r00fie1
Well-known member
You know how it goes.....
Its that time again - when Boro fans stick a few jam sandwiches in the bait box and a bottle of Lowcox Lemonade into the duffle bag.
A copy of tonight`s Teesside Evening Gazette [Middlesbrough Edition] and a battered copy of last Satda`s "Pink" - and its ready for the "off" in the morning.
Another stage - post on our journey to promotion to the land of milk and honey. "Sugar - Candy Mountain" takes us this time to Highfield Road..[What?!!...I mean, The Ricoh Arena...you know].
View from the Sky Blues:
www.ccfc.co.uk
Its that time again - when Boro fans stick a few jam sandwiches in the bait box and a bottle of Lowcox Lemonade into the duffle bag.
A copy of tonight`s Teesside Evening Gazette [Middlesbrough Edition] and a battered copy of last Satda`s "Pink" - and its ready for the "off" in the morning.
Another stage - post on our journey to promotion to the land of milk and honey. "Sugar - Candy Mountain" takes us this time to Highfield Road..[What?!!...I mean, The Ricoh Arena...you know].
View from the Sky Blues:
PREVIEW: City host Middlesbrough this weekend
The Sky Blues host Middlesbrough at the Coventry Building Society Arena this Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.
www.ccfc.co.uk
PREVIEW: City host Middlesbrough this weekend
PREVIEW: City host Middlesbrough this weekend
Boro making their first trip to Coventry since 2012...
The Sky Blues host Middlesbrough at the Coventry Building Society Arena this Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.
Fact File
Name: Middlesbrough Football Club
Founded: 1876
Stadium: Riverside Stadium (first opened 1995)
Capacity: 34,000
Nickname: The Boro
Address: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, TS3 6RS
Pitch Size: 115 x 75 yards
The Opposition
Middlesbrough will be hoping for another season of improvement after a 10th placed finish in 2020/21 after the previous season’s relegation scares. The North Yorkshire side spent most of the campaign sitting in the positions just outside the top six, despite their top scorer Duncan Watmore only netting nine, but two wins in the final nine matches put an end to promotion aspirations.
This summer has seen 12 new players come to Teesside, including the likes of Sammy Ameobi, Joe Lumley and Uche Ikpeazu heading north, as well as former Cardiff defender Sol Bamba reuniting with his former Bluebirds boss. Deadline day saw the final two incomings, including the exciting arrival of Slovenia international striker Andraž Šporar joining from Sporting Lisbon on loan for the season.
The Teessiders currently sit in 13th place in the Sky Bet Championship table with one win and three draws from their opening five league matches of the season, winning their only match so far against former captain Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City last month.
Making an early claim to be this season’s draw specialists, Warnock, as ever, has made his team hard to beat with their early goal difference of zero highlighting their defensive strength as much as their goal scoring troubles, which they’ll hope Šporar and Ikpeazu can ease.
Manager
The Sheffield born boss began his coaching career in non-league circles in 1980 with Gainsborough Trinity then Burton Albion before arriving on the North Yorkshire at Scarborough where he won the Conference title in 1986/87 and led them to the Football League. Warnock started to earn his promotion winning reputation whilst at Notts County, achieving back-to-back promotions at Meadow Lane before leaving after failing to keep them in the top-flight.
Plainmoor would be Warnock’s next destination where he managed to keep Torquay United in the Football League before earning his third promotion, back in Yorkshire, with Huddersfield Town after the Terriers triumphed over Bristol Rovers in the Division Two play-off final.
He would return to Devon in 1995 to take charge of Plymouth Argyle, securing another promotion whilst at Home Park taking the Pilgrims back into the third tier with a play-off final victory over Darlington. Warnock would suffer relegations during his time at North West duo Oldham Athletic and Bury before ending the century by becoming manager of his boyhood club Sheffield United in 1999.
2002/03 would see the Blades reach the semi finals of both the League and FA Cups, losing to Liverpool and Arsenal respectively before the ultimate heart break of play-off final defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The South Yorkshire club began 2005/06 in fine form with ten wins from the opening 11 matches in a campaign that eventually saw the Blades end their 12 year absence from the top flight after finishing second.
The Blades achieved memorable wins over the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur the next campaign but defeat to Wigan Athletic ensured final day heartbreak with the result meaning relegation with Warnock leaving that summer.
Selhurst Park was Warnock’s next destination in October 2007 and he would stay in South London for two and a half years before he moved across the capital to Queens Park Rangers where he would win the Championship title in his first full season in charge before leaving the club, outside the Premier League relegation zone, in January 2012.
Just over a year at Leeds United would follow before a return to Crystal Palace in, which lasted four months at the end of 2014. He would follow up his time in SE25 with a brief return to the Rs again in, a caretaker capacity, before another return to his home county with Rotherham United.
