Coventry City are preparing for what could be a pivotal week in the new season with back-to-back Championship games at the CBS Arena.
The Sky Blues have achieved just one win in their opening seven games, or one in 13 league matches if you’re of a glass half empty persuasion and want to drag the form guide into the back end of last season. We all know, and most accept, that there were mitigating circumstances at the tail end of last term, that the incredible FA Cup run derailed City’s push for the play-offs.
It all started with the Checkatrade Trophy win at the national stadium in 2017, continued with a huge night at Notts County in the League Two play-off semi-final that set up another trip and more success at Wembley. See also victory at the Riverside that resulted in the ‘oh so close’ Championship play-off final against Luton and numerous days to cherish, many of which have come at the CBS – last season’s 3-1 win over Leicester, the 2-0 victory over Blues in April 2023, the 4-1 thumping of Fulham from October 2021 – a scoreline repeated against Sheffield United a few months later.
The Arena has become a special place in recent years, finally feeling like home and so often the fortress we’d all dreamed about it becoming. The atmosphere has ramped up as season tickets have risen and the place regularly close to being packed out.
“The fans are fantastic, it’s no secret how good they are, they sing till the very end, and we respect and appreciate the support they give us,” said Ben Sheaf, speaking after Saturday’s latest disappointing performance, when the players looked so far removed from their gut-busting efforts against Tottenham just a week or so before.
The captain continued: “We want to give them something to cheer about on Tuesday night now.”
It’s a two-way street, of course – a chicken and egg argument over whether it’s down to the team to get the crowd going, or the fans to spark the players to life. Truth is, both should set out with the same intentions and hopefully bounce off each other and drive towards the collective goal of three points.
On Tuesday night against Blackburn Rovers, and again on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday, it will start with the now firmly established pre-kick-off ritual of “We’ll Live And Die In These Towns.”
The players will be determined to play their part and turn things around but they need the fans more than ever now to get behind them from minute one, stick with them and hopefully roar them on to victory.
Bring your flags, create a sea of sky blue and let’s make some noise. Let’s lift the players – so many of whom appear lacking in confidence – up by their boot laces and help get them over the line. Two wins or even four points from the next two games will put a whole new complexion on things; will show shoots of recovery that will hopefully signal the turning point in City’s season.
Don’t have any regrets, don’t come away from those games having not sung your heart out from start to finish. You know what to do. We can do this! PUSB.
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