PREVIEW: Sky Blues return to Sky Bet League One action

City host Doncaster on Saturday...

27 September 2019

The Sky Blues return to Sky Bet League One action this Saturday after a week away from the pitch. City host Darren Moore’s Doncaster side at St Andrews and here is all you need to know about the opposition.

Fact File

Name: Doncaster Rovers

Nicknames: Rovers, Donny

Founded: 1879

Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium

Address: Stadium Way, Lakeside, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 5JW.

Capacity: 15,231

Pitch dimensions: 109x76

The Opposition

After reaching the play-off semi-final last year, Doncaster have started the season well with four victories, three draws and just a single defeat.

Moore’s side are yet to lose on the road this season after draws at Rochdale and Ipswich while home victories over Fleetwood, Lincoln, Peterborough and Rotherham have ensure Donny sit seventh in the table after eight games.

Doncaster lost influential players from both ends of the pitch over the summer, as 22 goal forward John Marquis joined League One rivals Portsmouth while goalkeeper Marko Marosi joined the Sky Blues.

Manager

Darren Moore was appointed as Doncaster manger in July this year after being without a job for four months following his dismissal from West Bromwich Albion.

Moore began his career in the game as a player for Torquay United where he made over 100 appearances before joining Doncaster in 1995 where he spent two years playing 76 games.

Spells at former club West Brom, Portsmouth and Bradford City followed before Moore joined Derby in 2006 where he was an influential member of the squad that won promotion to the Premier League.

He got his first taste of management with West Brom in April 2018 after Alan Pardew was sacked and Moore was appointed caretaker manger for the reminder of the season.

Moore remined unbeaten in April which led to the Premier League manager of the month trophy and a famous 1-0 victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United, however this was not enough to secure survival and West Brom were relegated.

After much speculation over the summer Moore was finally appointed as permanent manager ahead of the new season and guided West Brom to fourth place by March and the Baggies were firm favourites for the play offs before Moore was sacked after a short run of negative results.

Moore then returned to former club Doncaster over the summer as he replaced Grant McCann who left for Hull City.

Last Six Games

Won- Doncaster 2-1 Lincoln City

Won- Doncaster 3-1 Lincoln City (Leasing.com trophy)

Won- Doncaster 2-1 Rotherham

Drew- Ipswich Town 0-0 Doncaster

Lost- Doncaster 0-1 Blackpool

Won- Doncaster 2-0 Peterborough

Last Time We Met

The last clash between the two clubs came on the last day of the 2018/2019 League One season at the Keepmoat Stadium. The Yorkshire took the lead on the half hour mark with a goal from midfielder Kieran Sadlier.

The match was sealed and Doncaster’s play-off credentials confirmed five minutes before full time as John Marquis made it 2-0 to ensure their season went on for at least two more games.

Head to Head

Coventry wins: 9

Draws: 7

Doncaster wins: 10

Club Connections

Marko Marosi

Current Sky Blues stopper Marko Marosi began his professional career with Wigan Athletic when he joined the club in 2013 however Marosi failed to make a first team appearance for the Latics.

He was released at the end of his first season and joined Doncaster in 2014 making his debut as a substitute in an away defeat to Walsall before making his first start in an FA cup tie against Bristol City.

Marosi was part of the team than won promotion from League 2 in the 2016/17 season as well as the side that reached the play-off semi-finals last season.

When his contract expired in July, Marosi joined the Sky Blues on a three-year deal and after battling with Ben Wilson for the number one spot, Marosi has featured in every League One game so far this season.

Sammy Clingan

Northern Ireland international Sammy Clingan currently plays for Glenavon however he started his professional career in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers without making a first team appearance for the club.

After two loan spells at Chesterfield, Clingan had spells at Nottingham Forest and Norwich City before joining the Sky Blues in 2009.

Former captain Clingan spent three years with City making 98 league appearances and scoring seven goals, one of which coming against Doncaster.

During his short spell at the Keepmoat, Clingan made six appearances in the 2012/13 season before moving north of the border to Kilmarnock.

Clingan also had an impressive international career representing Nothern Ireland at under 15, 16, 19, 21, 23 level as well as making 39 full international appearances.

Match Officials

James Adcock will be the man with the whistle for Saturday’s fixture.

So far this season, Adcock has officiated in four League One games and 3 League Two games brandishing 29 yellow cards and two reds.

It will be the second time Adcock has refereed a City game this season after he took charge of the 0-0 draw at Bolton.

Adcock will be assisted by Nigel Lugg and Adam Crysell with Akil Howson acting as fourth official.

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Sky Blues 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

The Sky Blues share the spoils with a well deserved equaliser late on...

28 September 2019

Coventry City continued their unbeaten start to the season after a hard fought draw to fellow high flyers Doncaster Rovers at St Andrew’s today.

A late equaliser from substitute Amadou Bakayoko was enough to share the spoils against a resolute Doncaster side.

The Sky Blues enjoyed the majority of play in the first half, and could count themselves unfortunate to go in behind at the break.

