 Coventry started 1998–99 brightly, with Huckerby and Dublin helping defeat a star-studded Chelsea team on the opening day.But they then lost four of the next five games and the season proved a disappointment after the optimism of the previous campaign.Dion Dublin was sold to Aston Villa for £5.75 million and, unable to achieve consistency, Coventry went on to finish in 15th place.