Coventry City (H) | Match Preview
The Game
Argyle v Coventry City. Home Park. Wednesday, 14 February. 7.45pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Coventry's season has certainly been one of two halves so far. They won just three of their opening 16 games, following on from their play-off final heartbreak last season, when they lost to Luton Town in a penalty shoot-out.
After the November international break, Coventry seemed to kick into gear, and have lost just twice in their last 15 games. The most recent defeat was three games ago, 2-1 to Norwich City, but since then the Sky Blues have played twice at home, winning 4-1 against Sheffield Wednesday and 2-1 against Millwall.
The Gaffer
Mark Robins came through the ranks at Manchester United, and was part of the squad that won the 1990 FA Cup and the 1991 European Cup-Winners Cup. In a career that also took in spells in Denmark, Spain and Greece, Robins represented Leicester City, Norwich City, Walsall and Rotherham United, among others.
His first managerial job was at Rotherham, having previously been the assistant manager. This led to a move to Barnsley, followed by a first stint at Coventry, beginning in September 2012. After five relatively successful months, he took a job with Huddersfield Town, where he remained for 18 months.
After a similar amount of time with Scunthorpe United, Robins was re-appointed as Coventry boss in March 2017, with the Sky Blues in League Two. In six-and-half years, he has take Coventry up twice, and last season got into the Championship play-offs, only to lose to Luton Town in the play-off final, on penalties.
The Squad
Haji Wright is Coventry's leading scorer, with ten goals. Wright is a USA international who signed for Coventry in the summer of 2023, for a reported fee of £7.7m. The 25-year-old attacker spent time with Schalke 04 in Germany as a young player, before a European tour which took in time at Venlo in the Netherlands, SonderjyskE in Denmark and Antalyaspor of Turkey before moving to England.
Ben Sheaf (above) has been a consistent performer for Coventry this season in the Sky Blues' midfield. Sheaf, who has just turned 26, began his professional career with Arsenal, but failed to truly break through at the Emirates. He had loan spells with Stevenage and Doncaster Rovers before heading to Coventry, initially on loan, in 2020/21. He signed permanently after the season's end, and has been a feature in the heart of their team ever since.
Coventry signed full-back Milan van Ewijk last summer, for a reported £3.5m. In the league this season he has started 23 games, and made four substitute appearances. He has scored twice. Van Ewijk began at third-tier Excelsior Maassluis, but made his professional debut for ADO Den Haag in the top tier of Dutch football. He then moved to Heerenveen for two seasons, before heading to Coventry in July.
Earlier This Season
The sides met in Argyle's 18th game of the season, at Coventry. The game finished 1-0 to the Sky Blues, with the goal scored by Haji Wright in the 75th minute, in somewhat controversial fashion, since the ball appeared to have gone out for an Argyle goal-kick, but nothing was given.
Tickets
If you have a season ticket and cannot attend, you can make your ticket available via the Ticket Exchange and receive face value credit if your ticket is resold. Find out more about the Ticket Exchange.
Argyle TV
Commentary for the game will be provided by Charlie Price and Marc Edworthy.
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by Erin Black and Katie Middleton, will begin at 6.45pm, and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Match passes to watch this game, wherever you are in the world, can be purchased here.
