How the Sky Blues are shaping up for next season
LAST SEASON
Coventry's season was thrown into disarray before a ball was kicked. With the threat of liquidation looming over the Sky Blues they ended up starting the campaign with a 10-point deduction but managed to survive in League One.
They enjoyed a good first half of the season which pulled Cov safely into mid-table as they racked up impressive victories against the likes of Sheffield United, Bristol City, MK Dons and Rotherham. From January onwards, Steven Pressley's side only won six times and stayed outside the bottom four by six points after a poor end to the season that that saw them fail to win any of their last seven league games.
THE MANAGER - STEVEN PRESSLEY
Elgin-born Steven Pressley took up the Coventry City reigns in 2013 – his first job in England – after leaving Falkirk.
The 40-year-old was appointed Falkirk boss in February 2010 and won the Scottish Challenge Cup in the 2011-12 season. Prior to arriving at Falkirk, Pressley was assistant to George Burley with the Scotland national team and had a spell with Hearts as caretaker manager for two games in the 2004-05 campaign.
Pressley started his playing career at Rangers and won the SPL twice as well as two Scottish League Cups before moving across the border to play for Coventry, appearing in 19 games for the club that he now manages. In 1995 he returned to Scotland to join Dundee United and won the Scottish First Division in his first season at Tannadice.
A move to Hearts in 1998 was the start of a long love affair with the Tynecastle club and he appeared more than 250 times for Hearts before spells with Celtic, Randers (Denmark) and Falkirk. He also won 32 Scotland caps in his 19-year career.
VISITING THE GROUND?
For the second consecutive season, Coventry will be playing their home matches in Northampton at Sixfields Stadium. Crawley fans will be housed in the Paul Cox Panel & Paint South Stand, situated behind one of the goals. This can hold 800 supporters.
SUMMER BUSINESS SO FAR
The highly-rated Cyrus Christie could be set for a surprise move to the MLS with a number of clubs interested in his services – this would see the Sky Blues miss out on compensation for the right back due to the 21-year-old moving abroad.
Callum Wilson could be in high demand after an impressive 2013-14 campaign.
Former loanee David Prutton could be set for a switch back to the club after his release from Sheffield Wednesday and Franck Moussa could leave the club for the Championship after his performances last season attracted interest from Championship clubs.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Both clubs found themselves in League One at the exact same time as Coventry were relegated from the Championship the same season as Crawley earned promotion to the third tier.
During the 2012-13 season, John Fleck and David McGoldrick (2) did the damage as Reds were downed 3-1 by City at the Ricoh Arena with Billy Clarke replying for Reds.
However, in the reverse fixture at a wet Checkatrade.com Stadium, Reds gained revenge as Clarke and then Connor Essam grabbed the goals in a 2-0 win.
Last season the two sides met on the opening day and Reds squandered a two-goal lead before Mike Jones' late winner. A fantastic Jamie Proctor solo goal set Crawley on their way and Joe Walsh put Reds 2-0 up in the first half.
After the break, City had a new lease of life and after Callum Wilson pulled one back, Franck Moussa bundled the ball past Paul Jones from close range. Just two minutes later Jones won the game with a great run and finish from a smart Nicky Adams’ pass.
An entertaining match at Sixfields saw City go 2-0 up through a Mat Sadler own goal and an 85th minute Andy Webster header. However, a resilient Reds battled back and Jamie Proctor grabbed a goal soon after. Crawley never gave up and fellow substitute Sergio Torres burst into the box and put in a great ball that was turned in by Andy Drury to secure a point.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Leon Clarke had a loan spell with Crawley back in 2011-12 and scored an important goal against Bradford in our 2-1 victory at Valley Parade. Clarke signed for Coventry from Charlton and scored plenty of goals that led to a move back to home town club Wolves in January 2014.
Others to have played for both include currently City midfielder Adam Barton who previously played for Crawley on loan from Preston in the 2009-10 campaign.
Jay Tabb joined Crawley on loan in 2003 but struggled to break into the team. Tabb had three years with Coventry from 2006-2009 and made just over 100 appearances for the club.
Goalkeeper Scott Shearer played his part in Crawley's promotions from the Conference and League Two, and his first spell in England came at Coventry. Scott made 38 appearances there between 2003 to 2005.
WHAT THE BOOKIES THINK
Coventry City are 13/2 with Sky Bet to win promotion from League One in 2014-15.
