The Sky Blues take on Bolton Wanderers in this weekend’s encounter hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the league to eight games. Here’s everything you need to know about tomorrow’s opponents.
Fact File-
Name- Bolton Wanderers
Founded- 1874
Stadium- University of Bolton Stadium
Capacity- 28,723
Nickname- The Trotters / The Whites
Address- Burnden Way, Horwich, Bolton.
Pitch Size- 110 x 72 yards
Kits
Coventry- Sky Blue Home Kit
Bolton- Yellow Away Kit
The Opposition
Bolton Wanderers have endured a difficult campaign to date after plenty of off-field uncertainty and problems in the off-season. They currently sit rooted to the bottom of the League One table after being deducted twelve points at the beginning of the campaign.
The Trotters are showing fighting spirit and are still in the race for survival if they can put together a good run of form at the end of the campaign. Bolton started the campaign with just a handful of senior players and it took until their twelfth league fixture before they recorded their first victory away at Bristol Rovers.
Since bringing in experienced reinforcements such as Daryl Murphy and Chris O’Grady, the Trotters’ form has picked up slightly and the club would just be five points adrift of safety with two games in hand without the points deduction. Bolton will be looking to build on positive results against Bristol Rovers and most recently Tranmere Rovers in the coming weeks to stage a late survival challenge.
Manager
Bolton born former centre-half Keith Hill took over the reins at the club during this season as he looks to steer Bolton to an unlikely survival in League One. Hill enjoyed a playing career spanning fifteen years and it was at one of his former clubs where he got his first chance in management after his retirement.
Hill took over at Rochdale in 2006 and helped steer the club to survival in his first season. He then missed out on promotion in the play-offs for two successive campaigns, before finally achieving promotion in 2010. Hill’s success in charge of Rochdale caught the eye of other clubs and he took over at Barnsley in the summer of 2011.
Hill’s spell at Oakwell was brief, spending just one and a half seasons at the helm before being sacked after a poor run of results. Hill returned to Spotland in 2013 and in his first full season back in charge he led Rochdale to promotion to League One for the second time. Hill remained at the helm up until 2019 when he left the club, before joining up with Bolton in August 2019.
Last Six Games
L 3-4 v Burton Albion (H)
L 2-0 v Rochdale (A)
L 5-1 Lincoln City (A)
L 0-1 Portsmouth (A)
D 1-1 Bristol Rovers (H)
W 2-0 v Tranmere Rovers (H)
Last Time We Met
Coventry were left frustrated as Bolton’s youngest ever side held them to a goalless draw at the University of Bolton Stadium. City were looking to build on the opening day win against Southend United and were unchanged for their visit to Lancashire whilst Bolton fielded a side without a single senior player in the eleven.
City started the game with a high intensity and spent much of the first half camped inside the Bolton half but struggled to create any clear-cut chances in the early stages. City thought they had taken the lead before half time when Wesley Jobello converted Jordan Shipley’s cross, only to be flagged for offside.
Bolton battled valiantly and Marko Marosi had to be called upon to deny a surprise opener for the home side in the second half. City were denied once more by the Linesman’s flag after Amadou Bakayoko bundled into the net after Jordy Hiwula’s knockdown.
It was set to be a frustrating afternoon for City, the high point being a league debut for teenage attacker Will Bapaga. Late into proceedings substitute Max Biamou thought he’d finally won the game for the Sky Blues with a powerful volley, but the Linesman’s flag was up for a third time to deny City and both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Head-To-Head Record
Coventry Wins- 4
Draws- 10
Bolton Wins- 8
Club Connections
Colin Hendry:
Scottish international and Premier League winner Colin Hendry turned out for both clubs in the twilight of his career after a successful career in England and Scotland. Hendry turned out for Blackburn, Manchester City and Rangers during his career, winning league titles on both sides of the border.
Hendry was signed for £4m by Dick Advocaat and despite winning the domestic treble at Ibrox, he was largely unfancied by the manager and subsequently joined up with Coventry City as a 35-year-old in 2000.
Hendry only featured 11 times for the Sky Blues and was loaned to Bolton Wanderers during the 2000/2001 season, a campaign which saw Bolton take Coventry’s place in the Premier League. Hendry went on to appear three times for Bolton in the top division before eventually retiring after a couple of loan spells.
Marvin Sordell:
Striker Marvin Sordell began his professional career at Watford and was a regular in the team as a young player, scoring 25 goals in his last two season between 2010 and 2012. His good form was rewarded in the January of 2012 as Bolton Wanderers paid £3m to acquire his services.
Sordell struggled to replicate his form from Vicarage Road and he joined Charlton on loan before he was reunited with Sean Dyche as Premier League new boys Burnley signed the forward. Memorably, Sordell was part of the Team GB squad for the 2012 Olympics alongside ex Coventry players Craig Bellamy and Jack Cork.
Sordell struggled for goals and a spell at Colchester United followed before Coventry signed him for the 2016/2017 season. Sordell was one of the high points of struggling Coventry side and was signed up by Championship side Burton Albion just six months into his stay.
Match Officials
Ross Joyce is the man in the middle for this weekend’s match against Bolton Wanderers.
He has taken charge of 24 games so far this campaign and has given out 109 yellow cards and three red cards so far.
He will be assisted by Paul Lister and Christopher Ward on the day and Matthew Jones will act as the fourth official.