A CBS record crowd for the Oxford game

Coventry City started their home campaign last week with an excellent 3-2 victory over newly promoted Oxford United. Des Buckingham's side had lost only one game in their last thirteen and had comprehensively beaten Norwich City in their opening game. The Sky Blues left it late for Haji Wright to score his 96^th minute goal – his second of the night – but it was a well deserved victory.

The attendance was an excellent 28,051 and despite being only the 13^th highest ever crowd at the stadium it is the highest crowd for an evening league game at the CBS Arena since the club moved from Highfield Road in 2005. The previous highest was for the 'return to Coventry' game against Gillingham in 2014 however substantially reduced prices were in force for that game. 

The top attendances for Coventry games at the CBS are as follows:

1. 31,407 Chelsea (FA Cup) 2008-09

2. 31,054 Crewe (EFL Trophy) 2013-14

3. 30,232 Leeds (League) 2023-24

4. 30,175 Birmingham (League) 2022-23

5. 29,914 Leicester (League) 2023-24

6. 29,208 Sheffield W (League) 2023-24

7. 29,102 QPR (League) 2023-24

8. 28,874 Middlesbrough (Play-off) 2022-23

9. 28,529 Cardiff City (League) 2023-24

10. 28,343 Accrington (League) 2017-18

11. 28,184 Leeds (League) 2007-08

12. 28,120 Middlesbrough (FA Cup) 2005-06

13. 28,051 Oxford (League) 2024-25

It is interesting to note that seven of the top nine attendances have been in the last two seasons reflecting the buzz around the city since the club returned to Coventry in 2021 generated by the exciting brand of football played by Mark Robins' team. Who would have thought that the team would be being watched by the biggest crowds since the early 1970s.

Friday's attendance was also the highest Coventry crowd for the opening league game of a season since 1978 when 28,585 were at Highfield Road to watch City lock horns with the league champions Nottingham Forest. I remember it being a warm August evening and that legendary Coventry athlete Dave Moorcroft was on the pitch displaying his gold medal from the Commonwealth Games 1500 metres held earlier that summer. An 18-year-old Gary Gillespie made his home debut and the game ended 0-0, the same scores as when the two teams had met in the final home game of the previous season, the day Forest had clinched the title. 

If you enjoy this column and would like to hear more about Coventry City's history you can listen to the Sky Blue History Podcast which is available on Spotify and YouTube. Claudio Cardellino and I talk about all things Sky Blue. Just search for 'Sky Blue History Podcast'

League Cup success at last

Coventry City bounced back from the disappointing defeat at Stoke on the opening day of the season by winning 1-0 at Bristol City in the League Cup First Round tie on Tuesday evening. It was the perfect riposte to the Stoke defeat with a much better defensive performance and an inspiring five-man substitution just after the hour mark. Within two minutes Ellis Simms, on for Haji Wright, slotted home from Kasey Palmer's clever pass. After that City looked the better side for the first time in the match and saw out the game with few tense moments.

The victory ended the dreadful run in the competition which has seen City fail to reach the second round in the past three seasons being knocked out by Northampton (2021), Bristol City (2022) and AFC Wimbledon (2023). The poor form in the competition goes a lot further back with only seven wins in 24 matches since the famous win at Old Trafford in 2007 and they have failed to clear the first hurdle in 11 of the last 15 seasons. Many City fans will have forgotten the embarrassing losses against Hartlepool (2009), Morecambe (2010), Bury (2011) and Rochdale (2015) not to mention Hereford (2006) and Tranmere, when the club were in the Premiership in 1999. In the 34 years since reaching the semi final (and losing to Nottingham Forest) in 1990 the Sky Blues have reached the last eight once (in 1991) and the last sixteen on just five occasions. The League Cup may not have the kudos it once had but it still has a Wembley final and if City were to have home ties in the last sixteen or beyond then a large attendance would be guaranteed. 

At Ashton Gate manager Mark Robins brought all five allowable subs on simultaneously – a first. The use of five subs was introduced in 2020-21 (the Covid season) but the following season it was back to three subs except for FA Cup ties which remained at five. Since 2020 City have used all five subs on 35 occasions and this was the first occasion that all five entered the field at the same time. The club record is four in a home defeat to Burnley in 2022-23 when messrs Doyle, McFadzean, Walker and Palmer were replaced by Eccles, Rose, Godden and Tavares. 

If you enjoy this column and would like to hear more about Coventry City's history you can listen to the Sky Blue History Podcast which is available on Spotify and YouTube. Claudio Cardellino and I talk about all things Sky Blue. The latest podcast features the history of Highfield Road and can be found here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tQLAR8PJdHXVvgJncnHRh?si=CNLx_igCQuyctEC3D-C2ug

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoMVwjLuo4Q

A new season & home form is crucial

The new football season starts in earnest this weekend and the Sky Blues travel to Stoke for their opening game of the Championship season. Expectations are high both within the fanbase and in the wider football community with the Second Tier Podcast tipping City to finish second behind Luton Town. In the last two seasons the Podcast has successfully predicted Luton and Ipswich to be promoted! 

The squad has been strengthened with some interesting signings and is now one of the strongest in the division outside of the relegated clubs and we have to hope that the new signings bed in quickly to City's style of play. 

My major concern is the home form. Last season Mark Robins' team had a very average home record with nine wins, eight draws and six defeats. I appreciate that three of those losses occurred after the FA Cup semi final when it was clear there were a lot of tired legs in the squad but there has to be improvement if a serious promotion challenge is going to be made. Last season the team were 14th highest for home wins with even lowly Plymouth and relegated Birmingham recording more home victories. The top six teams all won 15 home games or more. Generally successful teams have strong home records and it is certainly the case with Coventry City. In the promotion seasons of 1936, 1959, 1967 and 2020 the team lost only one home game in each season with two defeats in the 1964 Division Three title campaign. In 1936 they won 19 out of 21 home games. In 1959, 18 out of 23. In 1967, 17 out of 21. The facts speak for themselves, good home form leads to success. The incredible atmosphere inside the CBS Arena should also play its part and with 25,000 or so home fans likely to be inside the noisy stadium there is no excuse. 

An opening day trip to Stoke brings back memories of a bad defeat at the Potters' old ground, the Victoria Ground, in 1979. Big summer signings Gary Collier and Dave Jones made their debut in Gordon Milne's team but Garth Crooks (2) and Viv Busby put the skids under the Sky Blues and the home side led 3-0 just 10 minutes into the second half. A Barry Powell brace restored some pride but the newly-promoted Potters were deserved 3-2 winners. Collier, a club record £350,000 signing from Bristol City, was made the scapegoat for the defensive disaster and made only one further appearance for the club before joining Portland Timbers in the NASL the following year. 

If you enjoy this column and would like to hear more about Coventry City's history you can listen to the Sky Blue History Podcast which is available on Spotify and YouTube. Claudio Cardellino and I talk about all things Sky Blue. 

The latest podcast features the history of Highfield Road and can be found here: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tQLAR8PJdHXVvgJncnHRh?si=CNLx_igCQuyctEC3D-C2ug 

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoMVwjLuo4Q

 If you have a question about the history or statistics of Coventry City or have a suggested topic for the podcast please drop me an email at clarriebourton@gmail.com and follow me on X/Twitter @clarriebourton