Everything you need to know before CCFC vs Wigan Athletic

Here’s what you need to know before tonight’s game at The CBS Arena:

CITY ON FIRE

The Sky Blues are enjoying a great run of form after a poor start to the season, with six wins out of the last eight games. Mark Robins has managed to drag The Sky Blues from the very bottom of The Championship to a more respectable 15th place. If results go the team’s way this week they could be in the top 10 going into the World Cup break, with matches in hand.

Image: Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images / PA)

The CBS Arena - CCFC’s home… long term?

 

During last week, the CBS Arena’s operating companies ACL and ACL (2006) applied to enter administration, according to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. As the week has progressed the companies have entered administration and the rumours around buyers for the stadium began to swirl. The latest interested party is former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley.
Coventry City FC have had confirmation that tonight’s game against Wigan and Saturday’s game against Queens’s Park Rangers will go ahead at the stadium. However, there has been no confirmation regarding the hosting of fixtures following the upcoming World Cup in December.

TAKEOVER COUNTDOWN!

This leads us all to question whether the CBS will be home to Coventry City for much longer, and if Mike Ashley will be able to buy out the stadium in time. He is also rumoured to be looking at purchasing the club, which would reunite both the stadium and CCFC brand under one owner.

SQUAD STRUCK BY ILLNESS!

A virus has ripped through City’s training camp over the past few weeks leaving Mark Robins with a nightmare situation where six starters are injured or ill. These include recently ruled out Callum Doyle who was subbed on for Kyle McFadzean during the team’s 1-0 victory over Blackburn. He remains on the watch list and has yet to be ruled out.

Injuries Galore

Another doubtful for today’s fixture is the popular wing-back Fankaty Dabo, who overstretched chasing a tackle during Coventry’s draw with Rotherham.

Multiple players have been ruled out until at least after the World Cup, these include captain Liam Kelly, who has been out since pre-season and subsequently suffering a knock in an under-21’s game causing damage to his knee, ruling him out even longer.

City are also short on strikers with both Matty Godden and Martyn Waghorn both consigned to the side-lines. Both injured in the win against Sheffield United last month, Robins provided an update on Godden:

“He’s had ankle ligament surgery. They fixed the ruptured ligament, but also found another one that was a little bit loose, so they tightened that up, so he should have a decent ankle when he comes back. But he’s out for three-four months." Waghorn brushed off his injury after the match, but a scan revealed he will need six to eight weeks on the side-lines before being fit to play.

Transfer Embargo

Coventry have been under a transfer embargo since October 30th. Due to the Rugby Sevens being played at the CBS during the Commonwealth games, the pitch was deemed unsafe by the EFL and the first three games of the season were postponed, meaning that Coventry had no cash flow. The Sky Blues have outlined that the pitch issues at the CBS Arena have had a “significant impact” on the club’s finances, the loss of revenue at the start of the season caused the club to enter an agreement with HMRC over unpaid tax, as long as all six of the payments are made the club should be free to make transfers from January 1st.

With the team losing so many big names to either injuries or the pre season summer transfer window this will be a January will be a critical for the Sky Blues to help their push into the second half of the season.

Here's how confident Mark Robins is about the transfer embargo being lifted and sigining new players:

Wailing Wigan

Given The Sky Blues impressive run of form it would be easy to say that Coventry seem the clear favourites for this game. Wigan have not won a game in their last 5, with the last 4 being losses while City have won 3 of their last 5 Wigan currently sit 23rd in the league. Wigan are also dealing with major player injuries and Wigan manager Leam Richardson putting form down to injuries.

“I think any team in our position, if they’re missing Callum, or Charlie or Ryan Nyambe, or Ben Amos, it shows.”

If Wigan manage to win tonight, they will jump to just behind Coventry only seperated by goal difference. With notable injuries for Coventry it may be closer than most think, It’s a must watch game for the Wigan and Coventry fans alike.

Follow our updates on Twitter from 7:30pm when I will be reporting live from the CBS Arena.