mixed results over the Christmas holidays.

Lightbourne was an unused substitute as Coventry City scored twice in the last four minutes to beat Premiership leaders Manchester United 3-2 at home yesterday.

United were leading 2-1 in the closing minutes and looked set for their seventh successive league win before a Dion Dublin penalty and a brilliant Darren Huckerby goal completed a sensational Coventry fightback (see Page 23).

On Boxing Day, Lightbourne came on as a sub in the second half at Upton Park where Coventry lost 1-0 to West Ham United. Yesterday's win was a boost for the Sky Blues who moved five points clear of bottom team Barnsley.

Goater's Bristol City suffered a rare defeat in the Second Division yesterday, losing in the league for the first time since October 4 when they went down 1-0 away to Fulham.

It was City's first loss in 16 games, having won 13 of their last 15 games which lifted them to second in the standings.

City opened a 16-point lead over the third-placed team on Boxing Day with a 4-1 win over Millwall, though Goater was not among the scorers. That win also moved them to within two points of leaders Watford.

Another City win yesterday would have put them in first place as Watford could only manage a second draw over Christmas, but City's own loss cut their lead to 13 points over the closest team below them, Northampton.

City can move level on 55 points with Watford on Saturday if they beat mid-table Blackpool away from home. Watford don't have a league game as they are involved in the FA Cup.