1990–91 Coventry City F.C. season

The 1990–91 season was Coventry City's 24th consecutive campaign in the Football League First Division, following their promotion from the Second Division in 1967. The club started the season with John Sillett in charge, three years after he and George Curtis had managed the club to victory in the 1986–87 FA Cup. Sillett left the club in November after a run of poor results, and was replaced by Terry Butcher who arrived as a player-manager from Rangers.

Coventry City
1990–91 season
ChairmanJohn Poynton
ManagerJohn Sillett
(until 14 November)
Terry Butcher
(from 14 November)
StadiumHighfield Road
First Division16th
FA CupFourth round
League CupQuarter finals
Full Members CupSecond round
(Northern Area)
Player of the YearKevin Gallacher
Top goalscorerLeague: Gallacher (11)
All: Gallacher (16)
Highest home attendance22,731 vs Tottenham Hotspur
(26 Dec 1990, First Division)
Lowest home attendance6,193 vs Bolton Wanderers
(26 Sep 1990, League Cup)
Average home league attendance13,794

Coventry's league form in the season was a contrast between a solid home record and poor away form, as they recorded only one win away from Highfield Road. In the FA Cup they suffered a defeat to Southampton in the fourth round, but the highlight of the season was their run in the League Cup. They beat holders Nottingham Forest 5–4 in the fourth round, before losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the quarter-final.

Background

The 1990–91 season was Coventry City's 24th consecutive campaign in the Football League First Division, following their promotion from the Second Division in 1967.[1] The club had achieved its first major trophy a few seasons earlier, with victory in the 1986–87 FA Cup Final under the joint management of George Curtis and John Sillett,[2] and Sillett remained manager at the beginning of 1990–91. Their league form in the seasons following the cup win was solid with tenth, seventh,[3] and twelfth-place finishes,[1] although the 1989–90 season finished disappointingly as they won just one of their final nine games.[4] They failed to defend the FA Cup in 1987–88, exiting in the fourth round,[5] and they suffered one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history in 1989–90, as they lost 2–1 to non-league Sutton United in the third round.[6] They suffered another embarrassing FA Cup defeat the following season, this time to Third Division Northampton, but fared better in the League Cup, reaching the semi-final with a 5–0 win over Sunderland before losing to eventual winners Nottingham Forest in the semi-final.[4]

Sillett did not buy or sell very heavily in the summer of 1990, before the start of the season. Supporters were calling for a strong midfield player to be bought to bolster the team, but defender Andy Pearce was the only major signing, bought from Halesowen Town for £15,000. Greg Downs, who had been part of the Cup winning squad, moved to Birmingham City on a free transfer. Despite this lack of transfer activity and the poor finish to the previous season, Sillett was optimistic that the club could challenge for a top six finish or even the league title.[7]

Season summary

Football League First Division

The season started poorly, with a win against a struggling Everton side the only highlight of the opening games. Under pressure to change something, and with regulars Dean Emerson and Lloyd McGrath injured, Sillett signed players from Europe to add depth to the team. Winger Zoltán Csucsánszky came from Hungary for a trial, but sustained an injury in his first game, a friendly.[7] Uruguayan José Perdomo had more success, arriving on loan from Genoa and impressing Sillett in six games for Coventry. The club were unable to sign him permanently, however.[8]

Results did not improve significantly as the autumn progressed, and morale was poor. Star striker David Speedie was dropped from the team after a run of poor performances, and by November the club were in sixteenth position.[9] In November, the club announced that Sillett was leaving his post as manager. Historians do not know if he resigned or was sacked, although he was not working due to sickness at the time and had been planning to leave at the end of the season anyway. The club appointed Terry Butcher as Sillett's replacement.[8] Butcher was still an active player for Rangers at the time, and had been captain of the England team during their World Cup semi-final against West Germany in the summer, so he arrived as player–manager and the club had to pay a transfer fee of up to £450,000 for him. His first game, at home to Liverpool, ended in a defeat.[10]

Despite success in the League Cup, Butcher had to wait more than a month before the club won a league game under his management and supporters feared that the club would be dragged into a relegation battle. Butcher bought Ray Woods from Wigan Athletic, but was forced to sell the promising young players Steve Livingstone and Tony Dobson, who both left for Blackburn Rovers. Speedie was also sold, moving to Liverpool for £675,000, following a series of sub-par performances and a poor relationship with Butcher. Butcher then signed Kenny Sansom and Stewart Robson, and the club began to record some better results,[11] recording home wins against Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea, amongst others. By mid-April, with three games remaining, Coventry had moved up to ninth place in the table, but two defeats from their last three games saw them finish in sixteenth.[9]

