Coventry (H) - 20th September 12:30 KO

[Sky Blues]

4 hours ago, murphy said:

It's obviously bigger for them. 

 

Whilst they have been treading water with the other minnows we have been on the adventure of a lifetime with proper big games, cup finals etc.  I had forgotten what a Coventry was. 

 

It may be over now, but given our recent history it's difficult to get excited about Cov at home. 

 

For them, on the other hand, this game is about as big as it gets. And I expect them to win for that reason. 

 

 

So we need the 3 points and you don't?

 

It's massive for both sides. I come from a family split right down the middle between Leicester and Coventry. There's no fooling me. My brothers are Leicester. We're having a few beers before and after the game. Making out this game means nothing is being a bit silly. 

 

We're all hoping for a close game where the best team wins.

[honeybradger]

Can someone start the West Brom pre match thread? This fixture has lost my attention.

Edited 16 September 2025 by honeybradger

[Sunbury Fox]

8 hours ago, Sky Blues said:

It should be a good game. In the games we've won the shots have just kept going in. In the games we have drawn we should have won comfortably. Last game Norwich fell over as soon as we looked at them. They got 2 cards for time wasting in the 1st half including the GK. It didn't stop him as he went down another 3 times in the 2nd half without anyone near him. They certainly parked the bus as we had 15 blocked shots. We had 52 touches inside their penalty area.

 

We're playing great attacking football both home and away. Our biggest problem has been letting in set pieces. The goal Norwich scored was the first goal we conceded from open play. Our GK has hardly made a save. Norwich 1 shot on target 1 goal. Hull 3 shots on target 2 goals. QPR scored their only shot on target. 

 

Been looking forward to this one. Our first game against a side that should be in the mix for promotion with the addition of being away. We've outplayed our opponents in just about every game so it will be good to compare ourselves to a top side.

Not sure about these stats. Funny Hull scored 2 against you when you drew 0-0 with them....

[Sky Blues]

4 hours ago, Sunbury Fox said:

Not sure about these stats. Funny Hull scored 2 against you when you drew 0-0 with them....

Sorry meant Oxford. 

[Lineker's Left Foot]

7 hours ago, Sky Blues said:

So we need the 3 points and you don't?

 

It's massive for both sides. I come from a family split right down the middle between Leicester and Coventry. There's no fooling me. My brothers are Leicester. We're having a few beers before and after the game. Making out this game means nothing is being a bit silly. 

 

We're all hoping for a close game where the best team wins.

Not really, as Forest are the team I despise.  Even Celtic before you 

[Lineker's Left Foot]

9 hours ago, Sky Blues said:

So we need the 3 points and you don't?

 

It's massive for both sides. I come from a family split right down the middle between Leicester and Coventry. There's no fooling me. My brothers are Leicester. We're having a few beers before and after the game. Making out this game means nothing is being a bit silly. 

 

We're all hoping for a close game where the best team wins.

Also guess you’re annoyed that your major 

honours mirror those of Wigan 😜

Edited 17 September 2025 by Lineker's Left Foot

[Gamble92]

Althought Forest will always be by far the biggest game for me and most others, let's not take after some of them twats and pretend this doesn't matter. 

 

It's absolutely our biggest fixture this season for me. 

[Ric Flair]

Biggest rival for me, cannot stand them. Not keen on Forest either but not to the same level as Coventry, Derby i'm ambivalent on but the rivalry will probably grow the longer we're in the same league again.

[Ashley]

8 hours ago, Sky Blues said:

So we need the 3 points and you don't?

 

It's massive for both sides. I come from a family split right down the middle between Leicester and Coventry. There's no fooling me. My brothers are Leicester. We're having a few beers before and after the game. Making out this game means nothing is being a bit silly. 

 

We're all hoping for a close game where the best team wins.

So you're normal then and dont have 6 fingers? 

[UniFox21]

I think they beat us this weekend, they've been scoring a lot and we look a bit of a mess at the back at times.

[Fox92]

13 hours ago, murphy said:

It's obviously bigger for them. 

 

Whilst they have been treading water with the other minnows we have been on the adventure of a lifetime with proper big games, cup finals etc.  I had forgotten what a Coventry was. 

 

It may be over now, but given our recent history it's difficult to get excited about Cov at home. 

 

For them, on the other hand, this game is about as big as it gets. And I expect them to win for that reason. 

 

 

It's big for both of us. It's a local derby and I don't know why people play it down.

 

Recent history a rubbish excuse to use. Are we the only fanbase that does this? Incredibly annoying considering we haven't got a main rival. Why would throw one away. I don't get it.

Villa would not use this against Birmingham, Newcastle wouldn't use this against Sunderland and Wrexham wouldn't use this against Chester yet all three are among the fiercest derbies in the Country. The more recently successful fanbase would not play the game down.

 

And also, for the manager and players, Cov are the first good side we have played and considering we haven't played that well so far this season it is a big game in that regards for us.

Edited 17 September 2025 by Fox92

[Gamble92]

19 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Biggest rival for me, cannot stand them. Not keen on Forest either but not to the same level as Coventry, Derby i'm ambivalent on but the rivalry will probably grow the longer we're in the same league again.

