Halfway – and a test for Dowie

Having now completed half of their league fixtures, a game later than most other sides due to the Sheffield Wednesday call-off, Coventry City lie in 16th place in the Championship, 8 points off the play-offs but only 5 above the drop zone.

A promising campaign is in danger of petering out due to basic defensive woes, similar in fact to this time last year.

Iain Dowie still has the backing of most fans and the inability to bring in a loan signing or two before the deadline has tied his hands to an extent.

The club’s new owners however are unlikely to be too patient.

And as yet, none of Dowie’s summer signings have made themselves indispensable parts of the team, with Borrowdale, De Zeeuw, Gray and Michael Hughes in particular struggling to make an impact.