A LATE goal by Dean Sturridge took Derby County through to the sixth round of the English FA Cup against Middlesbrough after they had gone 2-0 down inside 14 minutes against Coventry City at the Baseball Ground last night. Gordon Strachan's team simply threw it away.

Derby, having made a wretched start, equalised before the interval and always looked the likelier side to gain victory during a second half when goal opportunities were a good deal thinner on the ground.

However, Coventry appeared to have done just about enough to gain a home replay when, in the 88th minute, Aljosa Asanovic sent Trollope surging down the left while Sturridge tracked the move through the centre. Trollope's pass was perfection and the Coventry defence stared around in bewilderment. The tie had been turned on its head.

The Derby defence which had played open house to Leicester on Saturday, conceding four goals, saw two changes with Jacob Laursen and Christian Dailly replacing Igor Stimac and Paul McGrath. It made little difference in terms of generosity.

Coventry took the lead through Darren Huckerby after the sort of defensive mistake that causes managers to lose their hair.

Kevin Richardson's cross from the left might have been comfortably cleared by either Russell Hoult, the goalkeeper, or Dailly. Instead, as these two followed the ball's looping trajectory, they collided with each other like two pedestrians on a pavement, craning to see what was going on behind the open curtains - of an upstairs bedroom. Huckerby could easily have been overcome with downright surprise or uncontrollable mirth but, as the loose ball emerged, he struck an exemplary left foot shot which satisfyingly punished the mix up.

There had been several pitch inspections, one as late as seven o'clock, before the referee was satisfied the ground was playable. In fact it was in remarkably good condition. Certainly Derby had no reason to blame it as they went 2-0 down in short time.

Not long after Huckerby's opening goal, Gary McAllister began a counter attack which saw a shot by Eoin Jess of unexceptional pace pushed awkwardly away by Hoult, who was probably still consumed with thoughts of his previous collision. Noel Whelan had ample time to get to the ball before the goalkeeper could recover.

Such unaccustomed riches proved too much for Coventry, however, who have been notably unsuccessful in the competition since winning it 10 years ago. By half time their lead had gone largely because of an inability to defend at corners. First Ashley Ward scored from close range after several attempts had been blocked in a mass melee. Then Robin Van Der Laan equalised with a header no defender had noticed him.