I actually think the longer we go without playing them seems to make these games bigger. The Derby matches this season will feel 10x bigger than the games when we were playing them for the 8th time in a few years and getting about 20,000 in. Even though we were pumping them 4-0 every time. 

[Mickyblueeyes]

I’ll tell you what this fixture is missing. A great game for the books. We’ve had the Waghorn equaliser. Peltier winning it with ten men. But no Knockaert last minute winner. 
 

Go on Abdul, make some history.

[Dandy king]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Biggest rival for me, cannot stand them. Not keen on Forest either but not to the same level as Coventry, Derby i'm ambivalent on but the rivalry will probably grow the longer we're in the same league again.

Bang on , growing up in hinkley in the late 80's / early 90s cov were the other team everyone supported. 

 

One thing I don't get is why people want to write fixtures off as ' not a derby ' or ' we don't care about them not bothered '. 

 

Derbies/ Rivalries ate amongst the best games in football and I think you should have as many as possible. Cov is the one for me but hate forest as well. Bring it on 

[RonnieTodger]

Got a horrible feeling for this one.

[Devonfox1884]

Similar feeling to the Brum game for me this one. I thought we’d win that one and I think we’ll win this one.

 

2-1 City - Mavididi and Fatawu.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

3 minutes ago, Devonfox1884 said:

Similar feeling to the Brum game for me this one. I thought we’d win that one and I think we’ll win this one.

 

2-1 City - Mavididi and Fatawu.

Needs to pull his finger out frankly.

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

I’ll tell you what this fixture is missing. A great game for the books. We’ve had the Waghorn equaliser. Peltier winning it with ten men. But no Knockaert last minute winner. 
 

Go on Abdul, make some history.

Kiernan's late brace was decent but I do want something even more iconic. I think it has to be Monga. From Cov and it's been nearly double his age since they were last in the Premier League hahaha

[Xen]

18 hours ago, Sky Blues said:

 

We're playing great attacking football both home and away. Our biggest problem has been letting in set pieces. The goal Norwich scored was the first goal we conceded from open play. Our GK has hardly made a save. Norwich 1 shot on target 1 goal. Hull 3 shots on target 2 goals. QPR scored their only shot on target. 

 

So what you're saying is your goalkeeper has been largely untested, and when he has been called upon he's generally got a poor record? In fact, in terms of expected goals against difference, Coventry are 22nd in the league having conceded 7 from 4.36xG (Leicester are 2nd by the same metric).

 

Will be interesting to see how that goes against a team that has better finishers than most sides you've played, and will probably control the game a lot more than you're used to so far this season.

 

Coventry are overperforming their xG (12.94) by 15% - and as we know a huge amount of that comes from the QPR game, otherwise they're underperforming by 33%). Leicester are overperforming xG (6.46) by 24%

 

 

Stats don't mean everything - and especially so in a derby - but regardless it's going to be a tough match. That said, if we turn up and play to our potential then I think we could well give Cov a wake-up call. This game will depend massively on who starts in midfield for us; if we see the Skipp-Soumare double-act again then we're basically throwing away the first half.

 

[Chelmofox]

9 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Kiernan's late brace was decent but I do want something even more iconic. I think it has to be Monga. From Cov and it's been nearly double his age since they were last in the Premier League hahaha

If there is a Monga banger at home to win this i think I will soil myself on the spot.  

[FosseSpark]

Haji Wright could have a field day running down the chasm between our fullbacks and centre backs.

[moore_94]

17 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Kiernan's late brace was decent but I do want something even more iconic. I think it has to be Monga. From Cov and it's been nearly double his age since they were last in the Premier League hahaha

Either a Fatawu/Mahrez - esque cut inside curler or he dribbles through about half their team and nut megs the keeper

[Jazzy_Jeff]

It’s a big game for both - difference being that if we win we’ll briefly enjoy it then focus on WBA. If cov win, there will be an open top bus parade.

[izzymuzzet]

Not sure how best to go about it but Ricardo simply has to start. He is too good not to. Personally I'd drop Hamza and slot him in at RB but I think Marti quite likes his physicality. So a flat midfield 3 might be the best option. 

 

Centre back partnership is a doozy - they were decent against Charlton, very good against Birmingham and poor against Oxford. Maybe stick with it for now and hope they can develop together.

 

As others have discussed the Soumare/Skipp experiment has to end now. Think James will come in for one of them, although there's an argument to say Winks should come in as well. 

 

Up top I'd like to see either Daka or Carranza come in for Ayew. We need somene who will stretch the defence. Yes I'm aware of Daka's limitations but he is at least willing to press and run in behind which will be crucial on Saturday as Cov won't sit deep. 

[Ian S]

11 hours ago, Sky Blues said:

So we need the 3 points and you don't?

 

It's massive for both sides. I come from a family split right down the middle between Leicester and Coventry. There's no fooling me. My brothers are Leicester. We're having a few beers before and after the game. Making out this game means nothing is being a bit silly. 

 

We're all hoping for a close game where the best team wins.

We are all not hoping for a close game at all.Hope we hammer you and don’t care if you’re the better team.