Sky Blues On The Road - Sunderland

Last updated : 18 March 2005 By Covsupport

A tough, tough trip awaits the Sky Blues as they journey up the A1M and A1 to face second placed Sunderland.

It’s a game that City must get something from after the draw at Millwall on Tuesday night. The Sky Blues beat Sunderland at Highfield Road on the opening day of the season and most Coventry supporters would take the point, City got in the corresponding fixture last season.

Micky Adams rang changes for the game at the New Den but is not expected to do so on this occasion. Claus Jorgensen who changed the midweek game back in to the favour of the Sky Blues is likely to be given a slot in midfield and if Michael Doyle recovers from injury in time, the Irishman is also likely to feature.

The same applies to Adie Williams who was replaced by Richard Shaw at Millwall. If the centre half from Reading who is nicknamed “The Count” , (More like the one off Sesame Street, than anything dreamt up by Bram Stoker if you ask me) is fit he will be come the third Welshman in City’s defence.

Eddy Johnson has shook off a hamstring injury and may get a place on the bench.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy waits on the fitness of Dean Whitehead as the Makems go for their sixth successive win. Whitehead went off at half-time during Sunderland’s 5-1 midweek win over Plymouth but should be ok, according to the former Millwall and Republic Of Ireland manager who said that he took him off as a precaution. Former City defender Gary Breen is likely to play.

Michael Bridges is rated as very doubtful after pulling up in the Plymouth game warm-up with a recurrence of a thigh injury.

Despite playing for the whole of Sunderland reserves 4-0 home defeat by Manchester United, Makems keeper Mart Poom is unlikely to feature.

The referee is Alan Wiley from Staffordshire.

Tickets are still available priced at £23 for adults and £17 for children.

Laughingly described by the Sunderland website as a unique location, the Stadium Of Light is anything but a pleasant place to watch football. Heavy policing, poor stewarding and outbursts of racism were just some of the incidents the City supporters who travelled to the stadium on a former colliery last season witnessed. Anyone refusing to sit down will be ejected and the police tend not to rest until a visiting supporter has been arrested.

If you have had a drink in either Newcastle or Sunderland town centre both of which are recommended or in the ground, then you are advised to keep your mouth shut as this will only give the police the opportunity to eject or arrest you.

By Metro from Newcastle get off at St Peters rather than the Stadium of Light as it is nearer for the away end.

M1,M18,A1M to A1. Leave A1 at the A690 Durham/Sunderland exit. After four miles,left onto the A19. Take the A1231 (Sunderland North) turn off. After four roundabouts keep to the left hand lane and follow signs for B1289 (Roker).Continue on this road and you will see the Stadium on your right.

As far as we are aware, there is no game for City U18’s this week but on Sunday, Coventry City Ladies travel to the Birmingham County FA Headquarters at Ray Hall Lane in Great Barr, to face red hot favourites Birmingham City in the BCFA Women’s Cup Final at 2pm.