Three minutes in, it was Doncaster who had the first chance. A piece of loose play at the back by City allowed Coppinger to play his striker through, but the Wolves loanee failed to hit the target from 12 yards out.

Half chances were evenly spread between the two sides for the first 10 minutes of the fixture. The next major opportunity fell to Matty Godden on eleven minutes. Some neat work from Callum O’Hare allowed Godden sight of goal and unmarked, and the former Peterborough striker was unlucky not to get his shot away earlier. When he did fire a shot at goal, it was well blocked and the resulting corner came to nothing.

The chance did spur Coventry on. Just two minutes later, a delicious Jordan Shipley through ball found an oncoming Jordy Hiwula in the area. His shot fell foul of the far post.

City nearly took the lead in the strangest of circumstances. With 24 minutes gone, a dangerous Wesley Jobello cross had the keeper beaten; unfortunately, it struck the bar and bounced away to safety.

Coventry enjoyed the vast majority of possession, without testing Doncaster goalkeeper Seny Dieng too much. A shot from Callum O’Hare drew a decent save, but he was relatively untested for the first 37 minutes.

His first real calling was crucial. A brilliant double dummy from Shipley and Godden allowed the ball to find Hiwula, and his effort was dealt with impressively.

The deadlock was broken on 40 minutes against the run of play. A quick break down the right allowed Brad Halliday to slide the ball across to Jon Taylor. The former Rotherham man allowed the ball to slide through to captain Ben Whiteman, and his composed finish found the bottom left corner.

Matty Godden almost had a quick equaliser but for a brilliant block. Fankaty Dabo managed to find the City striker with a cutback from the byline, but the Doncaster back line held firm.

Half Time: Sky Blues 0-1 Doncaster Rovers

The only change at half time was the man in the middle; referee James Adcock was replaced by his fourth official Nigel Lugg at the break. Coventry started where they had left off, with Doncaster seeing very little of the ball.

Doncaster Rovers were forced into an early substitution when Niall Ennis picked up a knock. He was replaced by Alfie May.

Both sides had big chances to change the game just moments apart in the first ten minutes of the half. A Liam Walsh ball found Brandon Mason on the left, and his ball was placed onto the head of Jobello. Unfortunately the Frenchman couldn’t get enough on it to trouble the keeper.

Down the other end, A Kyle McFazdean error allowed Jon Taylor to square it to James Coppinger. The evergreen Doncaster man was halted by a superb challenge from Walsh, who had tracked back brilliantly.

On 54 minutes, the two Doncaster men combined again; this time it was Coppinger laying off Taylor. The winger’s shot whistled over, much to the relief of Marko Marosi in the City goal.

There were strong appeals for a handball in the box against Doncaster centre back Dernovan Daniels, but the referee was having none of it despite the protests.

The Sky Blues continued to press for the equaliser, but the Rovers defence held strong. Jordy Hiwula and Callum O’Hare both had shots charged down.

City were denied what seemed like a clear penalty on 70 minutes when a Gervane Kastaneer shot was parried onto the arm of right back Brad Halliday. The crowd made sure they made their feelings clear on the decision.

The decision seemed to spur the Sky Blues on, and they were so close to an equaliser when a Jordy Hiwula cross looked destined for Matty Godden from point blank range. Again, a Doncaster Rovers interception foiled any chance.

The Sky Blues continued to press, but struggled to test the goalkeeper. They were finally rewarded for their hard work in the 89th minute, when Doncaster failed to clear a free kick. Brandon Mason found Kyle McFazdean in the box, and he found substitute Bakayoko in acres of space in the box. His effort found the back of the net and the home fans took the roof off.

They weren’t finished there; Kastaneer had a brilliant run and was unlucky to not pick out Matty Godden. He then continued his sparkling cameo with an excellent run and ball to Callum O'Hare, but the youngster couldn't make contact.

Full time: Sky Blues 1-1 Doncaster

Goals: Ben Whiteman (40’); Amadou Bakayoko (89’)

Yellows: Kyle McFazdean (43’), Reece James (88’)

Reds:

Attendance: 7010 (811 Away)

Sky Blues XI: Marko Marosi (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Kyle McFadzean (C), Dom Hyam, Brandon Mason, Callum O’Hare, Liam Walsh, Jordan Shipley, Wesley Jobello (Gervane Kastaneer 64’), Matt Godden, Jordy Hiwula (Amadou Bakayoko, 81’)

Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Sam McCallum, Michael Rose, Zain Westbrooke, Josh Eccles

Doncaster Rovers XI: Seny Dieng (GK), Brad Halliday, Donervon Daniels, Tom Anderson, Reece James; Ben Sheaf, Ben Whiteman (C); Jon Taylor, James Coppinger, Kieran Sadlier (Magder Gomes, 88’); Niall Ennis (Alfie May, 50’)

Unused Subs: Ian Lawlor (GK), Joe Wright, William Longbottom, Danny Amos, Alex Kiwomya

Standings