It's not often that Manchester City score four goals and Shaun Goater is not among them.

But yesterday was one such occurrence.

City beat Coventry 4-2 in the English First Division to keep the gap between them and leaders Wolves at five points. Darren Huckerby, Danny Tiatto and Shaun Wright-Phillips (two) were the goalscorers, but despite his lack of success in front of the net Goater still played his part.

Huckerby netted after 15 minutes and ten minutes later Goater could have made it 2-0 but his header went wide.

Coventry `keeper Tim Flowers had to be alert to prevent the Bermudian getting on the scoresheet shortly after, diving at his feet.

The second did come but it was courtesy of Tiatto and a wicked deflection off defender Gary Breen in the 35th minute.

Wright-Phillips made it three in the 42nd minute, his right-footed shot nicking a defender and sending the ball past Flowers.

On the half-time whistle Goater saw his shot saved by a diving Flowers and Huckerby smashed the rebound over the bar.

Goater should have put the game out of sight on the hour, but after going round the `keeper he put the ball into the side netting. Four minutes later he put another header over the bar.

However, the striker was instrumental in City's fourth after 71 minutes. In a one-on-one with Flowers he failed to beat his man but the ball rebounded to Wright-Phillips who made no mistake.