The Battle of the CCFC's, there can be only one!!! Well, OK, not really, there's multiple, and long may that continue, but this Saturday sees our acronym sharing friends from the midlands, Coventry City FC come to town for game #14 of the Bluebird's season (only #11 for our guests after "pitchgate") with the Royal Blue City sitting slap bang mid-table but our Sky Blue visitors still loitering at the base of the table. Too much shouldn't be read into Coventry's place at the foot of the table however. Having 3 or even 4 games in hand on most others in the division, with a decent run of results the Sky Blue's would be up and around the mid-table positions and fully in the mix with the Bluebirds. Our visitors actually come into this game on a semi-decent run, with only 1 defeat in their last 5. Unfortunately for them though that run has also only returned a single win too, a win that still stands as their only success at obtaining 3 points so far this season (a 1-0 home win v struggling Boro at the start of the month), meaning that despite the games in hand, long serving (by modern standards) manager Mark Robins has plenty of work to do to improve their fortunes. Hopefully Robbie's boys won't be turning on the style and achieving that this weekend though!! Coventry's squad contains several useful and experienced Championship level players. Up top they have the handful that is Viktor Gyokeres, who is joint top scorer this season for them alongside Matt Godden (both on 3) supplemented by the ageless Martyn Waghorn. In midfield, one time (apparent) Cardiff target Kasey Palmer appears to be a fairly regular starter, accompanied by the likes of Jamie Allen, Ben Sheaf and the useful Gus Hamer. The dangerous Callum O'Hare (who was likened to a "poor" Jack Grealish by Bluebird's fans last season from memory) has been out injured since the start of season, but rumour has it that this could be the game that he makes his comeback.... no offence Callum but we hope not! Defensively, England U-21 Jonathan Panza has joined on loan from Forest, and he tends to play alongside the ever tidy ex-Jack Jake Bidwell and the impressively named Sheik Mohamed Fankaty Dabo, the experienced Kyle McFadzean and Callum Doyle. Coventry have former Bluebird stopper Simon Moore in their ranks but Ben Wilson is now first choice between the posts for them (on that note, have our grounds team measured the goals just in case??). With only 8 goals scored so far the Sky Blues are the joint lowest scorers in the division alongside Preston, but again, those games in hand mean that this could be a falsely comforting statistic. Defensively they appear to be par the course for the Championship, having conceded just 1 goal more than the Bluebirds. Last season corresponding fixture saw the Bluebirds run out 2-0 winners with second half goals coming from Joel Bagan and substitute Mark Harris (what price a repeat of another Harris goal this time around?). However, what should have been a distinctly average game became somewhat of a talking point due to the controversial substitution of Max Watters on 37 minutes. Having been substituted the forlorn striker appeared to stay sat, sulking in the dugout throughout half time. The decision could consequently have been deemed to be a good one given that his replacement, the on-loan Jordan Hugill played his part in helping the Bluebirds to a much needed victory to ease any relegation fears furher, but the media storm and flurry of keyboard criticism can't have gone unnoticed by the club hierarchy at the time. The Eyes Have it! Who needs words when looks say it all. I've seen that look in Mrs Brizzle's eyes before now... "For feck's sake, I/we asked you to do ONE job!!!" Even the lino is getting in on the action! Overall the Bluebirds have the edge over the other CCFC in games played, triumphing on 23 occasions versus the Sky Blue's 20, with spoils shared 12 times. Early Team News The big Bluebirds concern is the fitness of key striker Callum Robinson. Having taken a heavy knock in the victory at Wigan and being withdrawn before half time he is now a doubt for this weekend but club physios willbe pulling out all the stops to make him available. Rubin Colwill is once again struggling following a hip flexor injury but is getting ever closer to a return, but the jury is out on whether this is a game too soon for the precocious youngster. Izaac Davies remains sidelined despite being "back on grass" and he is joined by Mahlon Romeo who is still recovering from his ankle injury. With Romeo missing we can probably expect Ng to retain the right back berth with Simpson continuing to hold down the central defensive spot alongside man mountain Cedric Kipre. Could this be the week we see Ebou Adams return? Nothing has been said but it would be a boost to the squad options if he can secure a spot on the bench at least, especially given the erratic form of Romaine Sawyers in recent weeks. Prutton Predicts The Bluebirds are now back in the habit of proving the Sky guy incorrect and despite an upturn in results for our beloved City, Davey boy still isn't getting carried away and has predicted a draw yet again, albeit an entertaining 2-2. The team at Skybet however appear to be backing the Bluebirds. Home Win 6/5 Draw 9/4 Away 12/5 Sharing The Love Quite a few past Bluebirds/Sky Blues to choose from this week. Some fabulous names such as 1927 Bluebird FA Cup Winner Ernie Curtis and 1987 Sky Blue FA Cup Winner Dave Bennett (in one of my all time favourite FA Cup Finals - Just for Robbie - highlights here) The Bluebird's only full England international, Jay Bothroyd could have been my chosen muse for this game, home boy Craig Bellamy or even the incredulous Dimi Konstantdropalot could be up there, but in reality, given his stats for both teams, his long service and all round awesomeness I just had to select the Icelandic Warrior that is Aron Gunnarson for a special mention. Joining City on a free transfer from Coventry in 2011, Gunnar went on to clock up 286 games for the Bluebirds, including appearances in our 2 Premier League campaigns and of course Captaining Iceland in the 2016 Euro's and helping to dump out England in the process... how can you not love a guy like that? Clearly it's not just the fans who age badly when connected to the fortunes of Cardiff City FC! Joining the club as a relatively fresh faced 22 year old, we saw Aron go from strength to strength, rarely being injured and scoring some memorable goals along the way to go with the graft and sheer determination he regularly displayed. He scored our first ever Premier League goal in that never to be forgotten 3-2 victory over Man City and a Mark Hughes like scissor kick v Forest will live long in the mind too. Cue delirium. Gunnar scores both Cardiff City's and his first Premier league goal. No doubts true warrior and forever a Bluebird! So, can we make the Sky Blue's mood black? Can we rock Robins and his team?? Will the Capital City CCFC triumph (does that make us CCCCFC)??? All I know is I'll be there with my little Pick & Shovel and can hopefully make it to the Cornwall in time to share a beer with some of you!! Safe trip down to Robbie & Robbie Jnr..... Blooooooooobirds!!!!