The league season had been a contrast between excellent form at Highfield Road, where the side won ten of nineteen games and were unbeaten after the November defeat to Liverpool, and a poor away record with just one win,[11] at Sheffield United early in the season.[9] The player of the year was Kevin Gallacher, who scored eleven league goals.[12] As a player, Terry Butcher had only started seven games, six in the league, as a result of injury. Cyrille Regis played well throughout the season, but did not score heavily and was released by Coventry at the end of the season, moving to rivals Aston Villa F.C.[11]

FA Cup

Following defeats to lower-division and non-league opposition in the previous two seasons, Coventry faced the possibility of another upset in the third round against Wigan Athletic.[8] Wigan had some future top-flight players in their team including Peter Atherton, who later signed for Coventry, but were having a poor season, being in seventeenth place in Division Three. The first match, played at Highfield Road on 5 January 1991, ended in a 1–1 draw as Micky Gynn's opener in the 66th minute was cancelled out by a last minute equaliser by Wigan's Darren Patterson.[13] The replay at Springfield Park was four days later and was won 1–0 by Coventry courtesy of another Gynn goal.[14]

In the fourth round in late January, a few days after their defeat in the League Cup quarter final, City again drew 1–1 at home against Southampton with Alan Shearer equalising after Brian Kilcline's opener.[15] In the replay at The Dell City had eight players out through injury,[11] and lost Steve Ogrizovic after 24 minutes. Southampton went on to win 2–0.[15]

Football League Cup

After reaching the semi-final in the 1989–90 season,[16] Coventry again performed well in the 1990–91 Football League Cup, also known as the Rumbelow's Cup. The campaign began in September with a two-legged second-round tie against Bolton Wanderers, in which City won both their home and away games by scores of 4–2 and 3–2 respectively. In the third round, on 31 October, they played at home to Hull City. The visitors dominated the first half but were unable to score, and then suffered the set-back of losing former Coventry player Dave Bamber. Coventry improved after half-time, and won the game 3–0 with goals from Speedie, Livingstone and Regis.[15]

In the fourth round on 28 November,[15] Coventry faced Nottingham Forest, in Butcher's third match as manager. Forest had won the tournament in both of the previous two seasons, beating City on each occasion, and started the match as favourites. After 35 minutes, Coventry had moved into a 4–0 lead with Gallacher claiming a hat-trick and Steve Livingstone also scoring. Forest responded, however, and Nigel Clough, son of manager Brian Clough, stunned Highfield Road with a hat-trick of his own, scored in just seven minutes and leaving the score 4–3 at half time.[17] Forest levelled the match through a Garry Parker goal after half-time, but Livingstone's goal with half an hour remaining won the game for Coventry by a 5–4 scoreline.[18]

City had to wait almost two months for their next match in the competition, the quarter-final tie at home to Sheffield Wednesday of the Second Division. Coventry created few chances in the game, with player-manager Terry Butcher sustaining an injury as well, and Nigel Pearson's 9th-minute goal was enough to win the tie.[15]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A GD Pts
1Arsenal38241317418+5683
2Liverpool3823787740+3776
3Crystal Palace3820995041+969
4Leeds United38197126547+1864
5Manchester City381711106453+1162
6Manchester United381612105845+1359
7Wimbledon381414105346+756
8Nottingham Forest381412126550+1554
9Everton381312135046+451
10Tottenham Hotspur381116115150+149
11Chelsea381310155869– 1149
12Queens Park Rangers381210164453– 946
13Sheffield United38137183655– 1946
14Southampton38129175869– 1145
15Norwich City38136194164– 2345
16Coventry City381111164249– 744
17Aston Villa38914154658– 1241
18Luton Town38107214261– 1937
19Sunderland38810203860– 2234
20Derby County3859243775– 3824
  • Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
  • Arsenal deducted two points; Manchester United deducted one point due to a brawl in a game between both teams.

Source: "Coventry City 1990-1991". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 11 11 16 42 49  −7 44 10 6 3 30 16  +14 1 5 13 12 33  −21

