Bristol City are the first team to visit Coventry City’s new ‘home’ ground on Sunday when the Sky Blues play their first home game of the season.
There may not be a very good crowd at Northampton’s Sixfield’s Stadium as a lot of Coventry fans are simply boycotting the games. And who could blame them? They are getting the rough end of the deal from people who don’t seem to care very much about the paying public which every club needs to survive.
But putting Coventry’s problems to one side for a moment, (and we do wish the fan’s well), the Robins will be looking to go into this game with a realistic chance of making it two wins on the bounce after beating Gillingham at home in the Capital One cup last time out.
Vital Quotes:
Sean O’Driscoll: ‘Playing on a Sunday will be strange. It’s another day and players will sit and look at all the other results.
‘It’s going to be a bit of a circus for a club as prestigious as Coventry, with them playing miles away at Northampton.
‘But whether we play in Coventry or Northampton, it’s just an away game and we’ve got to treat it like that.’
Coventry Team News:
Midfielder Carl Baker will miss this game as he starts a three match ban for picking up a red card in the defeat against Leyton Orient in the Capital One cup on Tuesday. Adam Barton is a likely replacement.
New signing Mathieu Manset could make his debut in this game; he arrived on Wednesday after Coventry had a transfer embargo lifted, although they will still be watched closely.
Player to watch: Franck Moussa
Made a good early start to the season for Coventry with two goals in two games.
Robins Team News:
Sean O’Driscoll has no fresh injury worries to contend with.
Louis Carey is still troubled by a dead leg while Albert Adomah was sold to Middlesbrough this week.
Player to watch: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Looks every bit as if he is going to be a big star for City. Very dangerous player
Match Facts & Stats
Coventry have won 35%, drawn 25% and lost 40% of their last 20 home games.
Coventry have kept a clean sheet in 20% of their last 20 home games.
Coventry have failed to score in 15% of their last 20 home games.
Bristol City have won 10%, drawn 20% and lost 70% of their last 20 away games.
Bristol City have kept a clean sheet in 10% of their last 20 away games.
Bristol City have failed to score in 45% of their last 20 away games.
(source – kickoff.co.uk)
Ref Watch:
David Coote. Full details here
Match Prediction:
Might be able to nick this one, I’ll go for 2-1 to Bristol City.
Next Fixtures:
Sat 17 Aug 2013 Bristol C v Wolves
Sat 24 Aug 2013 MK Dons v Bristol C
