The Sky Blues are back on the road this weekend as they make the trip to Norfolk to face Dean Smith’s Norwich City.
Fact File
Name: Norwich City
Founded: 1902
Stadium: Carrow Road
Capacity: 27,359
Nickname: The Canaries
Opposition:
Back in the Championship after a season in the Premier League, Dean Smith's Norwich City side will be looking to bounce right back this term.
The Canaries have kept hold of their manager and the majority of their top flight stars from last season's relegation campaign and have started the season in fine form.
Smith's side have won four of their last five games and are now second in the Championship, just a point behind league-leaders Sheffield United.
Josh Sargent has become the club's main dangerman, scoring four goals already this term, while summer signing Marcelino Núñez has perhaps been the club's best performer from central midfield.
The club also signed Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara during the summer months but he has so far managed only 39 minutes of Championship action.
The Manager:
Smith, who was born in the Midlands, played as a centre-back for Walsall, Hereford United, Leyton Orient, Sheffield Wednesday, and Port Vale over his 16-year career.
In the winter of 2004/05, he hung up his boots and became the youth team coach at Orient, before moving up to assistant manager of the main team later that season.
He lasted in that position until January 2009, when he was appointed Head of Youth at Walsall. Smith would then take over the first time, who were bottom of League One and eight points from safety, yet he orchestrated a remarkable comeback to keep the Saddlers in the division.
After several seasons with Walsall, Smith joined Championship club Brentford in November 2015 and in his three years as the Bees' coach, he led them to three top-10 finishes, before Aston Villa came calling.
Villa were in 15th place in the Championship at the time of Smith’s arrival, but Smith managed a 10-match winning streak breaking a 109-year-old club record and securing a play-off spot.
A 2-1 success against Derby County in the Wembley final then secured Villa's return to the Premier League after a three-year absence and he would ultimately keep them up on a dramatic final day.
A 16th placed finish followed the season after, before he was dismissed as boss at Villa Park, leaving him without a job for only a few days, as he would take the reins at Norwich City.
Last Time We Met:
The Sky Blues were beaten 2-0 by Championship league leaders Norwich City on Wednesday night at St Andrew’s.
First-half goals from Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia condemned City to defeat despite creating some good openings in the second period.
Sky Blues XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Julian Dacosta (Pask 58’), Kyle McFadzean (C), Dom Hyam, Michael Rose (Ostigard 46’), Jordan Shipley, Matty James (Kelly 78’), Jamie Allen (Biamou 46’), Gustavo Hamer, Callum O’Hare, Tyler Walker (Gyokeres 63’)
Unused Subs: Marko Marosi (GK), Ben Sheaf, Will Bapaga, Amadou Bakayoko
Head-to-Head Record
Sky Blues wins - 54
Draws - 35
Norwich City wins - 35
Club Connection:
Beginning his career at Lincoln City, Huckerby impressed as a youngster and caught the eye of Premier League side Newcastle United in 1995.
However, the forward made just a single appearance for the Toon Army and following a loan-spell with Millwall, Huckerby joined the Sky Blues in 1996.
Three seasons with City saw the striker make over 100 appearances for the club, scoring 34 goals before joining Leeds United in 1999.
Spells at Manchester City and Nottingham Forest were sandwiched in between a move to Norwich City in 2003, where he initially joined on loan, before making the switch permanent.
Huckerby found a home at Carrow Road, making over 200 appearances for the club, being named Player of the Year in 2005, 2007 and then being inducted into the Hall of Fame following his retirement.
Match Officials
Gavin Ward will be the man in the middle of the Sky Blues' clash with Norwich this weekend at Carrow Road.
He also took charge of the club's 4-1 win against Fulham at the Coventry Building Society Arena last season.
Bhupinder Gill and Mark Stevens will act as his assistants with Will Finnie as fourth official.