Six games to shape the Sky Blues’ season

Norwich City (H), August 9th. The importance of the openng game is often overstated and in the end it is just three points up for grabs.

However there is no doubt that a good win gives the fans a feel-good factor and the hope that this, finally, will be the Sky Blues year.

Southampton (H), October 4th. A live TV outing for the visit of the Saints and the 10th game of the Championship season, a time when the league table settles down and the aspirations for the season become clear.

Birmingham City (A), November 3rd. The game at St Andrew’s has been moved to a Monday night for live TV coverage.

Add to that the fact that it is a local derby against a side who are expected to win promotion back to the Premier League and it adds up to a big test for City.

Sheffield Wednesday (H), December 28. The Christmas and New Year period has been dismal for Coventry City and their fans in each of the past two seasons, with a number of poor results helping to hasten the demise of first Micky Adams and then Iain Dowie early in the New Year.

The Wednesday game follows a Boxing Day trip to Swansea City and Chris Coleman will be hoping that the last league table of 2008 shows his side well-placed for a play-off push.

Charlton (H), April 13. A return to the Easter tradition of two games in three games.

The Sky Blues host Charlton on Easter Monday after a long trip to Plymouth 48 hours earlier. Will they be aiming for promotion or battling against the drop?

Ipswich (A), May 3. The end of another season and for the first time since dropping into the Championship, will Coventry City have something to play for at the right end of the table?