Match Preview | Coventry City vs. Cardiff City
Mick McCarthy’s men will be looking to extend their unbeaten away record on Wednesday, September 15th, as they take on Coventry City. The Bluebirds will travel to the Coventry Building Society Arena, with a 7:45pm kick-off.
Watch live on Cardiff City TV!
Cardiff City TV's live video coverage of Wednesday night's fixture against Coventry City is available for supporters to watch worldwide!
With this match taking place in midweek, Cardiff City TV will be able to broadcast the match domestically as well as internationally.
Supporters based in the UK and overseas can purchase a Match Pass here for only £10! Overseas supporters also have the option to purchase an International Season Pass for £170, providing access to Cardiff City TV's coverage for the whole 2021/22 campaign!
For those who would prefer an audio-only option for City's match on Wednesday evening, supporters based in the UK can purchase Audio Passes covering this match only for just £2.50!
Opposition Focus: Season so far
After earning promotion from League One on the basis of Points per Game in the 2019/20 season, Coventry recorded a 16th place finish in the Championship last term, their first season back in the second tier since 2011/12. Mark Robins’ side spent the majority of the campaign towards the lower end of the league table, but secured their safety on April 25th despite falling to a 1-0 defeat at Preston North End.
Having spent the past two seasons sharing St. Andrew’s with Birmingham City, the new campaign marked Coventry’s return to the Coventry Building Society Arena, formerly known as the Ricoh Arena, after the club signed a 10-year agreement to return to their former home ground. On the opening weekend of the season, the Sky Blues defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 in front of 20,843 supporters, with skipper Kyle McFadzean scoring an injury-time winner to get City off and running for the campaign.
Since that opening day victory, Coventry have recorded another three victories, including a 1-0 triumph over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, and an additional pair of home wins. On August 21st, the Sky Blues defeated Reading 2-1 with another stoppage-time winner, which on that occasion was netted by of Matt Godden. Last time out, City dispatched Middlesbrough with a confident 2-0 victory, moving Robins’ side into the Play-Off places at the close of the weekend’s action.
Opposition Focus: Summer signings
Martyn Waghorn scored five goals and produced five assists for Derby County last term, including a crucial brace on the final day of the season, as the Rams avoided the drop by the narrowest of margins. However, the 31-year-old did not stay at Pride Park following the expiration of his contract, opting to move to the Coventry Building Society Arena. Waghorn has played six Championship matches for the Sky Blues since arriving at the club, and got off the mark on the weekend, netting late in the day against Middlesbrough to seal a 2-0 victory for Mark Robins’ men. The striker will be no stranger to City boss Mick McCarthy; the duo worked together at Ipswich Town during the 2017/18 season.
Bright Enobakhare re-joined Coventry on a permanent deal on July 13th, with the former Wolves man having previously enjoyed a loan spell with the Sky Blues during the 2018/19 campaign. The 23-year-old began his career at Molineux but impressed during his six-month stint at the Ricoh Arena, scoring six goals in 18 appearances to earn the club’s Young Player of the Year Award. After leaving Wolverhampton, Enobakhare featured for AEK Athens in Greece and Indian side SC East Bengal, but opted for a return to the EFL this term. The attacker has made just one appearance so far this season, featuring in Coventry’s Carabao Cup defeat to Northampton Town.
Jake Clarke-Salter signed for the Sky Blues on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea on August 13th. The central defender came through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge and made his Premier League debut for the Blues in 2016. Since then, the 23-year-old has gained first team experience from loan spells with Bristol Rovers, Sunderland, Vitesse Arnhem and Birmingham City. Clarke-Salter spent the past two seasons on loan at St. Andrews, featuring on 29 occasions for the club. The defender has made four appearances since becoming a Coventry player, keeping two clean sheets thus far.
Opposition Focus: Ones to watch
Viktor Gyökeres returned to Coventry this summer having spent the second half of last season on loan with the Sky Blues. The Swedish striker signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018, but has spent much of his time since out on loan, firstly with a prolific spell in Germany whilst at FC St. Pauli. A brief stint before Swansea City followed, though Gyökeres appears to have found his feet at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Last season, the 23-year-old netted three goals in 19 appearances and has matched that tally already this term, with three goals and a further two assists to his name from the opening six Championship matches of the season.
Ben Sheaf was a pivotal member of the Sky Blues’ side last season, making 30 league appearances during his loan spell from Arsenal. So important were Sheaf’s contributions that manager Mark Robins signed the 23-year-old on a permanent basis this summer, with Sheaf slotting straight back into the heart of the Coventry midfield. Despite being primarily tasked with protecting the back three, the former England U18 international has already provided an assist this season, setting up Viktor Gyökeres’ equaliser against Nottingham Forest on opening weekend.
Tyler Walker was Coventry’s top scorer in the Championship last season, netting seven league goals to keep the Sky Blues in the division. Son of former England defender Des, Walker came through the academy at Nottingham Forest, and rose to prominence in the EFL after prolific loan spells with Mansfield Town and Lincoln City. The striker made a permanent move to the Coventry Building Society Arena in August 2020, successfully leading the line for Robins’ team last term. However, a hip injury has caused the 24-year-old to miss two of Coventry’s fixtures this term, though Walker did return to the substitutes bench against Middlesbrough on the weekend.
