Stevenage: McGoldrick’s First And Last

It may be only the third time that Coventry City and Stevenage have met when they clash this weekend but last season’s two games provided one of the lowest points of the Sky Blues’ recent history and also one that stoked optimism of a brighter future while also bookmarking David McGoldrick’s short but productive spell with the club.

Richard Shaw took charge of his first home game as caretaker manager in a Sunday lunchtime fixture that was televised live and, despite McGoldrick’s stunning first goal of a loan spell from Nottingham Forest, a 2-1 defeat against a side that had only recently made their way into the Football League provided a stark reminder of how far City had dropped.

Mark Robins, of course, took over and began to turn the Sky Blues around and an excellent run of form meant the play-offs were a genuine prospect as they prepared for the Stevenage return game over Christmas.

McGoldrick’s 17th and last goal in a Coventry shirt contributed to a 3-1 win and the sense that the good(ish) times were coming back, a feeling that lasted a few more weeks as Graham Westley (now back at Stevenage) saw his Preston North End side defeated in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.