MATCH FACTS: COVENTRY vs CARDIFF CITY

Cardiff City face off against Coventry City on Wednesday evening at Sixfields Stadium in first round of this seasons Capital One Cup. City are well aware of the benefits available for a strong run in the League Cup and won’t be taking their opponents lightly this evening. 

. Coventry have reached the semi-finals of the League Cup on two occasions – 1980/81, 1989/90

. Cardiff and Coventry meet in the League Cup for the first time this evening. 

. Coventry haven’t won a league or cup fixture since 29th March 2014 

. The Bluebirds last cup match against Coventry saw the Sky Blues run out 3-0 winners in an FA Cup replay in 2003.  

. Cardiff visited Sixfields Stadium in the League Cup First Round back in 2012/13, when a Heidar Helguson debut goal wasn’t enough as Northampton Town defeated the Bluebirds 2-1.  

. The past two matches between the two sides have ended level after ninety minutes.  

Tudgay has been a thorn in many a Championship defence since starting his career with Derby County. He joined Coventry on a one-year contract this summer and will be looking to form a clinical partnership with on-loan AFC Bournemouth forward Josh McQuoid. At the age of thirty-one, Tudgay will offer the Sky Blues an experienced head in attack as they aim to improve on last season’s 18th position in League One. 

The Benin international defender looks set to lead his team out this evening following an impressive debut against Bradford City at the weekend. The Coventry skipper led by example, scoring two goals while performing admirably in defence for the Sky Blues. The former Sheffield Wednesday man has already shown he is a threat in both penalty boxes. 

Cardiff City fought to a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn Rovers on their first game back in the Sky Bet Championship. Kenwyne Jones’ bullet header put the Bluebirds ahead early in the first half but an exquisite Tom Cairney strike leveled before the interval with neither side able to score a crucial winner after the break. 

Cardiff City: Marshall, Brayford, Fábio, Hudson, Connolly, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Dæhli (Adeyemi, 55), Maynard, Le Fondre (Eikrem, 87), Jones (Burgstaller, 70). Subs Not Used: Moore, John, Kim, Théophile-Catherine.

Wednesday’s Carling Cup opponents Coventry City were defeated 3-2 away at Bradford City in their first match of the season on Saturday. New Sky Blues skipper Reda Johnson twice equalised for Steven Pressley’s side on his debut but an injury time winner by Bantams talisman James Hanson gifted all three points to the hosts. 

Coventry City: Allsop, Willis, Pugh, Webster, J Clarke (Miller 77), Johnson, C Thomas (Fleck 64), O'Brien, Swanson, Tudgay, McQuoid. Subs Not Used: Burge, Daniels, Phillips, Haynes, Maddison

Oliver Norwood’s injury time goal secured a draw for Coventry City in the last competitive match between the two sides. Cody McDonald’s own goal, and a Peter Whittingham finish had put City 2-1 ahead but Norwood (who is set to face off against City on Saturday, this time as a Huddersfield Town player), slotted home late on to snatch a point for his side from the Cardiff City Stadium. 

Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Cowie, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, McPhail (Gestede, 57), Lawrence (Earnshaw, 73), Mason. Subs Not Used: Heaton, Blake, Conway.  

Coventry City: Murphy, Clarke, Keogh, Cranie (Hussey, 87), Cameron, McSheffrey, Norwood, Clingan, Thomas (Deegan, 90), McDonald (Platt, 70), Nimely. Subs Not Used: Dunn, Christie.