Postcard from... Coventry (via Anfield)

1. When Albion reached the 2002 FA Cup quarter-finals they played the 'Astle commentary' (from the '68 Cup Final) before every cup tie along the way - 'Sky Blues - Shooting to win' (Coventry's '87 Cup Final song) didn't have the same effect.

2. What is about Albion and Coventry when it comes to dismissals? Yesterday was the fourth successive fixture where a player has seen red during the game (five sending-offs in four games).

3. Scoring a goal is not all its cracked up to be at Albion. Kevin Phillips often gets subbed during the second half of games, despite sometimes being on two goals. Both Roman Bednar and Zoltan Gera scored with their last touches of the game yesterday.

4. Iain Dowie might be gone but Cov fans still sang his name as Albion rattled in the goals. Mind you, by that point most Coventry supporters were already on their way home.

5. The Ricoh Arena boasts a huge underground casino (with thanks to my Coventry-supporting ex-uni mate for getting me in), with a large bar as the centre-point in the room. Somebody ought to tell them that having three members of staff on a matchday isn't good for business - even if it is the only place to get a drink before the game.

6. Albion might have scored five but surely the hero of the day was exile Luke Steele. Currently on loan at Barnsley, the keeper produced the game of his life. His days at Albion remain numbered - what better way to put yourself in the shop window than a performance like that at Anfield.

7. When is the penny going to drop with the Liverpudlians? It's not your owners who cost you games. Try Senor Benitez. With his rotation system and policy of buying lots of ordinary players over fewer better players, Liverpool were always going to struggle this season.