Stats offer reasons to be cheerful
WERE it not for their disappointing start to October, Coventry City would be well amongst the battlers for automatic promotion to the Championship right now.
Instead, they are five points adrift having played 15 games.
The Sky Blues closed out September with a 1-1 draw against Doncaster Rovers and, at that time, were one of only three unbeaten sides in England.
However, that soon changed with a 4-0 drubbing at Rotherham, followed by a surprise defeat to Tranmere.
But, after a drab goalless draw with MK Dons, Mark Robins’ side has bounced back in impressive fashion by beating fellow promotionchasers Fleetwood Town and taking an impressive point against Peterborough United.
How does their start to the season compare to the last time they were promoted?
Coventry’s last promotion came at Wembley Stadium in 2018 when they comfortably put aside Exeter City in the League Two play-off final.
Only four of the 11 that started at Wembley that day are still with the Sky Blues, but comparisons have been drawn between the two campaigns.
That season, Robins’ side finished sixth in League Two to get into the play-offs, but after 15 games they had amassed a total of 24 points, one less than they have managed this term.
Currently, Coventry are picking up an average of 1.6 points per game and are on track for a 77 point total for their 2019/20 campaign. Last season that tally would have sealed sixth place and the very last play-off spot.
City are also stronger in front of goal compared to that 2018 promotion season.
The team had only found the net 14 times by matchday 15. This season they have scored 20.
One of the more surprising statistics shows how much stronger Robins’ defence was during the early phases of their League Two campaign. They conceded just eight goals during their first 15 outings – the best in the Football League – compared to 18 this season, one division higher.
Fix those defensive frailties and the Sky Blues will be well on their way to bettering their memorable 2017-18 campaign.