PREVIEW: Stevenage v Coventry Ciity - The Sky Blues look to continue their away run against the Boro

Mark Robins' side head to the LAMEX aiming it make it three on the bounce away from home..

20 November 2017

The Sky Blues head to Stevenage's Lamex Stadium as they look to make it three away victories on the bounce in SkyBet League Two.

City remain without right-back Jack Grimmer who misses out with concussion after recieving a blow to the head a week ago against Mansfield.

Top scorer, Duckens Nazon is also unavailible after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season during Saturday's 2-1 victory over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.

Stevenage boss Darren Sarll will have Aston Villa loanee Kevin Toner back at his disposal after returning from a three match suspension for a straight red card that he picked up against Yeovil last month.

Boro's only other sidelined player, Ben Kennedy will not be fit to feature. The Northern Ireland U20 international had made 85 appearance already for Stevenage at just 20 years of age, but misses this one with a knee injury.

The Opponents

Matthew Gooden will undoubtedly be one to watch for the home side. The 26-year-old found the net 20 times last season for Boro and is cloesly chasing Danny Hylton at the top of this season's League Two scoring charts having notched eight already this campaign.

Jonathan Smith provides Stevenage with an experienced head in the middle of the park. The deep-lying midfielder made the move to the LAMEX stadium in the summer after making 145 appearances for Luton Town.

Danny Newton may be a familiar to name to Sky Blues fans from Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Newton has played for nearly every club in the region except for Coventry, scoring 26 in 54 games for Leamington after successful spells at Barwell, Hinckley United and Nuneaton Town.

Memorable Meeting

A David McGoldrick chip from 35-yards sealed a stunning late turnaround for the Sky Blues as they came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at the LAMEX on Boxing Day in 2012.

Lucas Akins gave Boro the lead from the spot early on, and it took until the final ten minutes before City found an equaliser when Richard Wood scrambled the ball home from close range.

The Sky Blues then took charge of the game, when Carl Baker curled in a stunner from the edge of the area with just a minute of normal time left to play.

Stevenage however, were not happy to go down without a fight, and piled on the pressure looking for a late equaliser in added time. City capitalised when McGoldrick chased down a Franck Moussa ball over the top before delicately floating the ball over the outrushing 'keeper and under the cross bar to give the Sky Blues their third goal on the night, and his 16th in 21 matches.

Last Four Meetings

W Coventry City 1-0 Stevenage - 26th March 2014

W Stevenage 0-1 Coventry City - 5th October 2013

W Stevenage 1-3 Coventry City - 26th December 2012

L Coventry City 1-2 Stevenage - 9th September 2012

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Stevenage 1-1 Coventry City - McNulty opener cancelled out late on at the LAMEX

Second half equaliser from Tom Pett means the Sky Blues leave with a point...

21 November 2017

A second half equalier from Stevenage midfielder Tom Pett forced the Sky Blues to leave the LAMEX Stadium with just a point.

Marc McNulty gave Coventry the lead midway through the first half when ended a goalmouth scramble by firing past Joe Fryer into the Boro net.

Injuries to Jodi Jones and Liam Kelly forced Mark Robins into making changes just moments before the home side drew level through Pett.

The draw means the Sky Blues have climbed to seventh in SkyBet League Two.

City's Ryan Haynes had the evenings first sight at goal. The left-back has not found the net since his return from injury but almost changed that after some nice link up play with Liam Kelly found him inside the area, only to find the side netting.

Max Biamou however did find a way past Joe Fryer two minutes later. The Frenchman brought the ball down well with his body before finding the far corner with preicsion, only to find his goal ruled out for a foul on Jack King moments earlier.

Mark Robins' side took the lead for real midway through the second half. A goalmouth scramble ended with McNulty in the right place and at the right time to bundle the ball home from close range. Plenty ran away claiming it, but it was the former Portsmouth man who has given City had the lead.

The second half started with the same intensity. Biamou again found himself in with an opening infront of goal but after another altercation with King, ended up on the deck and with the referee waving for the number nine to get up.

Jodi Jones was instrumental in City's victory at Lincoln, and had a golden opportunity to set up Jordan Shipley to double Coventry's lead moments later. The 20-year-old was sent charging up the touchline by McNulty and did not see Shipley and Biamou free in the penalty area until it was too late. A let off for Boro.

That would be Jones' last impact, however. The former Daggers man was stretchered off with 25 minutes to go after landing badly on his left knee, making him City's second injury of the evening after Callum Maycock had to replace Liam Kelly early on after he pulled up.

Even without Jones, the Sky Blues were still threatening. Biamou looked a danger all evening, forcing a strong save down to Fryer's right-handside from just inside the area.

Stevenage had not troubled Lee Burge an awful lot on the night, but that started ot change in the final twenty minutes. A scramble in the area, not too disimilar to the one that gave Mark Robins' side the lead fell to Ronnie Henry in the area but Burge reacted fastest to dive on the ball.

Boro fans would not have to wait too long to be level though. A momentary and rare lapse at the back gave Tom Pett a look at Burge's goal for the first time and the 25-year-old made the most of it, rocketting the ball in off the crossbar to draw his side level and earn them a vital point in League Two.

Goals: McNulty (22'), Pett (75').

Reds:

Yellows: Shipley (30'),

Attendance:

Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Willis, Davies, McDonald, Haynes, Doyle, Kelly (Maycock 21'), Shipley, Jones (Vincenti 64'), McNulty, Biamou

Subs: O’Brien, Stokes, Hyam, Dev Kelly-Evans, Ponticelli

Stevenage XI: Fryer (GK), Smith, Martin, King, Wilkinson, Beautyman (Samuel 60'), Pett, Henry (C), McKee, Godden (Whelpdale 67'), Newton

Subs: Day, Franks, Conlon, Vancooten, Wilmot.

Match Reports

Standings