The Sky Blues look to continue their unbeaten record on Saturday as they entertain Steve Evans’ Gillingham side at St Andrews. Here is all you need to know about the opposition.
Fact File
Name: Gillingham Football Club
Nickname: The Gills
Founded: 1893
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Address: Redfern Ave, Gillingham, ME7 4DD
Capacity: 11,582
Pitch dimensions: 114 x 75 yards.
The Opposition
After last seasons 13th place finish in League One, The Gills have started their league campaign with two draws and a defeat, whilst also being knocked out of the first round of the Carabao Cup by Newport County.
Gillingham’s first point came on the opening day against Doncaster Rovers as they came away from the Keepmoat Stadium with a 1-1 draw.
This was then followed up by a 2-1 defeat at Burton Albion before Tuesday’s 2-2 home draw with table topping Blackpool.
In the summer the Gills lost last seasons top scorer Tom Eaves to Hull City, however summer recruit Alex Jakubiak, on loan from Watford, has begun to fill the void with three goals in his opening three league games.
Manager
Steve Evans began his professional managerial career with Boston United when he was appointed in October 1998 after a career as a player in Scotland.
He achieved two promotions with the club taking them from the Southern Football League to the Conference and then into the Football League.
In May 2007 Evans took over as Crawley manager and in his near five-year stint at the club Evans guided his team to an FA Cup Fifth Round tie with Manchester United and promotion to the Football League in 2011.
Evans then continued his record of promotions with new club Rotherham, as he gained back to back promotions before keeping his side in the Championship in the 14/15 season.
More recently, Evans has had spells in charge of clubs such as Leeds United, Mansfield Town and Peterborough.
Last six games (Including friendly matches)
Drew – Gillingham 1-1 Southend United
Lost – Welling United 5-0 Gillingham
Drew – Doncaster 1-1 Gillingham
Lost – Gillingham 1-2 Burton
Lost – Gillingham 2 (1) – 2 (4) Newport County
Drew Gillingham 2-2 Blackpool
Last Time We Met
The Sky Blues had over 27,000 supporters in attendance for the last visit between the two sides, coming on the clubs annual Community Day fixture.
City dominated from the off and finally made the breakthrough midway through the second half.
A counter-attack from on-loan attacker, Bright Enobakhare ended with the man himself scoring his first goal for the Sky Blues.
However, Gillingham were awarded a penalty in injury time which would be converted by Tom Eaves, to give the Gills a valuable point.
Head To Head
Coventry wins: 26
Draws: 13
Gillingham wins: 16
Club Connections
Marlon King
King began his professional career with Barnet before sealing a move to Gillingham in 2000 where the forward scored 40 goals in 101 appearances.
The front man left The Gills in 2003 before signing for Nottingham Forest where he spent two years, scoring ten goals.
King then spent the next five years at six different clubs including Leeds United and Hull City.
He signed for the Sky Blues in 2010 and only stayed for one season however King scored 12 goals in 28 games which earnt him the layer of the year and top scorer award that season.
Micky Adams
Adams began his playing career at Gillingham in 1979 and went on to make 103 appearances for the club.
After four years at Gillingham, Adams joined the Sky Blues in 1983 where he also made over 100 appearances before continuing his career with others clubs such as Leeds, Fulham and Stoke.
Adams then tried his hand at management and took his first job at Brighton in 1999 before a two-year stint at Leicester.
Adams then returned to Coventry in 2005 as a manager and saved the club from relegation in the 2004/2005 season.
Match Officials
Martin Coy will be the man in the middle for Saturday’s clash with Gillingham.
Coy has been in charge of two games this season giving out nine yellow cards and no reds.
He last took charge of the Sky Blues in last season’s 3-0 defeat to Fleetwood Town.
He will be assisted by Andrew Laver and Andrew Dallison, while Lisa Rashid will act as fourth official.