When taking over the Millers in February 2016 were in a precarious position but a miraculous turnaround in form which included an eleven-game unbeaten run saw the South Yorkshire outfit survive comfortably in the end with Warnock leaving that summer.
But Warnock wouldn’t be out of the game for too long as he embarked on a three year stay in South Wales in October 2016 with Cardiff City, taking the Bluebirds from second bottom of the league to a twelfth-place finish before winning his eighth promotion as a manager the following season to return Cardiff to the Premier League for the first time in four years.
Their stay in the top flight would only last a season, going down by two points, and Warnock would depart in November 2019.
Warnock was appointed to his current role in June 2020 and took 12 points from his first eight matches to ensure a 17th placed finish before rising to tenth in his first full season at the helm.
Last Six Games
Drew – Middlesbrough 1-1 Blackburn Rovers (Sky Bet Championship)
Drew – Derby County 0-0 Middlesbrough (Sky Bet Championship)
Lost – Middlesbrough 2-3 Queens Park Rangers (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Middlesbrough 2-1 Bristol City (Sky Bet Championship)
Lost – Blackpool 3-0 Middlesbrough (Carabao Cup First Round)
Drew – Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough (Sky Bet Championship)
Last Time We Met
The two sides last met in March 2021 when the Sky Blues fell to a late 2-1 defeat to the Boro in the Sky Bet Championship at St Andrews.
City initially took the lead when Anfernee Dijksteel put through his own net in the eleventh minute from a dangerous Sam McCallum long throw.
The visitors equalised just before half time when Grant Hall headed in Paddy McNair’s free kick.
Matty James and Gustavo Hamer both went close with shots, but the visitors won it when George Saville scored with three minutes remaining, converting Jonny Howson’s cross.
Head-to-Head Record
Sky Blues Wins – 16
Draws – 15
Middlesbrough Wins – 18
Club Connections:
Lukas Jutkiewicz
Southampton born striker Lukas Jutkiewicz made 69 appearances over a year and half year period with the Sky Blues before joining Middlesbrough in January 2012, where he stayed until the Summer of 2014.
He made his professional debut at just 17 for Swindon Town, winning the club’s Young Player of the Year Award for 2005/06, before netting five times the following season as the Robins earned promotion to League One.
That Summer would see Jutkiewicz join Premier League Everton for an initial £400,000, where he was sent out on loan to Plymouth Argyle before making his league debut for the Toffees against Sunderland in December 2008.
A loan spell at Huddersfield Town would follow for the second half of 2008/09, with another loan spell the next season seeing Jutkiewicz reach double figure goals for the first time whilst at Motherwell.
His fine goal scoring record at Fir Park attracted the attention of the Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd to sign the striker, with his first goal being an injury time equaliser at Vicarage Road and would go on to score nine times over the course of the campaign.
After a strong start to the following season that saw Jutkiewicz find the net nine times once again, including City’s winner against Nottingham Forest and an equaliser against Middlesbrough, with the Teesside club signing him that January transfer window for £1.3 million.
His first Boro goal would come in an FA Cup defeat to Sunderland with another 14 to follow during his time at the Riverside before a loan spell to Bolton Wanderers in January 2014.
Jutkiewicz would earn a return to the Premier League when Sean Dyche brought him to Burnley upon the Clarets promotion, but it would be a move to Birmingham City that would see the striker finally settle where he has made over 200 appearances since his 2016 arrival at St Andrews.
Match Officials:
Leigh Doughty will be the man in the middle on Saturday afternoon, taking charge of his fourth game of the 2021/22 season.
He last refereed the Sky Blues in April 2021, overseeing our 3-1 victory over Bristol City.
So far, Doughty has awarded 11 yellow cards and no red cards across his three matches in the Sky Bet Championship and Sky Bet League Two.
He will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and Adrian Waters with Sam Allison acting as fourth official.
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Preview: Coventry vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between
Preview: Coventry City vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups
Preview: Coventry City vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups
By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 1d
Coventry City head into their meeting with Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking to move into the top six of the Championship standings.
Having failed to win any of their last three fixtures, Middlesbrough make the trip to the Ricoh Arena sitting in 13th position in the table.
Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers before the international break, Coventry boss Mark Robins will be delighted with the form of his squad.
The majority of the Sky Blues supporters will be content with a season of consolidation in their first year back at the Ricoh Arena.
Nevertheless, with nine points already to their name ahead of successive home matches, Robins will see no reason why Coventry cannot before a permanent fixture in the top six.
Goals are proving to be an issue with only Viktor Gyokeres netting more than once in the Championship, but the positives will be taken from three wins by one-goal margins.
Coventry have found a way to turn possible draws into maximum points, something which has been lost on Middlesbrough over the same period.
