We take a look back at the head-to-head record between the Sky Blues and the weekend's opponents, Sunderland.
Head To Head
Coventry and this weekend’s opponents Sunderland have enjoyed a competitive battle for supremacy in the overall standings since the two clubs met for the first time in the FA Cup 1930. The two clubs have met in both domestic cups, and in league football from the Premiership right down to League One where the two clubs currently find themselves.
Away teams have typically come up short in the fixture, with only 5 victories from a total 26 coming from an away side. The Sky Blues’ 5-4 victory at Sunderland last season was just the second time they have won on Wearside, the first coming way back in 1977.
With home teams generally taking the spoils and Sunderland unbeaten at home in the league this season, the Sky Blues will be hoping to be the first team to take maximum points way from the Stadium of Light for the second season running.
Last Visit
The last time the two clubs met came in April of last season when City travelled to the north-east looking to keep their play-off ambitions alive against a side formidable in front of their home fans. A whirlwind first half was dominated in its early stages by Coventry’s mercurial front four, particularly Bright Enobakhare who gave City the lead inside 12 minutes.
Sunderland responded through captain George Honeyman, but were powerless to stop the ingenuity and pace of Luke Thomas and Enobakhare as they laid on classy assists for front men Bakayoko and Hiwula to give the Sky Blues a 3-1 lead on 25 minutes.
The scoring relented until the 40th minute when Charlie Wyke hammered home, before Will Grigg levelled proceedings right on the referee’s half-time whistle. City came out fighting in the second half and were ahead once more when Jordan Shipley crashed home from 25 yards to silence the home fans. Once more however the lead was short-lived as a deflected Max Power effort trickled into the net to level an unbelievable game up at 4 all.
With 12 minutes still left to play, good wing play from substitute Charlie Wakefield got the ball into the penalty area and Conor Chaplin capitalised on a defensive error, twisted and turned in the area before lashing the ball into the top corner on his weaker right foot to give Coventry the lead once more. The Sky Blues held out and claimed an impressive victory in a remarkable game to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Biggest Win
Teesider Steve Livingstone was the hero as City beat Sunderland 5-0 in a League Cup quarter-final replay in January 1990. Steve scored four times in a tie that had seen David Speedie and Dave Bennett’s brother Gary sent off for a fight that saw them both tumble into the crowd in the initial tie.
In April 1982, Garry Thompson and Mark Hateley each scored twice as City thrashed Sunderland 6-1 in the top-flight at Highfield Road.
Fancy That
In the clubs’ first ever meeting in a 1930 FA Cup tie, Coventry wore black and white stripes, the colours of Sunderland’s arch-rivals Newcastle United. Coventry lost the game and it was the last time they ever wore such a kit.
In the two meetings between the clubs last season, 11 goals were scored by 11 different goal scorers.