Coventry City (A) | Match Preview
The Game
Coventry City v Argyle. CBS Arena. Tuesday, 28 November. 7.45pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Coventry City come into Tuesday's game in 20th position, one place behind Argyle, on the same points, just a single goal inferior on goal difference.
The Sky Blues began with a defeat to Leicester City, but then suffered just one defeat in their next ten games. They did, however, draw five of those games, which has become a pattern to their season.
Four consecutive defeats meant Coventry slipped down the table a little, but prior to the international break they broke that run with a goalless draw against Stoke City, before an impressive win last Saturday against Millwall.
The Gaffer
Mark Robins came through the ranks at Manchester United, and was part of the squad that won the 1990 FA Cup and the 1991 European Cup-Winners Cup. In a career that also took in spells in Denmark, Spain and Greece, Robins represented Leicester City, Norwich City, Walsall and Rotherham United, among others.
His first managerial job was at Rotherham, having previously been the assistant manager. This led to a move to Barnsley, followed by a first stint at Coventry, beginning in September 2012. After five relatively successful months, he took a job with Huddersfield Town, where he remained for 18 months.
After a similar amount of time with Scunthorpe United, Robins was re-appointed as Coventry boss in March 2017, with the Sky Blues in League Two. In six-and-half years, he has take Coventry up twice, and last season got into the Championship play-offs, only to lose to Luton Town in the play-off final, on penalties.
The Squad
Matt Godden is Coventry's leading goalscorer so far this season, with seven goals to his name. Now 32, Godden was somewhat of a late bloomer. Having never really broke in at Scunthorpe, Godden was 25 when he signed for Stevenage in League Two, having scored freely for Ebbsfleet in the National League.
His scoring form with Stevenage caught the eye of Peterborough, and in turn he moved on to Coventry in August 2019, in League One. He has now scored 48 goals in 133 appearances for the Sky Blues.
Haji Wright is a USA international who signed for Coventry in the summer of 2023, fora reported fee of £7.7m. The 25-year-old attacker spent time with Schalke 04 in Germany as a young player, before a European tour which took in time at Venlo in the Netherlands, SonderjyskE in Denmark and Antalyaspor of Turkey before moving to England.
No-one has played more minutes for Coventry this season than midfielder Josh Eccles (below). The 23-year-old has come through the ranks at Coventry, playing sporadically since his debut in 2018, but last season was his breakthrough, as he played 34 times in the league. This season, he has started all but one of City's fixtures.
Fancy a Stat?
Coventry are the only team that Argyle have beaten 6-0 on two occasions. Not only that, it happened in consecutive seasons. Admittedly, this did occur in 1909 and 1911, but still...
The History
Argyle have played Coventry City 65 times. The Greens have won 28 of those encounters, 12 have been draws, and City have won the other 25.
The sides last met in League One, in 2018/19. Early in the season, Coventry won 1-0 in their home game, with Argyle beating the Sky Blues 2-1 at Home Park in January. Former Coventry player Ruben Lameiras scored both goals in the game for the Pilgrims.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will be wearing their green home kit for this game.
Tickets
Tickets will be available on the evening of the game from Turnstiles 1-5, but entry to the ground is CASH ONLY.
For a more detailed update, click here.
Argyle TV
Commentary will be provided from Ashton Gate by BBC Radio Devon's Ross Heaton and Hasney Aljofree.
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by Charlie Price and Brian McGlinchey, will begin at 6.45pm, and will be available to watch for free on YouTube.
The match is available for domestic and international supporters to stream on Argyle TV. Buy a match pass to watch the game, here.
