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Burnley will be looking to get back to winning ways after dropping to twelfth place in the table over the weekend following the draw with Birmingham. Despite that result giving us just one point from the last two games we can still go into the game with some confidence given the way we played on Saturday.
Travelling to Coventry was always a journey with some optimism when we went to Highfield Road. Yes, there was the odd hammering but generally we got good results there.
This will be our fourth visit to their new home at the Ricoh Arena and last season we broke our duck with a 2-1 win after losing the first two games there 1-0. Another result last season should see us climb a few places back up the table.
Coventry not too long ago were one of the clubs listed in the 'in crisis' section as they struggled to come to terms with their relegation from the Premiership in 2001. Any hope of a quick return had long been extinguished, despite Paul Fletcher's Operation Premiership, and they were suffering the consequences.
In came Ray Ranson with his consortium. He'd spent what seemed for ever travelling up and down the country trying to buy a football club and the former Manchester City and Aston Villa player finally settled on Coventry just as Southampton were preparing to celebrate his arrival.
The new men in charge quickly made their mark and removed manager Iain Dowie. They replaced him with former Fulham boss Chris Coleman who had just returned to England after a difficult time in Spain.
That was back in February, and so any team building had to wait until the summer. Guillaume Beuzelin was the first signing, the French midfielder arriving from Hearts. He was followed by Carlisle goalkeeper Kieran Westwood, Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson from AZ Alkmaar (they must collect Icelandic midfielders) and RK Sunderland right back Stephen Wright.
To add to that Coleman changed the strike forced with the captures of Clinton Morrison and Freddy Eastwood from Crystal Palace and Wolves respectively. Morrison had turned down the offer of a new deal at Palace whilst Eastwood just couldn't wait to get away from Wolves where things hadn't worked out.
fter ending last season just one place above the drop zone, they have made a steady start to the new campaign, including a 4-1 win in their last home game against Southampton.
They are not expected to challenge at the top of the table this season but likewise are not likely to be so close to the relegation places as they were last May.
Jay Tabb and Aron Gunnarsson both had knocks following the game against Wolves on Saturday but both are expected to be fit and Chris Coleman is likely to name the same eleven who started that game.
Coventry's expected team is: Kieran Westwood, Isaac Osbourne, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Michael Mifsud, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb, Leon Best, Freddy Eastwood. Subs: Andy Marshall, Guillaume Beuzelin, Marcus Hall, Robbie Simpson, Clinton Morrison.
Owen Coyle will still be without midfielders Kevin McDonald and Alan Mahon. McDonald revealed on Saturday that he's still a couple of weeks away and he'll again sit this one out.
Michael Duff and Clarke Carlisle thankfully both came through Saturday's game and should be OK whilst Stephen Jordan is back in contention after serving a one match ban.
It would be a surprise should Coyle make any changes and we're likely to line up: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson, Chris McCann, Steven Thompson, Martin Paterson. Subs from: Diego Penny, Stephen Jordan, Remco van der Schaaf, Chris Eagles, Robbie Blake, Jay Rodriguez, Ade Akinbiyi.
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Ade Akinbiyi and Robbie Blake played, Ade up front in a 4-5-1 formation with Robbie on the left, and as the Burnley fans made their feelings known about Gray they were soon to see we were in good hands with both Ade and Robbie scoring.
Robbie started the move that led to our early goal. He'd drifted inside and played an inch perfect ball inside the full back for Wade Elliott who needed no second invitation. His cross was early and low and Ade powered into the box to convert it.
Coventry had just one spell on top in the whole game and that led to them getting an equaliser after an almighty scramble in our box. Doyle hit home after what had looked like a pinball game as the ball cannoned off one player and then the next.
Burnley got on top in the second half and Coventry were left to fight with ten men when Kevin Kyle was sent off, not as though the loss of Kyle weakens a side. He should have gone in the first half for an elbow on Jon Harley but found referee Ilderton far too lenient in just showing a yellow, and he was very fortunate to get away with a second yellow rather than a straight red after a lunge on Alexander.
Either way, he wasn't playing any more, and Burnley took the game to Coventry and finally won it when Robbie superbly stroked the ball home after good work by Joey Gudjonsson and Ade.
We even had a nice little cameo from Steve Jones to finish things off before the final whistle blew to record our first away win since Wolves.
The teams were;
Coventry: Dimi Konstantopoulos, Isaac Osbourne, Arjan De Zeeuw, Elliott Ward, Liam Davis (Stephen Hughes 82), Jay Tabb (Robbie Simpson 87), Michael Hughes, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray (Dele Adebola 69), Michael Mifsud, Kevin Kyle. Subs not used: Gary Borrowdale, Kevin Thornton.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Stanislav Varga, David Unsworth, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott, James O'Connor (Alan Mahon 59), Joey Gudjonsson (John Spicer 75), Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Ade Akinbiyi (Steve Jones 81). Subs not used: Gabor Kiraly, Stephen Jordan.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
1999/2000 | FAC | a | 0-3 | 22,774 | . |
2001/02 | 1 | a | 2-0 | 16,849 | Taylor Little |
| . | . | h | 1-0 | 18,751 | Taylor |
2002/03 | 1 | h | 3-1 | 13,470 | Blake(pen) Grant Davenport(og) |
| . | . | a | 1-0 | 13,659 | Cox |
2003/04 | 1 | h | 1-2 | 10,358 | Blake |
| . | . | a | 0-4 | 12,953 | . |
2004/05 | C | h | 2-2 | 10,919 | Blake(pen) Branch |
| . | . | a | 2-0 | 13,236 | Oster Moore |
2005/06 | C | h | 4-0 | 11,683 | G O'Connor Thomas Akinbiyi(2) |
| . | . | a | 0-1 | 19,641 | . |
2006/07 | C | a | 0-1 | 18,362 | . |
| . | . | h | 1-2 | 12,830 | McVeigh |
2007/08 | C | a | 2-1 | 17,347 | Akinbiyi Blake |
| . | . | h | 2-0 | 9,779 | McCann Caldwell |