Well done again Brizzo - great read. Just to carry on a theme - win this one and we're definitely going up!........
My worry is that not only will Coventry be boosted by the presence of Robbie. And not just the usual Robbie but a Robbie fuelled by a glass of Brains
Another from the amazing array of Brizzle master posts. Keeper Ben Wilson also a Bluebird ex - only 3 appearances for us. Another former player for both was Big Ben Turner. Famous for his Carling Cup Final equaliser. His career with us ended far too early with injury. He made 111 appearances for us. An infamous number in cricket terms as something important always seems to happen on that score. Ex umpire used to dance a jig when the scoreboard read 111. Apparently to ward off evil spirits!!!
Yep, big Ben, another good example of a bargain made good from the Malky era. Fair play to him, the squad he assembled in his first year on a relative shoestring was pretty damned decent.
Great read again, thank you, Brizzle. Informative and funny at the same time. I wish I could be with you all but not to be at the moment. Good luck to Coventry after tomorrow, for sure. Enjoy a drink guys and keep safe.
Great write up again Brizzle, but can't let this one go without mentioning one of my favourite players, Ian Gibson who played 93 times for CCFC and 90 times for CCFC. Part of a great team including Toshack and Clark. please log in to view this image Here's an extract from Wiki; Coventry City[edit] With Middlesbrough relegated in 1966 Gibson was signed by Coventry City for £57,000 and despite a major fall-out with manager Jimmy Hill he helped them win promotion to the First division in his first season, becoming one of the fan's most popular players. Despite numerous injuries in his four years at Coventry, under Noel Cantwell he helped them qualify for Europe in 1969–70 by virtue of finishing sixth in the First Division. During his four years at Highfield Road he played alongside the likes of Willie Carr, Neil Martin, George Curtis and Ernie Hannigan. 'Gibbo' as he was nicknamed was an active member of the Coventry City Former Players Association and attended a couple of matches every season at Coventry until his death. Cardiff City[edit] Gibson was sold to Cardiff City in 1970 for £35,000. He made his Cardiff debut on the opening day of the 1970–71 season in a 1–0 win over Leicester City and went on to provide numerous chances for the strikers he played alongside such as Brian Clark, John Toshack and Alan Warboys. After helping the side avoid relegation in his second year he was sold.[2] Sadly Ian Gibson passed away in 2016 aged 73. RIP.
CARDIFF CITY V COVENTRY CITY CLOSED CIRCUIT TV MATCH OCT 1965 Came across this on You Tube this evening. Can anyone cast any light on why this particular match was broadcast back to Highfield Road back in 1965? I expect Masky was in the crowd
Remember the name but a tiny bit before my time. Excellent addition though BT. Always happy to see supplemental info and stories off the back of the threads... Keep em coming
Well done, Ninian, that's really interesting. I wonder if Cov will turn up wearing Stoke City shirts today?
Match facts Cardiff City have won five of their last six home league matches against Coventry City (D1) since a 1-0 defeat in August 2007. Coventry have won two of their last 13 league matches against Cardiff (D3 L8), winning at home in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Cardiff are unbeaten in their last three league games, winning the previous two (D1); they last won three in succession in February. Coventry are winless in their last nine league away games (D6 L3) with goalless draws in each of their last two, they’ve never previously had three successive goalless draws on the road in the Football League. Cardiff’s Callum Robinson has been involved in five goals in his last five league games )2 goals, 3 assists), including in each of the last three fixtures (2 goals, 1 assist), while he’s never scored or assisted in four consecutive Football League games before.
My favorite city player of all time ,he was a magician,rip a great player and a very nice man.I still have his autograph which i got of all places walking down the old Queen street.on the pavement as traffic was allowed in those days.
These guys held the Wurzles to a draw the other week, so I suspect aren't going to be easy to break down. If Robbo is out then that is likely to diminish our chances even further through a lack of creativity and guile. Suspect we could shade it, but it'll be a hard slog I reckon today.
