Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Norwich City isn’t the first time that Coventry City have faced the Canaries in the world’s oldest cup competition.
We take a look back at the history of the clashes…
1929/30 - FA Cup First Round
It took two games to decide the outcome of this First Round encounter. The first leg at Carrow Road on 30th November 1929 finished in a 3-3 draw, Jimmy Loughlin netted twice for Coventry City with Williams Richards scoring the other.
At Highfield Road however, the home side came out on top with a 2-0 victory. Loughlin scored again, while Alfred Widdowson also scored to book a Second Round berth. City would beat Bath City 7-1 in the Second Round but were knocked out in the Third Round.
1974/75 - FA Cup Third Round
The Sky Blues won 2-0 in this FA Cup encounter on 4th January 1975 at Highfield Road, with 19,265 fans in attendance.
It was the seventh consecutive season that the Canaries had been knocked out in the Third Round, and Coventry City could have felt aggrieved that the scoreline was not more comprehensive in a game that they dominated.
Brian Alderson opened the scoring in the 25th minute, the winger getting his first goal since September. A freak Larry Lloyd effort from 50 yards looped over Kevin Keelan in the Norwich goal to double the lead after 39 minutes.
City would be knocked out in the next round to Arsenal, a replay being needed to separate the two teams.
1982/83 – FA Cup Fourth Round
It took two matches to decide this tie but on this occasion it was Norwich who advanced in the competition.
Coventry City were 2-0 up in the original game at Highfield Road on 29th January, but were pegged back by Norwich to send the tie to a replay. Garry Thompson scored first in the 40th minute from a Steve Whitton cross, then Harry Roberts scored a rare goal from full back. However, Aage Hareide got one back for the visitors and then Mark Barham scored with just 3 minutes of normal time left to send the sides to Carrow Road.
On 2nd February in the replay, Norwich were 2-1 winners despite the Sky Blues controlling the game. Mark Hateley scored for the visitors after 3 minutes, but Keith Bertschin equalised in the second-half. With the game in extra time Harry Roberts scored an own goal that would prove to be the decider, with the Sky Blues’ appeals for a handball by Norwich striker Barham in vain.
1992/93 – FA Cup Third Round
The Sky Blues were out of the FA Cup in the Third Round after defeat to Norwich City in this tie, the Canaries going on to finish 3rd in the top division.
15,301 were at Carrow Road as the hosts were 1-0 winners, while defender David Busst made his first appearance from the bench for Coventry City after joining from non-league Moor Green.
Darren Beckford scrambled the Norwich City goal into the net to decide the tie after 46 minutes. Bobby Gould’s Sky Blues had an attacking line up with Peter Ndlovu, John Williams, Robert Rosario, Micky Quinn and Kevin Gallacher all starting, but they couldn’t score.
1994-95 – FA Cup Fourth Round
Phil Neal was now in charge and under pressure as Sky Blues boss, and being knocked out of the FA Cup did not help his cause - albeit it took two matches for the tie to be decided.
The first game finished 0-0 and was a poor match at Highfield Road. Simon Tracey started the game in goal for Norwich but had to go off injured and was replaced by a 19-year-old Andy Marshall, who would go on to play for the Sky Blues from 2006-2009. He thwarted the Sky Blues front two of Dion Dublin and Ndlovu, to mean a replay at Carrow Road was required.
In that February replay, Norwich were clear 3-1 winners but the game was much closer that it sounded. Roy Wegerle and Dublin were forced off injured, with Peter Ndlovu netting the Sky Blues goal with a rare header. Mike Sheron scored two for Norwich with Darren Eadie scoring the other, while Marshall again excelled in goal. Neal would be sacked less than a week later.
1999-00 – FA Cup Third Round
Coventry City came out on top against Norwich City, who were by now in the First Division and a league below the Sky Blues. The Third Round game at Carrow Road was played in December 1998, the round being brought forward to help preparations for the EURO 2000 tournament the next summer.
Noel Whelan opened the scoring after 58 minutes with a header from 12 yards out, Chris Llewellyn’s deflected shot brining the scores level on 66 minutes. Cedric Roussel’s effort from the edge of the box went under Norwich keeper Andy Marshall to put the visitors back in front, before John Eustace sealed the win with a third goal from 25 yards out.
The Sky Blues would beat Burnley in the Fourth Round 3-0 at Highfield Road, but lost 3-2 at home to Charlton Athletic in the Fifth Round.
