Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Coventry City
The Bluebirds return to Cardiff City Stadium after two games on the road, taking on Coventry City this weekend.
City face the Sky Blues on Saturday, February 13th, with a 3pm kick-off in the Welsh capital.
How do I watch the match?
A Cardiff City TV Match Pass can be purchased now for just £10 in the UK & Ireland. International Match Passes are available for just £7 per game, or £20 a month.
Cardiff City TV's broadcast includes a pre-match show ahead of a multi-camera production, with commentary and replays.
Supporters in the UK & Ireland can also purchase a Commentary Pass for £5 a month, or for just £20 for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign.
How can I purchase the matchday programme?
There are two ways to get hold of the Cardiff City vs. Coventry City matchday programme.
The Bluebird – edition 15 for 2020/21, featuring Perry Ng as cover star and feature interviewee, can be ordered and delivered in its traditional print format from Cardiff City FC SuperStore. Click here to buy your copy!
The Bluebird is now available digitally. The Coventry City edition is available to download now!
You can purchase a digital subscription for The Bluebird, receiving all 23 copies for 2020/21 direct to your phone or tablet for just £24.99. To purchase, download the MatchDayInfo App, visit 'My Teams', and click 'Season Programme Pass'.
Alternatively, individual digital copies of The Bluebird can be purchased before each game for £1.99 per edition.
To download the MatchDayInfo App click on the links below and search ‘Cardiff City’:
Mick pre-Coventry City | We can't be complacent
Speaking in his pre-match virtual press conference on Friday afternoon, the City Boss said that it’s now about performing to the highest level against the Sky Blues when Mark Robins’ side arrives in the Welsh Capital.
“What we can’t do is be complacent,” said Mick. “We’ve taken eight points from four games which is a great return, but we can’t suddenly start believing that we’re this team that can press all the way. We’ve got to go and win now against Coventry on Saturday and then get something out of the next game at Luton next week.
“I only ever look as far as the next game. Let’s see where we are on Saturday and if we’ve picked up another three points then I’ll be delighted. It’s a big ask as Coventry will be a tough nut to crack. They’re not frightened to express themselves under Mark [Robins] and they’ve had success with it after coming up last season."
Opposition Focus: Season so far
The Sky Blues come into Saturday’s fixture sitting in 19th position in the Championship table. From their 28 league matches, Coventry have recorded seven victories, ten draws and 11 defeats, collecting 31 points. That tally puts Mark Robins’ men three places above the drop zone, though Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Birmingham City could all draw level on points with the Sky Blues by the end of Saturday afternoon.
After storming to last season’s League One title on the basis of Points per game, the Sky Blues have endured something of an inconsistent return to their second tier. Coventry have so far been unable to secure consecutive league victories this term, and have recorded two wins, four draws and four defeats from their last ten matches. City have also conceded the most penalties of any Championship team this season, with nine spot-kicks going against them.
Robins’ side last tasted success on January 27th, securing an important 2-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Sheffield Wednesday. Since then, Coventry have played three matches without victory, recording two draws and suffering one defeat. They played out a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City, but were unable to prevent a 2-1 loss at Nottingham Forest. Last weekend, the Sky Blues played out a goalless draw with Watford, earning a valuable point at their current home, St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium, in Birmingham.
Opposition Focus: Winter window
Mark Robins added four new faces to his Coventry squad during the recent transfer window, with two permanent arrivals and two new loanees. On January 28th, the Sky Blues completed the purchase of 18-year-old Josh Reid from Ross County, after the left-back made an impressive senior breakthrough with the Scottish Premiership club this term. Four days later, pacey attacker Fábio Tavares arrived from Rochdale. The 20-year-old was named amongst the substitutes for City’s draw with Watford.
Having spent the first half of the campaign with Rotherham United, midfielder Matty James arrived in Coventry on a temporary deal from Leicester City. A Premier League winner from his time with the Foxes, James has already captained the Sky Blues, donning the armband against the Hornets last time out. City also signed striker Viktor Gyökeres from Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season, after the Swedish international was recalled from his original loan spell at Swansea City.
Four players left the club during January, including former Cardiff City goalkeeper, Lee Camp. The 36-year-old stopper had been drafted in on a short-term deal to provide cover for the injured Marko Maroši, and competed for a place between the sticks with another former Bluebird, Ben Wilson.
Opposition Focus: Ones to watch
Maxime Biamou helped Coventry earn the League One title last season, netting four goals during their promotion-winning campaign. The striker has already equalled that tally this term, and, in the absence of Matt Godden, has become Mark Robins’ main man up front during recent weeks. The 30-year-old has started Coventry’s last four Championship matches, and also scored their most recent league goal, which came during the 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on February 2nd.
Sam McCallum joined the club in August 2018, making 35 appearances and scoring three goals before being snapped up by Norwich City, then of the Premier League, in January 2020. McCallum was immediately loaned back to the Sky Blues, and extended his stint with the club to include the current campaign. With 24 league appearances under his belt this season, the 20-year-old has adjusted admirably to life in the second tier, recording a goal and an assist from his position on the left flank.
Tyler Walker signed for the Sky Blues back in August 2020, joining from his boyhood club, Nottingham Forest. The son of former Forest defender Des, Walker has previously enjoyed a number of prolific loan spells in League One and League Two, although his first season as a regular Championship starter has been blighted by injury. The striker netted three goals in a six-match spell before picking up a hip problem on Boxing Day, but could return to Mark Robins’ squad for Saturday’s clash in South Wales.
