JIM'S COLUMN 6.2.10

City’s late equaliser against Blackpool last week ensured that City’s good home record against the Seasiders was preserved. Blackpool haven’t won in Coventry since April 1937 when they virtually clinched promotion to Division One with a 2-1 victory. However it’s not that big a deal as the clubs have only met in three seasons since then, in 1970-71 and the last two seasons. On the other hand City have not won in five trips to the Golden Mile since 1923.

Brett Ormerod’s red card was the first for an opponent at the Ricoh Arena for almost two years and the 18th visitor in total since City moved to the new stadium in 2005. Of those 18 only two of the sides affected have won the game, Hull (2-0) in 2005-06 after John Lynch was sent off and West Brom (1-0) after Diomansy Kamara in 2006-07, and both sides led before late red cards.

Before Saturday’s derby defeat at Pride Park Nottingham Forest were the hottest team in the Championship with a 19-game unbeaten run. Billy Davies’ side come to the Ricoh on Tuesday night and a good game is anticipated. Looking at the statistics however a City victory is unlikely. Forest, amazingly, have lost on only two of their last 15 league visits to Coventry, stretching back to 1987. Those two Sky Blue victories came in seasons that Forest were relegated, a 4-0 win in 1999 when Darren Huckerby scored a hat-trick for the second Saturday in a row, and a vital 2-0 win in April 2005 which lifted the Sky Blues away from the relegation zone and left Forest deep in the mire thanks to goals from Gary McSheffrey (penalty) and Dele Adebola. The latter, of course, is now in Forest’s squad and may get a game, although is unlikely to be in the starting line up. If he gets a game I am sure he will get a great reception as one of the most popular players of the post-Premiership period.

Before then, today, City travel to Ashton Gate, yet another ground where City rarely get a result. City last won there in the Third Division promotion campaign in 1963-64 thanks to a solitary Ken Hale goal and in eight subsequent league visits have picked up four draws but the last four trips have all been pointless. City did win a League Cup tie in 1976 thanks to Mick Ferguson’s goal but were lucky to get away with a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup in 2007, only putting off the inevitable for a week or so before losing to the League One side and prompting Micky Adams’ departure as manager.

Duncan Say e-mailed me after hearing Danny Baker on BBC’s 6-0-6 programme recounting his version of the day that David Speedie took over from Oggy in goal at Millwall. Baker seemed to suggest that Speedo let in four goals, or at least some of them and Duncan questioned Danny’s memory.

Duncan was right, Danny Baker's memory is not very good. The game was on 9 September 1989 and City arrived at the Den top of the old Division 1 (after only four games it has to be said). Oggy did get injured early on and let in three goals in a nightmare first half. Speedie took over between the posts after the break and David Smith pulled a goal back on 65 minutes. Speedo was finally beaten in the last minute by a thunderbolt from Ian Dawes but only after he had pulled off some fine saves.