; Ndlovu (Pickering, 69), Dublin. Substitute not used: Gould (gk).

Referee: P Alcock (Surrey).

Bookings: Coventry: Richardson, Busst.

Sending-off: Richardson.

Man of the match: Draper (Villa). Attendance: 28,486.