The Sky Blues won their opening three games of the season, recording impressive victories against Wigan Athletic and Millwall, as well as a 3-2 home victory against Crewe Alexandra.
Although they lost three of their next six games, Tony Mowbray's side lost just once in the seventeen that came after that - a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United. The goals were coming thick and fast with Newcastle United prodigy Adam Armstrong and Norwich City loanee Jacob Murphy impressing on the goal scoring front.
Their first two victories of 2016 were 5-0 and 6-0 demolitions against Crewe Alexandra and Bury respectively but those two were wins that were becoming much less frequent. Although they won four of their last five fixtures at the end of the season, seven defeats in ten fixtures leading up to that ultimately cost them a play-off place meaning they would have to endure another season in League One for the Midlands club.
AT THE HELM: TONY MOWBRAY
52 year old Tony Mowbray had success as a footballer with Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich Town. A defender, he began his career in his native North East with Middlesbrough in 1982 before eventually retiring at Ipswich Town in 2000.
He had a spell as Interim manager at Portman Road in 2002 before taking up his first full managerial role at Hibernian in 2004. After two years in Scottish football, he returned to England to take over at West Bromwich
Albion. Mowbray then went on to have spells in charge with former employers Celtic and Middlesbrough before taking over at Coventry in March 2015 until the end of the 2014-15 season.
He steered the club away from the distinct possibility of relegation into League Two and signed a two year contract extension to remain at The Ricoh Arena. Mowbray will be served an interesting challenge next season; big shoes have been left to fill by the vacating loan stars and he has openly said that he'll be confident going into next season, should he be able to secure his main transfer targets.
DANGER MEN
As mention earlier in the article, the key men going forward for Coventry City last season were Adam Armstrong and Jacob Murphy on loan from Newcastle United and Norwich City, and they scored 30 goals between them. With the two clubs being relegated into the Championship recently, both players could fancy their chances of getting first team football this coming season.
City could turn to recently signed Jodi Jones and Ruben Lameiras to step in and be the key men for them. Home-grown James Maddison joins up with Norwich City this summer after being signed in January but loaned back until the end of the 2015-16 season, which means there are definitely gaps to be filled.
18 year old Jones arrived on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge towards the end of last season before making his move permanent recently. He impressed during his loan spell and he's certainly a player to be watched this coming season.
Lameiras is a talented Portuguese winger who carries a real attacking threat; blessed with pace and trickery, he is a dangerous player in the final third and is expected to once again play a key role for The Sky Blues
this coming season.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two teams have met on 28 occasions and it is Bradford who have the upper hand from past encounters. The Bantams have 9 wins, The Sky Blues have 7 and there has been 12 draws. The most recent encounter came in April with Andy Rose's wonder strike ensuring Mowbray's side ended up with a narrow 1-0 victory.
The reverse fixture at Valley Parade in November resulted in a goalless draw, with the visitors buoyed on from four successive victories prior to the match. Up until the televised 3-3 draw in November 2013, the two teams
hadn't met in almost ten years.
The two teams have met on 28 occasions and it is Bradford who have the upper hand from past encounters. The Bantams have 9 wins, The Sky Blues have 7 and there has been 12 draws. The most recent encounter came in April with Andy Rose's wonder strike ensuring Mowbray's side ended up with a narrow 1-0 victory.
The reverse fixture at Valley Parade in November resulted in a goalless draw, with the visitors buoyed on from four successive victories prior to the match. Up until the televised 3-3 draw in November 2013, the two teams
hadn't met in almost ten years.
THEIR OWN PATCH
The Ricoh Arena
A truly stunning facility, The Ricoh Arena has played host to the likes of the Olympic Games in 2012 and is arguably the best stadium in the division.
Holding just over 32,000 people, the arena is currently shared with Rugby Union side Wasps who have the record for the highest attendance inside the
stadium; 32,019 for an Aviva Premiership game against Leicester Tigers.
Coventry's return home in September 2014 was welcomed by a crowd of 27,306 for their game against Gillingham, having spent the 2013-14 and the beginning of the following season, playing
their games at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium.
Of course, before City's move to the all singing, all dancing Ricoh Arena, they had spent over a century playing at Highfield Road.
32,609Capacity:
CV6 6GEPostcode:
FANCY A FLUTTER?
Coventry are backed at 5/1 by Sky Bet to earn promotion back into The Championship this coming season, and are priced at 14/1 to win the league title.
www.skybet.com
their games at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium.
Of course, before City's move to the all singing, all dancing Ricoh Arena, they had spent over a century playing at Highfield Road.
32,609Capacity:
CV6 6GEPostcode:
FANCY A FLUTTER?
Coventry are backed at 5/1 by Sky Bet to earn promotion back into The Championship this coming season, and are priced at 14/1 to win the league title.
www.skybet.com