TWO-GOAL Roman Bednar returned with a bang as Albion ran riot at the Ricoh Arena to see off ten-man Coventry and book a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in six years.

The giant Czech striker, who missed Tuesday's goalless draw with Sheffield United through injury, capped a bright start by the Baggies by setting up Chris Brunt's 12th-minute opener.

Albion deserved their half-time lead and the tie swung well and truly their way when City skipper Michael Doyle become the FIFTH player to be sent off in the last four meetings between the two clubs four minutes after the break for a late challenge on Zoltan Gera.

Bednar kept up his record of scoring in every round with a ten-minute brace, which he rounded off with a 69th-minute penalty.

And the Baggies' 6,000-strong travelling support had further reason to rejoice when sub Ishmael Miller fired his 11th goal of the season in the 76th minute and Gera completed the rout two minutes later.

Bednar returned from a thigh strain to start as a lone striker, with Kevin Phillips and Miller dropping to the bench.

In midfield, Pele made his first start in six games in place of suspended skipper Jonathan Greening and Gera returned from injury.

Albion started like a house on fire and Filipe Teixeira's fancy footwork saw him spray the ball out to Brunt on the left.

The Northern Ireland international swung in a great cross which Gera headed just wide of the left-hand post.

Two minutes later, Carl Hoefkens nut-megged Robbie Simpson down the right before firing in a low cross.

Bednar dummied the ball and Gera scuffed just wide of the left-hand upright.

Another Brunt delivery caused havoc in the Sky Blues box in the eighth minute but Gera was unable to squeeze it home at the back post.

Gera was in the action again moments later when his right-wing cross forced Elliott Ward into a last-ditch clearance for a corner.

The action was flowing one way and the Baggies made their pressure tell in the 12th minute.

Gera picked out Bednar with a throw-in down the right and the striker crossed for Brunt to head home.

The Sky Blues' first effort on goal came four minutes later when Michel Hughes' free-kick strike was blocked by the Baggies wall. Simpson teed the rebound up for Doyle who fired just wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the area.

Michael Mifsud pounced on a loose ball in the 27th minute and was allowed to get a shot away, which faded just wide of the left-hand post.

The hosts threatened again in the 34th minute when Marcus Hall crossed from the left and Leon Best rose highest to head inches over the bar.

Two minutes later, Coventry had a real let off when Hughes headed Brunt's fierce free-kick against his own bar and out for a corner.

A second successive Baggies flag-kick saw Teixeira play it short to Brunt on the left and his centre was headed over by Martin Albrechtsen at the back post.

The half finished with the Baggies battling to keep the ball out of their net as Hall picked up a loose ball from a corner and drilled it back in, where it was scrambled clear. Hughes then saw his follow-up strike blocked by a crowd of players.

City faced a real uphill battle within four minutes of the restart when Doyle was shown a straight red card for what Lancashire official Mark Halsey deemed to be an over-the-ball challenge on Gera, who required treatment.

And things went from bad to worse for the hosts ten minutes later.

Andy Marshall's attempted return pass to Ward was cut out by Bednar, who kept his cool and slotted past the forlorn Sky Blues shot-stopper.

Bednar ran onto Brunt's diagonal pass in the 68th minute and, after skipping past Hall, his route to goal was halted by Arjan de Zeeuw handling the ball and conceding a penalty.

The on-loan Hearts man blasted home the spot-kick - his last kick of the game before making way for Miller.

Baggies fans got their first glimpse of new loan signing Do-Heon Kim in the 74th minute when he replaced Teixeira.

Two minutes later, Miller spun Ward as he raced onto Hoefkens' throughball and held off Hall before firing past Marshall.

And it was 5-0 in the 78th minute when Miller pulled the ball back for Gera, who jinked past two defenders before rounding Marshall and slotting home.

Coventry's only real reply came from a jinking Mifsud run which resulted in the Maltese hitman firing just wide of the left-hand post.

But the Baggies held on for a second successive clean-sheet and a place in the last eight.

COVENTRY (4-4-2): Marshall; Osbourne, de Zeeuw (Birchall 76), Ward, Hall; Tabb, Doyle, M Hughes, Simpson (Thornton 76); Mifsud, Best. Subs not used: Konstantopoulos (gk), Gray, Borrowdale.

ALBION (4-1-4-1): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Robinson; Pele; Gera (Beattie 79), Teixeira (Kim 74), Morrison, Brunt; Bednar (Miller 70). Subs not used: Danek (gk), Phillips.

GOALS: ALBION - Brunt (12), Bednar (59, 69 pen), Miller (76), Gera (78).

BOOKINGS: ALBION - Barnett (foul 61).

SENDING-OFF: COVENTRY - Doyle (serious foul play 49).

REFEREE: M Halsey (Lancashire).

ATTENDANCE: 28,163.

ALBION STARMAN: Roman Bednar.