Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents, Bolton Wanderers, ahead of the first away game of the Sky Bet League One season this Saturday.
Factfile
Name – Bolton Wanderers
Founded – 1888
Stadium – University of Bolton Stadium
Capacity – 28,723
Nickname – The Trotters
Pitch Size – 110 x 72 yards
The Opposition:
As one of last years relegated Championship teams, Bolton Wanderers are tasked with the impossible; return to the second tier despite a 12-point deduction.
They’ve not had the easiest of summers having been in administration for much of the last three months.
Players have resigned and left on free transfers, no players have joined the club and they played a number of their U23 players in their first fixture this season against Wycombe.
However, they still have a couple of Championship standard players to call on. Their central midfield three is particularly strong; Erhan Otzumer, Luke Murphy and Jason Lowe have been chased by a number of Championship clubs but have stay loyal to the Trotters.
A couple of the youngsters caught the eye last week; Yoan Zouma, brother of Chelsea centre back Kurt, was imposing at the back on his first senior appearance for the club. Joe White, Liam Edwards and Harry Brockbank completed a very young back line which held firm until just before the hour mark.
In The Dugout:
Former Reading midfielder Phil Parkinson has been manager of Bolton Wanderers for three seasons, overseeing the Trotters promotion in 2016/17.
His best moment as Bolton manager, however, came courtesy of an Aaron Wilbraham winner to keep the club in the Championship on the final day of the 2017/18 season.
Trailing 2-1 to Nottingham Forest with 5 minutes to spare, club legend David Wheater and evergreen striker Wilbraham scored to send the Macron Stadium into raptures.
The former Bradford City manager has had a tougher time of it in recent years; relegation in the next season followed, and this season he begins a seriously uphill battle to prevent a second drop in two years.
As well as Bolton and Bradford, he has managed Colchester United, Hull City and Charlton Athletic.
Last Time We Met:
The two sides had avoided each other since 1998 before meeting three seasons ago.
The two sides me in Sky Bet League One at the University of Bolton Stadium first time round, with the Trotters coming away with a 1-0 win.
In the reverse fixture back at the turn of the New Year in 2017 the Sky Blues and Bolton played out a draw at the Ricoh Arena in January 2017, with goals coming from Marcus Tudgay and Stuart Beavon either side of half time.
Unfortunately, the Sky Blues were pegged back in stoppage time by former Wanderers striker Max Clayton, to help them on their way to promotion that season.
Head-to-Head:
Coventry City wins - 8
Draws - 9
Bolton Wanderers wins - 4
Last Six Results:
Lost - Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Bolton Wanderers
Lost - Al Ittihad 3-2 Bolton Wanderers
Lost - York City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Lost - Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Lost - Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Brentford
Lost - Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Bolton Wanderers
Connections:
Sam Ricketts
Current Shrewsbury Town manager Sam Ricketts is familiar with both Coventry City and Bolton Wanderers.
He played in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers, and was at the club between 2009 and 2013, where he was a fairly regular fixture at the club when fit, but struggled with injuries throughout his four year stay at the club.
However, he still managed to make 113 appearances for the Trotters, before joining Wolves from Bolton and then moving to the Sky Blues.
After a successful first season at Coventry, during which the club were unfortunate to miss out on the League One play offs, he suffered a serious knee injury at the beginning of his second season, forcing him to retire.
Brian Borrows
Full back Brian Borrows is widely regarded a Coventry City legend, playing for the club for 12 years and becoming part of the FA Cup winning squad in 1987.
The Sky Blues actually signed the Liverpool-born defender from Bolton Wanderers, after he made 95 appearances for the Lancashire club.
Whilst in the Midlands, he missed just 20 games - but one of these was famously the FA Cup final in 1987, after twisting his knee in training beforehand.
Making 474 appearances in all competitions, he also won Coventry City Player of the Year in the 1989/90 season.
Match Officials:
James Adcock will be the man in the middle of the Sky Blues first away trip of the season against the Trotters.
Adcock has officiated just two games in the last two seasons after suffering through injuries during the last two campaigns.
It will be the first time that Adcock has refereed a City game since the 2-0 win in the EFL Trophy fixture against Plymouth Argyle at the Ricoh Arena in 2014.
He will be assisted by Jonathan Hunt and Richard Wild, while Robert Lewis will act as fourth official.
Home or Away Kit?
The Sky Blues had planned to give the away strip it's debut tomorrow at the University of Bolton Stadium - but instead we'll be wearing the Sky Blue home shirt.