In 4 and a half years at Coventry City, Dublin established himself as one of the Premier League's top strikers. In the 1997-98 season he equaled the record for most goals in a top division season with 23 goals in all competitions. The following season Dublin shared elite status as the Premier League’s top scorer – scoring eighteen goals. In the autumn of 1998 Dublin moved to Aston Villa scoring seven goals in his first four games. In December 1999, Dublin suffered a life-threatening broken neck. He returned three months later and helped Aston Villa reach the FA Cup Final.