Ricoh Arena Saturday February 16 3pm
Three is the magic number...
FA CUP matches will always have a special atmosphere about them and tomorrow's encounter against West Brom will be no different as the two sides come face-to-face for the third time this season.
And after two of the most dramatic matches this season were played out by the Baggies and Sky Blues at the Ricoh and the Hawthorns in late 2007, which way this one will go, with the added intrigue of FA Cup magic thrown into the equation, is anybody's guess.
The tie has certainly caught the imagination of both sets of fans with the biggest attendance of the season predicted at the Ricoh. Baggies fans sold out of their initial allocation of 6,000 tickets well over a week ago and City fans have rallied in response to that.
Rewind the clock to the start of December and it was the Sky Blue Army who marauded to the Black Country, looking for payback after the Baggies had administered a comprehensive 4-0 thumping of City at the Ricoh Arena just four weeks earlier.
Back then, the early sending-off of star striker Michael Mifsud defined a tie where West Brom eventually proved too hot to handle when they had an extra man for the majority of the match.
The Sky Blues held out until half-time but when Paul Robinson opened the scoring ten minutes after the interval, the floodgates opened with Filipe Teixiera's brace and alte strike from Robert Koren giving Albion a 4-0 victory.
When City had a quickfire opportunity to avenge that defeat, they took it in some style at the Hawthorns and you could not have written the script any better as Coventry's Maltese magician grabbed two goals to show that he is considerably more useful when he is on the pitch than when banished to the sidelines.
The Sky Blues shot into a two goal lead before half-time with a goal apiece from Mifsud and Leon Best, only to be pegged back by a Baggies side spurred into action by a no doubt fearsome half-time dressing-down from manager Tony Mowbray.
Within 20 minutes of the interval West Brom were level before another sending-off changed the picture of the game. This time, full-back Paul Robinson - one of Baggies' goalscorers at the Ricoh - was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, changing the balance of power in the game.
Until then, West Brom had looked capable of going on to win but City took advantage of their numerical superiority to ultimately secure a 4-2 victory thanks to another goal from Best and Mifsud.
Current league form indicates that Albion will be favourites to win this tie but league form counts for little in the FA Cup, which West Brom enjoyed much success in historically.
They have lifted the trophy five times, their first triumph coming in 1888 and their most recent in 1968, their last major trophy. Back then Alan Ashman guided them to victory when they beat Everton in extra time thanks to a single goal from Jeff Astle.
Last season West Brom went out at the Fifth Round stage, losing 5-4 on penalties to Middlesbrough after they had held them to a 2-2 draw at the Riverside. The last time they progressed beyond Round Five was in 2001/02 when they lost 1-0 to Fulham at the Quarter Final stage.
Team News
The Sky Blues will be without newest recruits Danny Fox and Scott Dann for the clash, who are both cup-tied having played for Walsall in earlier rounds of the competition.
Midfielder Stephen Hughes, who was a scorer in City's fourth round win over Millwall, remains doubtful after missing Tuesday's goalless draw against Cardiff while Ben Turner, Leon McKenzie, David McNamee (all hamstring) and Colin Hawkins (Achilles) are ruled out.
West Brom skipper Jonathan Greening is suspended for the FA Cup clash, but two out of Zoltan Gera (leg), Roman Bednar (groin) and Robert Koren (calf) should play, with South Korean international Do-Heon Kim available after getting international clearance.
Form Guide
Coventry City: WLWLD
City's form on home soil has improved in 2008, with just one defeat - an unfortunate 2-1 reverse against Burnley - from four outings at the Ricoh so far.
Tuesday's 0-0 draw against Cardiff ensured back-to-back clean-sheets at the Ricoh for the first time this season.
West Brom: WLWLD
The Baggies are riding high in the Championship but have an identical record to City in their last five games.
They also drew 0-0 on Tuesday against Sheffield United at the Hawthorns, and before that were beaten 2-1 at Barnsley, whom the Sky Blues thumped 4-0 just seven days earlier.
We'd like to sign...
Kevin Phillips (right), he continues to feature among the Championship's top scorers despite spending nearly three months out through injury.
The former Sunderland, Southampton and Aston Villa man will face Coventry for the first time this season having scored in a 5-0 defeat of the Sky Blues last season.
Keep an eye on...
Felipe Teixeira, a £600,000 summer signing who has made an immediate impression in English football.
The 26-year-old playmaker played a pivotal role in the Baggies' 4-0 win at the Ricoh Arena in October, scoring two goals.
Born in Paris, he started his career at Portuguese Third Division side Felgueiras in 2000 before sealing a deal with French Ligue One club Istres the following season.
The 5ft 9in ace joined Paris Saint Germain in 2002 where he played alongside Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho before returning to Portugal on loan at Uniao de Leira and then signing a permanent deal with Academica.
He was a prominent figure in the Portugal squad which knocked England out of the European Under-21 Championships in 2002, scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 win.
Head-to-Head in the FA Cup...
The most recent meeting in FA Cup between the two sides was a third round replay at the Hawthorns in 1995, where goals from Dion Dublin and Peter Ndlovu earned a 2-1 win for City under Phil Neal.
Over the years, West Brom have knocked the Sky Blues out three times, with City returning the favour twice.
