Coventry City will begin their 2021 pre-season campaign by making the short trip to National League North side Leamington FC on Saturday afternoon.
The Sky Blues enjoyed an encouraging first season back in the Championship in 2020-21, finishing 16th in the table.
Match preview
© Reuters
After returning to the second tier for the first time in eight years last season, Coventry did not drop into the relegation zone at all throughout the campaign and lost just one of their final seven matches.
A 6-1 win over Millwall on the final day, in which they had six different goalscorers, provided a glimmer of their potential and got supporters excited for 2021-22.
Mark Robins's side will also return to the Ricoh Arena this season after two years ground-sharing at Birmingham City's St. Andrew's and their homecoming on the opening day of the campaign against Nottingham Forest is sure to be an entertaining one.
Before that, though, they have a packed pre-season schedule including games against Cheltenham Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as a glamour friendly against Sevilla out in Spain next week.
This fixture against Leamington perhaps pales in comparison, but it may be an opportunity for Robins to test out a few youngsters from the club's academy.
The Brakes are preparing for their fifth consecutive season in the National League North, although according to the record books the 2020-21 campaign did not happen as all results were expunged when the league was declared null and void in February due to Covid-19.
Leamington were ninth in the table and one point off the playoffs at the time, having lost only three of their opening 15 matches.
Manager Paul Holleran is one of the longest-serving managers in English football, having taken over in Warwickshire in 2009; he has since managed over 500 Leamington games.
The Brakes were beaten 2-1 by Worcester City in their first pre-season friendly of the summer on Tuesday and have more challenges against Football League opposition coming up in the shape of Walsall and Forest Green Rovers.
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Paul Holleran may take the opportunity to give opportunities to trialists in this game as he did in Leamington's defeat to Worcester.
New signing Kieran Cook came off the bench in that match, but may be in line for a start on Saturday.
Coventry have a couple of new arrivals of their own that may play for the first time in sky blue – goalkeeper Simon Moore and striker Martyn Waghorn.
It could be a chance for Jodi Jones to get some gametime under his belt after he missed all of last season with an ACL injury.
Matt Godden is unlikely to feature after taking an extended break to help heal a foot injury that plagued the striker throughout the campaign.
Leamington FC possible starting lineup:
Weaver; Meredith, Morley, Morrison, Martin; Anderson, Maye, Taylor, Edwards; Waldron, Cook
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Hyam, McFadzean, Rose; Dabo, Sheaf, Hamer, Jones; O'Hare, Shipley; Waghorn
We say: Leamington FC 0-4 Coventry City
It is hard to predict what kind of team Mark Robins will put out for this one, but when Coventry last visited Leamington in a friendly two years ago he played a close to full-strength side so he may do similar here. We are going for the same score as that day – a comfortable 4-0 win for the Sky Blues.
Olly Allen
