Coventry expose Jefferies' problems

Poor Bradford looked every inch a team in turmoil as Coventry rediscovered their form to subject them to a ruthless hiding at Highfield Road yesterday amid speculation that Jim Jefferies, their manager of 13 months, was taking charge for the last time.

The former Hearts manager, who has been at the centre of a controversy involving the axed captain Stuart McCall, last night refused to comment on whether he would be at the helm when Bradford meet Sheffield United at Valley Parade on Boxing Day. His assistant, Billy Brown, with whom he has worked for the last 14 years, resigned on Friday.

"I don't know where this speculation has come from," Jefferies said. "I suppose it has to do with Billy returning to Scotland but I am not going to make any comment on the speculation. Billy had been unsettled for a while and I tried to talk him into giving it a bit longer but he had made up his mind. I'll be talking to the chairman tomorrow but then I do most days and unless someone knows something I don't then I expect it to be a normal meeting."

Whether McCall plays for Bradford again is another question that may be answered in the next few days. The former Scotland midfielder, demoted before last week's match against Manchester City following a training-ground dispute, was not even on the bench yesterday.

The home side have had their own problems recently, suffering six defeats in eight First Division games, yet looked hot favourites for promotion as Lee Hughes (twice), David Thompson and Julian Joachim fired home four unanswered goals.

They took control with two goals in as many minutes towards the close of the first half, even though they almost conceded a soft goal before they did so, when Ashley Ward somehow screwed the ball wide of an open goal from barely five yards.

A minute later, Coventry finally took a chance of their own, the Moroccan Youssef Safri winning possession in midfield and slotting a perfect ball into the path of Hughes in the inside left channel, the former West Bromwich striker steadying, and then shooting right-footed to Aidan Davison's left.

Two minutes later, the advantage was doubled by Thompson, who collected Gary Locke's half-clearance fully 35 yards out, advanced a couple of strides and then unleashed a superb strike into the top corner.

It was tough on the Bradford goalkeeper, who had kept his side in the game previously by tipping a Thompson free-kick over the top and blocking with his legs from Hughes. A groin injury then forced him to withdraw at half-time, to be replaced by Gary Walsh, who turned out to be equally worthy of his appearance money with two brilliant saves from Thompson and Hughes.

Bradford had already had the defender Gunnar Halle carried off with a gashed leg after a first-half collision with Coventry's Marcus Hall and things went from bad to worse for them when Halle's replacement, Claus Jorgensen, conceded a foul against the former Bradford striker Lee Mills, presenting Hughes with the opportunity to put away his seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot.

The visitors had simply nothing to offer in response and Coventry hit them with a fourth goal 10 minutes from time, when the substitute Lee Carsley combined with Thompson to set up another substitute, Joachim.

Goals: Hughes (41) 1-0; Thompson (43) 2-0; Hughes pen (48) 3-0, Joachim (80) 4-0.

Coventry City (4-4-2): Hedman; Edworthy, Konjic, Shaw, Hall (Quinn, h-t); Delorge, Safri, Chippo (Carsley, 79), Thompson; Hughes, Mills (Joachim, 63). Substitutes not used: Martinez, Goram (gk).

Bradford City (4-4-2): Davison (Walsh, h-t); Halle (Jorgensen, 26), Caldwell, Tod, Jacobs; Jess, Locke, Sharpe (Carricondo, 72), Etherington; Ward, Blake. Substitutes not used: Molenaar, Makel.

Referee: D Pugh (Wirral).

Bookings: Coventry: Edworthy. Bradford: Locke.

Attendance: 14,977.

Man of the match: Thompson.