Mick's Match Day Preview - Coventry vs. Derby
Saturday, 10th Sep 2011 08:50 by Mick McDermott

Just as the football season got going we had an international break. Did that seem like a long time without any Rams action to other fans? This game against the Sky Blues is on the Telly and a late kick off.

Coventry City v Derby County

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

5:20 pm - 10th Of September 2011

Coventry

The Sky Blues have started the season badly. Two Draws and three defeats have left them in the bottom three. They haven't scored at home. Boss Andy Thorn is fairly upbeat. Speaking to the official site he said;

"I think if we get three points on Saturday we will be up and running."

"I have been watching the young kids and they are really coming on and training has gone up a level. Everyone is flying so I think we are capable of getting three points anywhere."

"If we get three points on Saturday I think we will go on a little run then and then maintain it with wins and draws because they have got that in them now, which they never had before."

Brave words though he's recruiting players to try and make them come true. Cody McDonald has just joined the club from Norwich to give more striking options and he goes straight into the squad.

Off the pitch the troubles with SISU continue. A bid to buy the club fell through after the anonymous investors were revealed by the club. The Investors led by Gary Hoffman were seeking to buy the club for £1.

Beginning to sound familiar? Coventry seems to be heading down the same route as us.

Recent Cov Form: P 5 W 0 D 2 L 3 F 2 A 8

Leading Scorer: Jutkiewicz (2)

Past Sky Blues vs. Rams games:

Historical at Coventry: P 39 W 9 D 10 L 20 F 37 A 1

Neither the Ricoh nor the old Highfield Rd has been happy hunting grounds for the Rams. We've had six goals put past us twice in the last 11 years.

The last game at the Ricoh last August was a 2-1 defeat. We conceded a first half penalty that Moxey equalized in the second half.

Moxey was playing as a makeshift striker in the absence of the injured Rob Hulse. He did well and on another day might have scored 3.

The Rams had a lot of pressure but as happened far too often last season, we conceded a late goal when Ben Turner headed home a poorly defended cross.

Sat 21 Aug 2010: Coventry City 2 - 1 Derby County

Teams:

Coventry City: Westwood, Keogh, Craine, Cameron, Turner, Carsley, Doyle, McSheffrey, Bell (Clarke 76), Eastwood (Gunnarsson 81), Jutkiewicz (Platt 38)

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Leacock, Barker, Savage (Porter 87), Bailey, Doyle (Cywka 72), Green, Moxey, Commons

Current Coventry Squad:

No. Position Player

1 GK Joe Murphy

2 DF Richard Keogh

3 DF Chris Hussey

4 MF Sammy Clingan (captain)

6 DF James McPake

7 MF David Bell

8 MF Carl Baker

9 FW Lukas Jutkiewicz

10 FW Freddy Eastwood

11 MF Gary McSheffrey

12 MF Gary Deegan

13 GK Chris Dunn

15 DF Martin Cranie

19 FW Roy O'Donovan

No. Position Player

22 FW Clive Platt

23 GK Danny Ireland

24 DF Richard Wood

26 DF Jordan Clarke

27 FW Shaun Jeffers

28 FW Callum Wilson

30 DF Nathan Cameron

31 DF Cyrus Christie

32 MF Conor Thomas

33 GK Lee Burge

34 MF Gael Bigirimana

35 MF Josh Ruffels

Injuries or suspensions

Gary McSheffrey and Clive Platt are pushing for a return but Gary Deegan and Richard Wood (both thigh) are out.

How to get there:

Driving: It’s 54miles to Coventry and given that traffic and parking aren’t so good down there, I’d be tempted by the train. Best route is to take the M1 to J21 and then take the M69 to J2 where you join the M6. Leave the M6 at Junction 3. Take the A444 towards the city centre and after about one mile you will see the stadium on your left.

Parking: It goes without saying that you shouldn’t park in the retail park unless you fancy a clamping. There’s little parking to be had close to the stadium though some industrial units etc, do offer parking for £5 in the area. All of the street parking is ‘Residents only’ and the club encourages visitors to use various park and ride schemes where you book in advance.

The railway station is about an hour’s walk away but you can pick up a bus or taxi straight outside.

Drinking: There are several pubs located on the Longford Rd whatFootballgroundguide.co.uk reporting the JK English Pub as being the most welcoming. You can park there for £4. The Black Horse between Longford and Exhall is also reported to be popular with away fans.

Mick’s prediction:

Losing to Burnley was a blow but then if we'd been offered 12 points from 15 on the opening day most would have taken it.

Many people have commented on the lack of midfield cover and our fruitless search for a Striker. As one bloke put it "the signings are all well and good but they're peripheral - you don't buy the wing mirrors and indicators on a car til you've go the engine and wheels".

How Nigel Clough and his men bounce back from the defeat is what matters now. A trip away during the break will hopefully have improved team spirit though often they do exactly the opposite. We seem to have managed to injure one of centre halves out there.

I reckon given Coventry's poor start that a win is possible but a draw more likely.

Coventry 0-0 Rams