Often Partisan

Blues To Bounce Back At The Ricoh? Capital One Cup 2nd Round Preview v Coventry

After the disappointment of the performance on Saturday Blues need to pick themselves up for their trip to the Ricoh Stadium to play Coventry in the second round of the Capital One Cup. Coventry are no strangers to crises either – overdue rent on their ground, a manager sacked after three successive league draws and a financial headache that makes Blues look positively well-run.

Coventry City

The Sky Blues will be under the temporary charge of Richard Shaw and former Blues midfielder Lee Carsley for the visit of Birmingham City after the sacking of Andy Thorn yesterday. It’s not been a great season for Coventry so far, having drawn all three of the league games, blowing leads in each game including a 2-0 halftime lead against Bury.

John Fleck and Jordan Clarke are doubts whilst long-term absentees Cyrus Christie, Connor Thomas and David Bell all definitely miss out. Gary McSheffrey will be hoping to be in the team to face his former employers having scored for Coventry against Blues at the Ricoh in the 1-1 draw in the Championship last year.

Coventry qualified for the second round after a last gasp penalty win over minnows Dagenham and Redbridge in Essex, with Kevin Kilbane’s spot kick being the difference between the two sides in a 1-0 victory for the Sky Blues.

Blues

Blues will be looking to bounce back after their awful defeat to Watford on Sky on Saturday with a win. Whilst there are no new injury concerns I suspect that there will be changes rung from the side that capitulated at Vicarage Road.

Jonathan Spector has played two games on the bounce after a pre-season where he didn’t play a single minute and I suspect that he may be rested for Will Packwood to ensure Spector is fit for the weekend to cover the possibility that Stephen Carr doesn’t make it. Morgaro Gomis and Ravel Morrison will have made strong cases to start in midfield whilst Pablo Ibanez could well feature in defence in place of Steven Caldwell or Curtis Davies.

Whilst this game has banana skin written all over it for me it’s one that Blues have to win to restore some confidence in the team. As much as people have slated Jack Butland I hope that Clark will show some faith in the teenager and give him another game to continue his footballing education – he will only get better with time between the sticks and if Blues can keep a clean sheet it will do his confidence the world of good.

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15 Responses to “Blues To Bounce Back At The Ricoh? Capital One Cup 2nd Round Preview v Coventry”

  • Letsby Avenue says:

    I wouldn’t play Jack tonight, if I were the manager.

    Not as a punishment nor as a sop nor as a scapegoat.

    Simply because at this stage in a Cup, your number 2 (or 3) goalie needs competitive match time.
    Just as Doyle did last season when replacing Myhill, so he should this season with Butland.

    I’ve read that Football League managers are under instructions to field their strongest side in the Capital One Cup, so as not to devalue it.(This doesn’t apply to Premier managers it appears)
    As Blues and Lee Clark don’t actually know our strongest side yet, this could be a debatable point.

    :-)

    • NooBloo says:

      Another part of our problem seems to be doing our homework on the clubs we have come up against. We do not seem to be able to cope with the opposition which we need to be able to do.

      Coventry will be a problem. Richard Shaw left Millwall because he had been promised the Coventry managers job. He was seen down at Millwall as their main man motivator so I can really see a shock on the cards here

  • nicky wicky says:

    I agree I’d play Doyle. He needs game time,and if we give a penalty away he’s the one to stop it!

  • Bluenosesol says:

    If Blues lose this one, I will begin to fear for the longevity of Lee Clarke, especially after his appaling post Watford match interview.

    • nicky wicky says:

      Bluenose lets not start panicking just yet. last year reading lost 6 games on the bounce,and ended up as champions. I know LC sounds a bit suicidal sometimes,but i think thats just dissapointment!

  • Leigh says:

    Wow, Garry McSheffrey, and Kevin Kilbane, we could be in trouble, if only we had players like these!!!!!!!

  • Leigh, it doesn’t do to disrespect any club or their players. This will be an awkward tie and Blues have to be up for it or they will lose. We are not playing well at present and this is the sort of game where we could end up with grass stains on our bums and egg on our faces. On paper Blues should win but that was the case for Charlton, Sheffiled Wednesday and Watford from which we are lucky to have garnered a single point!

  • skareggae72 says:

    You always worry whan a club makes a management change,rather like Chelsea did just before the cup game last season,and instantly became rejuvenated.

    Im sure Blues fan Lee Carsley will want to make a big impact here in his first game in charge(albeit temporary).

  • andy says:

    If Blues stop this sloppy play, esp first half, then we should win this game at Coventry tonight. Its not so much the results so far have been disappointing, its the manner of the way Blues have performed, and its been pretty poor. I see tonight as an oppurtunity to put the recent results and in particular, the poor performances behind us and kickstart our season.

  • BND says:

    Concerned about Clarke’s tactics.
    3 games and changes made in the second half because we were being outplayed.
    He needs to get it right from the off.
    I know it’s early days but I don’t think he is the man for the job.
    We can’t afford to have him on a learning curve.
    The players we have have are not good enough to compensate for this.
    He may be a decent championship manager in a couple of seasons.
    We cant afford the wait.
    KRO

  • ForevertheOptimist says:

    The language Clark has been using suggests he is struggling to manage our type of players.
    My guess is he is a little out of his depth at the moment, managing experienced Championship Pro’s and the expectation of a much bigger club than he was used to.
    I sincerely hope he can get that bit extra out of the players like CH did and turn this mini blip around.
    After last season and some decent signings we were all looking for a good start.
    Unfortunately even our players of the season Davies and Burke dont look comfortable which is worrying.
    The next two games are crying out for Blues to find the missing link and gel as a team.
    Come on Blues.
    KRO

  • DoctorD says:

    This is getting crap — 3-2 defeat to Cov.

  • big frank says:

    This is a joke, get rid of clarke now.


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