RECORD signing Viorel Moldovan came off the substitutes' bench to put Coventry through to the next round of the Cup. Moldovan has had to be patient since his £3.25m move from Swiss Grasshoppers last month after the outstanding form of Dion Dublin and Darren Hudcerby. But he entered the fray in the 56th minute of a pulsating fifth-round clash and 16 minutes later snatched the goal which ended a 62-year hoodoo for Coventry.

Complementing the Romanian for his patience after the game. Coventry manager Gordon Strachan said: "It's been a tough time him. He's been used to playing first team football in Europe and was looking forward to the World Cup finals. It’s been a bit confusing for him and it is hard to impress the Romanian manager if he is not playing. But I told him to keep plugging away and that I am convinced he will be a top player for us. He's accepted the fact that the two lads up front are playing out of their skins. He knows when a chance comes along that he has to take it and he did that today."

The win was no more than Coventry deserved, for although Villa had a fair share of the possession, it was Gordon Strachan's side which looked the more menacing throughout the encounter. Darren Huckerby also showed why he is regarded as one of the most explosive young talents in the Premiership. with his pace and power always a threat to the Villa rearguard. The new England B cap posed problems on the right flank with his pace. and midfielder Soltvedt got forward into the Villa penalty area to telling effect.

Villa huffed and puffed but they clearly missed the presence of injured striker Dwight Yorke and, in truth. Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman was rarely tested.

Now Villa have only the UEFA Cup to look forward to in a season which has been a massive disappointment on the domestic front. On another day, impressive midfielder Trond Soltvedt could easily have scored a hat-trick and Villa were indebted to goalkeeper Mark Bosnich for pulling off some fine saves to keep them on level terms for so long.

Stan Collymore produced the first on-target effort, a low 20-put drive through a ruck of players which Hedman did well to cling on to. The former Liverpool player also had a shot deflected over the bar courtesy of a vital last-ditch tackle by Richard Shaw after a fine move also involving Alan Wright, Lee Hendrie and Julian Joachim.

But it was the Sky Blues who created the more clearcut openings in the opening 43 minutes and Villa defender Riccardo Scimeca had to make several telling interceptions. Bosnich beat out a fierce drive from Soltvedt before producing a remarkable save to deny the Norwegian international. The goalkeeper looked to be going the wrong way and seemed beaten by a rising effort from the edge of the box, but he somehow managed to stick out his left leg and divert the ball back into play.

In first-half injury time Soltvedt squandered a golden chance to put Coventry ahead. Huckerby found him in space on the right of the area with only Bosnich to beat, but he screwed his shot across goal and wide.

Villa dominated the opening phase of the second period although the nearest they came to a goal was when Draper screwed his shot wide after bursting into the area. Coventry retaliated and Bosnich had to turn a curling free-kick from Gavin Strachan, the manager's son. around the post.

But he was indebted to Joachim for keeping Villa on level terms in the 66th minute when he turned Soltvedt's powerful shot off the line following a Strachan corner.

Bosnich then did well to block a shot from Moldovan after he was again sent clear by more trickery from Huckerby. But Moldovan was not to be denied and in the 72nd minute he pounced at close range after Bosnich could only beat out Boateng's fiercely-struck effort from inside the area.

Villa manager Brian Little had no complaints about the outcome and said: They deserved to win and without Mark Bosnich in goal for us it could have been more than 1-0. You have to give them credit. They were more dangerous."