We take a look back at the head to head record between the Sky Blues and this weekend's opponents, Bristol Rovers.
Head to Head:
The two sides meet this weekend and if previous results are to go by, then we can expect a Sky Blues win this weekend. It’s been over half a century since there has been anything other than a home win in this fixture.
Coventry have won 13 and lost 10 times to Bristol Rovers, while six games have been drawn. The series stretches all the way back to 1926 when the clubs clashed for the first time in Division Three South.
The Gas were regular opponents until City left the third tier behind when they were promoted for the first time in 1936. By the time the last two digits of the year were reversed to 1963, the clubs had only met in one season in between – in 1952-53.
Coventry and Rovers met in back to back seasons between 1962 and ‘64, including a solitary cup clash. Once again Coventry’s promotion curtailed meetings, which did not resume for over half a century.
The Sky Blues slipping into League One in 2016 brought a pair of home wins in that season, with the sequence resuming again this term following City’s return to this level.
Last Time We Met:
Last time the two sides met goes back to April 2019 and despite the 0-0 score line, it was an eventful game at both ends.
City were denied by on-loan Brentford ‘keeper Jack Bonham, who produced a string of fine saves to deny Liam Kelly, Luke Thomas, Tom Davies, Jordy Hiwula and Conor Chaplin.
The Sky Blues had the majority of possession and 19 shots, but were unable to make the breakthrough.
Late on, Lee Burge was called into action to ensure there would be no snatch and grab for the Gas, as he pulled off saves to deny Liam Sercombe and Tom Nichols.
Sky Blues Biggest Win:
A crowd of over 20,000 saw City demolish Rovers 5-0 at the end of April 1963. The game was a testament to the stamina of Jimmy Hill’s team.
The match was their ninth of the month, a fixture pile-up having occurred as a result of a wicked winter and a cup run of nine FA Cup games that took City to the quarter-final.
Goals from Ronnie Rees and Willie Humphries, who got two each, with another from George Hudson secured the biggest win of the season.
The result left City a point behind the second automatic spot with two games in hand but after this victory over the Gas City ran out of gas themselves. The next six games brought two draws and four defeats.
Bristol Rovers Biggest Win:
City suffered 4-1 losses away to Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day 2016 and in January 1934. There was also a 5-2 defeat in February 1953.
The 1934 loss was the worst of a season in which Coventry finished as runners’ up. More recently the 4-1 defeat of 2016 revolved around a hat-trick from Billy Bodin.
Did You Know?
Coventry have plundered five goals against the Pirates on three occasions, registering victories of 5-0, 5-1 and 5-3. In addition to the record win of 5-0 in 1963, Billy Lake lashed in four goals in a 5-1 triumph in 1932. Lake also scored twice in a 5-3 win in 1933.