Neil Warnock's side have twice failed to win from favourable positions since August 18, the other game with Derby County ending in a goalless draw.
Warnock has attempted to rectify matters by shaking up his squad during the closing days of the transfer window, the most notable addition being that of Slovenia international Andraz Sporar.
A couple of years have passed by without Sporar scoring on a regular basis, but the arrival of Onel Hernandez may help improve his return in front of goal.
Despite Warnock showing minimal flexibility with his team selections thus far, he will be keen to get both of his new attackers into the side as soon as possible.
Coventry City Championship form:
Coventry City head into their meeting with Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking to move into the top six of the Championship standings.
Having failed to win any of their last three fixtures, Middlesbrough make the trip to the Ricoh Arena sitting in 13th position in the table.
Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers before the international break, Coventry boss Mark Robins will be delighted with the form of his squad.
The majority of the Sky Blues supporters will be content with a season of consolidation in their first year back at the Ricoh Arena.
Nevertheless, with nine points already to their name ahead of successive home matches, Robins will see no reason why Coventry cannot before a permanent fixture in the top six.
Goals are proving to be an issue with only Viktor Gyokeres netting more than once in the Championship, but the positives will be taken from three wins by one-goal margins.
Coventry have found a way to turn possible draws into maximum points, something which has been lost on Middlesbrough over the same period.
Neil Warnock's side have twice failed to win from favourable positions since August 18, the other game with Derby County ending in a goalless draw.
Warnock has attempted to rectify matters by shaking up his squad during the closing days of the transfer window, the most notable addition being that of Slovenia international Andraz Sporar.
A couple of years have passed by without Sporar scoring on a regular basis, but the arrival of Onel Hernandez may help improve his return in front of goal.
Despite Warnock showing minimal flexibility with his team selections thus far, he will be keen to get both of his new attackers into the side as soon as possible.
Coventry City Championship form:
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
Middlesbrough Championship form:
- D
- W
- L
- D
- D
Team News
Team News
Having failed to make an impact against QPR, one of Gyokeres or Martyn Waghorn could drop out of the Coventry starting lineup.
Tyler Walker appears most likely to earn a recall, while Todd Kane will come into consideration after joining on loan from QPR.
Warnock could hand an immediate debut to Sporar, who only featured for the final 25 minutes of Slovenia's fixture in Croatia on Tuesday night.
Martin Payero may come into the midfield to replace Sam Morsy, who has left the club, but Matt Crooks could potentially drop back into a more restricted role in the centre of the pitch.
Despite promising Hernandez plenty of game time during his spell at the Riverside Stadium, the Cuban may be named on the substitutes' bench.
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Hyam, McFadzean, Clarke-Salter; Dabo, Hamer, Sheaf, Maatsen; O'Hare, Walker; Gyokeres
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; McNair, Hall, Fry; Dijksteel, Payero, Howson, Tavernier, Jones; Watmore, Sporar
We say: Coventry City 2-1 Middlesbrough
We say: Coventry City 2-1 Middlesbrough
With the pressure off after their strong start to the season, we expect Coventry to go all out for victory at the weekend. While Boro should put up some resistance, we still fancy the Sky Blues to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.
[Edit] I say 2-1 Boro.
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[Edit] I say 2-1 Boro.
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It was only March 2021 - At the home of Birmingham City [St Andrews]:
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From a Sky Blues fan.
Take a trip to "Highfield Road":
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From a Sky Blues fan.
Take a trip to "Highfield Road":
Highfield Road
In 1899, a year after formally adopting its new name, Coventry City Football Club acquired a new field of dreams.The Highfield Road ground, built on land opening up for development to the east of the city centre, truly marked the transition between works football and the professional game.
It had one of the largest playing surfaces in the English football leagues and eighty years later was to become English football’s first all-seater stadium.
The capacity of the ground in the era of mandatory seating was 23,489, but Highfield Road had seen much larger crowds than that. The biggest was in 1967 when nearly 52,000 fans squeezed in to watch Coventry City clinch the Second Division championship and finally reach football’s top flight.
It had already witnessed the excitement of the Jimmy Hill years, and would go on to host thirty-four years at the top level and the glory of the 1987 FA Cup run.
But by the turn of the Millennium, Highfield Road appeared to have outlived those glory years. It didn’t have the facilities expected of a top club, parking was hopelessly inadequate and the tightly packed nature of the surrounding streets, while they gave the stadium authenticity, also prohibited its further development.
The Ricoh Arena, the club’s ambitious replacement, promised all of that, plus the opportunity to feature in England’s bid to stage the World Cup in 2006.
The bid failed. The club sold Highfield Road to housing developers for just £4 million, not enough to fund the Ricoh, and within a year of the final game, on 30 April, 2005, it had been demolished.
Thousands of fans are still in mourning.
