COVENTRY CITY 1 EVERTON 3
Scot Gemmill, Danny Cadamarteri and Kevin Campbell were on target as Everton made light of the supposed Goodison injury crisis.
Lee Carsley's 86th minute penalty had consolation tattooed all over it as Walter Smith's men exacted full revenge for their Boxing Day defeat at the hands of the Midlanders on Boxing Day.
It took a mere seven minutes for Gemmill to give Everton the edge in this battle between two relegation candidates at Highfield Road.
Gary Breen lost the ball in the midfield, Cadamarteri released Gemmill who ran through unchallenged before beating Chris Kirkland from the edge of the area.
Coventry had hardly regrouped when they found themselves 2-0 down, Cadamarteri picked out Idan Tal on the left, and the Israeli's exquisite pass which Kevin Campbell let run to Niclas Alexandersson on the right.
The Swede's return cross, was met by Cadamarteri, who finished a fine move with the minimum of fuss, to claim his first goal outside London for four years.
Strachan threw on Carlton Palmer as a centre back in place of Mohammed Konjic after less than half-an-hour, but it made little difference as the visitors duly went further ahead.
Phil Jevons, who had come on for Alexandersson, picked out Campbell on the penalty spot. He spun and scored at the second attempt despite the best efforts of Breen.
Kirkland denied Campbell a fourth before half-time after the striker had tricked his way into a shooting position, but Coventry were already dead and buried.
With an hour gone, and the home side still unable to make any meaningful impression on the Everton goal, the proceedings became too much for one Coventry fan who streaked down the touchline - his soft centre as exposed as his team`s had been.
More to follow
Coventry: Kirkland, Edworthy, Quinn, Breen, Konjic, Thompson, Eustace, Carsley, Telfer, Zuniga, Hadji. Subs: Hedman, Chippo, Palmer, Aloisi, Bothroyd.
Everton: Myhre, Steve Watson, Ball, Unsworth, Cleland, Tal, Gemmill, Alexandersson, Pembridge, Campbell, Cadamarteri. Subs: Simonsen, Jevons, Milligan, McLeod, Clarke.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
