Coventry striker Darren Huckerby scored a superb goal to beat Manchester United and give Blackburn, Chelsea and the other title challengers some hope going into 1998.

Goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham looked to have seen off the challenge of the Sky Blues, who took a shock lead at Highfield Road through Noel Whelan's first goal of the season.

But four minutes from time Dion Dublin equalised from the penalty spot after Huckerby had been flattened by Henning Berg.

Then with 60 seconds remaining Huckerby sent the home fans wild as he went past four challenges before planting a low shot wide of United's third choice keeper Kevin Pilkington.

United's run comes to an end

It ended United's run of six successive league wins and gave Coventry a massive boost in their annual relegation battle.

The Sky Blues snatched a 13th minute lead with a move started and finished by Whelan, who sidefooted past the exposed Pilkington.

Coventry might have increased their lead shortly afterwards had Huckerby shown more composure.

United, whose manager Alex Ferguson quit his seat in the stand for the dug-out after 25 minutes, bounced back and Paul Williams, returning after suspension, came to Coventry's rescue when he cleared a low effort from Solskjaer off the line.

All square

On the half hour United were back on level terms.

Ryan Giggs, recalled to the starting line-up along with Sheringham, provided the telling pass to Solskjaer, who turned defender Roland Nilsson inside out before firing a low shot into the corner.

The visitors took the lead two minutes into the second half when David Burrows lost possession to David Beckham, who released Paul Scholes.

He had time to pick out Sheringham at the far post and he scored with a diving header.

United gave the impression they could move up a gear at any stage but they paid the price for not killing the game off.

Dublin's penalty levelled the scores and then Huckerby's magnificent solo goal left the Red Devils empty handed.
 

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