News

LATE HEARTBREAK STRIKES AGAIN

Sometimes you just can't write the script in football, and this week has been one of those weeks where it seems like we're the unluckiest team in the world.

A week ago, we hadn't conceded any goals in the last five minutes of games this season.

Then on Tuesday, we let in a late own goal equaliser that was as farcical as it was harsh, followed by an even later extra time stoppage time. Ouch. But lightening doesn't strike twice, right?

Today, we appeared to have netted a late, and fully deserved, equaliser to make up for the midweek heartbreak.

But the footballing gods take the piss sometimes, and in the 7th minute of stoppage time we concede the latest goal in the entire English league this season to lose the game.

We're a laughing stock.

We've got a ten-day break until our next game and for fucks sake, that had better include ten days of learning how to defend until the final whistle.

OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER

Dramatic. Disastrous. Disappointing.

It's what we've come to expect from the Sky Blues, but this years early cup exit will have to go down as one of the most audaciously conspiratorial yet.

We can concentrate on the league, but the manner of our Cup exit is likely to deplete moral for at least a few games, and we might be in a relegation scrap before we get over the after-effects.

SAINT ELLIOTT

Elliott Ward could be set to move to Southampton this week, after the two clubs reportedly agreed a fee for the players.

Chris Coleman has long suggested that Ward will be on his way during this transfer window and that the player no longer fits into our plans, and he has been absent from recent squads despite being fit, though he did come in and do a job earlier in the season when our injury crisis was at its worst.

Ward recently turned down a move to Notts County, but the Saints could be in a position to offer more attractive prospects.

Meanwhile, loan striker Gary Madine is heading back to Carlisle, after the clubs failed to agree a loan extension for the youngster.

TYKES HOODOO STRIKES AGAIN

The first league game of the new decade sees a fairly lacklustre performance against an in-form Barnsley side, but we are their bogey team in a big way, and so it's no surprise that we notch up yet another win against the Tykes despite not playing that well.

Credit really has to go to the Ricoh Arena grounds staff whose hard worked enabled us to host the fixture on a weekend when almost all games in all competitions have been called off due to the weather and it was well worth it too - though Barnsley fans may be less grateful!

It's our first double of the season, and there's a chance for a second next Saturday when we take on Ipswich at Portman Road - though Ipswich Away, unlike Barnsley at Home, is a fixture we almost always lose.

Before then we face Portsmouth in the FA Cup replay, and there's a real feeling of confidence around the Ricoh at the moment. Exciting new signings are coming in, key players are returning from injury, and we finally seem to be moving in the right direction after a long spell treading water. Premiership opposition beware!

COOKIE MEETS HIS BAKER

The Sky Blues have completed the signing of Stockport County midfielder Carl Baker on a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee - rumoured to be around £150-£250,000.

Chris Coleman had been in negotiations with cash-strapped Stockport over the player for some weeks, and has finally got his man.

Baker has emerged this season as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the lower divisions, despite playing in central midfield or out on the right. He has scored 13 goals already this season, more than half of Stockport's total goal tally.

Perhaps the most surprising thing is that Baker is not a youngster - he turned 27 on Boxing Day, and is very much a 'late developer' as he was still playing non-league football for Southport three seasons ago!

Baker gives us further midfield options following the recent signing of Irish lad Gary Deegan, but unfortunately the move will surely doom Stockport to relegation as they are already well adrift at the bottom of League One.

Sky Blues fans could well have mixed reactions to that - back in 2001 Stockport were our first opponents at this level after our relegation from the Premiership - and after more than eight years we're still here!

CAMERAS AT THE READY

The media profile of the Sky Blues is set to rise significantly over the next few weeks, with both ITV and the BBC set to screen Coventry City games.

Our FA Cup replay at home to Portsmouth will be shown next week on ITV4, while the beeb are set to televise our local derby with Leicester in March - a rare return to terrestrial TV for us after many years.

SUNDERLAND AWAIT REPLAY WINNERS

If we get past Portsmouth in our FA Cup 3rd Round Replay next Tuesday, we'll face a tougher test at home to another Premiership side, because the winners have drawn Sunderland in the 4th Round.

Sunderland are currently 10th in the Premiership and cruised past non-league Barrow yesterday, so will probably offer a sterner test than Pompey will in the replay.

But there are some crumbs of comfort - the Mackems are much stronger at home and have only won one away game in the league this season. On their last trip to the Ricoh in the season they won promotion to the Premiership we beat them, as we usually do at home, though our away record at Sunderland is abyssmal.

They are also very much a side dependent on striker Darren Bent who scores most of their goals, and if he missed the game for any reason they could struggle.

But it's all academic until we get past Portsmouth, of course.

CITY STILL HARBOUR HOPES AFTER PORTSMOUTH DRAW

2010 starts with a robust FA Cup performance, and we've arguably done the hard part in drawing at Portsmouth, and have a really good chance in the replay next week.

The Sky Blues could possibly have even won the tie on the day against a strong but jittery Pompey team, and we'll seriously fancy our chances of advancing to the 4th Round.

The Cup draw is tomorrow, and our prediction is that the winner will face a relatively easy task in the next round - perhaps Brighton away.

In nine or ten days time, we'll probably have done some transfer business too, so strap yourselves in for a very exciting January.

WOOD AND HUSSEY IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

Well, here's some encouraging news to kick off 2010: loan signings Richard Wood and Chris Hussey have both penned three-and-a-half year deals with us, securing their moves from Sheffield Wednesday and AFC Wimbledon respectively on a permenant basis.

Wood has already been playing as captain, and is a player Chris Coleman has wanted for a long time, so his move is really no surprise, but it's a welcome bit of New Year news to get it all rubber-stamped.

Hussey, on the other hand, is a bit of an odd one, as the young left-back has been restricted to a handful of sub appearances during his time with us, though obviously we all hope that he turns out to be the next Stuart Pearce or Danny Fox!