Source: "Coventry City 1990-1991". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHA
ResultLWDLDLWLLWLDLDLLDLWWDLWLDWLWLWDWDDWLDL
Position1987111517121416121614151617181818161616161515161617141615151211119141416
Source: "Coventry City results for the 1990-1991 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Coventry City's score comes first[9]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
25 August 1990Manchester UnitedA0–246,715
29 August 1990EvertonH3–112,902Dobson, Gallacher, Speedie
1 September 1990Nottingham ForestH2–212,630Borrows (pen), Kilcline (pen)
8 September 1990Aston VillaA1–227,001Borrows
15 September 1990WimbledonH0–08,925
22 September 1990Luton TownA0–18,336
29 September 1990Queens Park RangersH3–19,897Livingstone (2), Gynn
6 October 1990Manchester CityA0–226,198
20 October 1990SouthamptonH1–210,040Borrows (pen)
27 October 1990Sheffield UnitedA1–017,978Borrows (pen)
3 November 1990ArsenalH0–215,336
10 November 1990SunderlandA0–020,101
17 November 1990LiverpoolH0–122,571
24 November 1990Leeds UnitedH1–116,183Gallacher
1 December 1990Crystal PalaceA1–217,052Regis
8 December 1990EvertonA0–117,472
15 December 1990Manchester UnitedH2–217,106Regis, Gallacher
22 December 1990ChelseaA1–216,317Gallacher
26 December 1990Tottenham HotspurH2–022,731Gynn, Gallacher
29 December 1990Norwich CityH2–012,039Borrows (pen), Speedie
1 January 1991Derby CountyA1–115,741Regis
12 January 1991Nottingham ForestA0–318,344
19 January 1991Aston VillaH2–115,751Gynn, Speedie
2 February 1991WimbledonA0–14,061
23 February 1991SunderlandH0–010,453
2 March 1991Crystal PalaceH3–110,891Kilcline (2), Peake
9 March 1991Leeds UnitedA0–228,880
13 March 1991Luton TownH2–19,725Borrows (pen), Pearce
16 March 1991Queens Park RangersA0–19,510
23 March 1991Manchester CityH3–113,198Regis, Gynn, Gallacher
30 March 1991Tottenham HotspurA2–229,033Smith, Gallacher
1 April 1991ChelseaH1–014,272Gynn
6 April 1991Norwich CityA2–211,550Gynn, Gallacher
9 April 1991LiverpoolA1–131,063Gynn
13 April 1991Derby CountyH3–011,961Gallacher (2), Woods
20 April 1991SouthamptonA1–215,461Gynn
4 May 1991Sheffield UnitedH0–017,254
11 May 1991ArsenalA1–641,039Gallacher

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R35 January 1991Wigan AthleticH1–110,802Gynn
R3R9 January 1991Wigan AthleticA1–07,429Gynn
R426 January 1991SouthamptonH1–114,013Kilcline
R4R29 January 1991SouthamptonA0–217,001

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st Leg26 September 1990Bolton WanderersH4–26,193Livingstone (2), Gynn, Gallacher
R2 2nd Leg9 October 1990Bolton WanderersA3–2 (won 7–4 on agg)5,222Regis (2), Gallacher
R331 October 1990Hull CityH3–07,708Regis, Livingstone, Speedie
R428 November 1990Nottingham ForestH5–416,304Livingstone (2), Gallacher (3)
QF23 January 1991Sheffield WednesdayH0–120,712

Full Members Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR219 December 1990Derby CountyA0–17,270

Squad

[19] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK  ENG Tim Clarke
GK  ENG Steve Ogrizovic
GK  ENG Steve Sutton (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
GK  ENG Keith Waugh
DF  ENG Peter Billing
DF  ENG Martyn Booty
DF  ENG Brian Borrows
DF  ENG Terry Butcher (player-manager)
DF  ENG Tony Dobson
DF  ENG Paul Edwards
DF  ENG Brian Kilcline
DF  ENG Trevor Peake
DF  ENG Andy Pearce
DF  ENG Kenny Sansom
DF  ENG David Titterton
MF  ENG Howard Clark
MF  ENG Dean Emerson
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF  ENG Terry Fleming
MF  ENG Micky Gynn
MF  ENG Lee Hurst
MF  SCO Kevin MacDonald
MF  ENG Lloyd McGrath
MF  ENG Craig Middleton
MF  URU José Perdomo
MF  ENG Stewart Robson
MF  ENG David Smith
MF  ENG Keith Thompson
MF  ENG Ray Woods
FW  ENG Kevin Drinkell
FW  SCO Kevin Gallacher
FW  ENG Steve Livingstone
FW  ENG Cyrille Regis
FW  ENG Robert Rosario
FW  SCO David Speedie

Transfers

In

Date Pos Name From Fee
22 October 1990 GK Tim Clarke Halesowen Town £25,000
30 January 1991 FW Ray Woods Wigan Athletic £200,000

Source:[20]

Out

Date Pos Name To Fee
1 July 1990 GK Dean Kiely York City Signed
3 August 1990 DF Greg Downs Birmingham City Transfer
17 January 1991 FW Steve Livingstone Blackburn Rovers £450,000
17 January 1991 DF Tony Dobson Blackburn Rovers £300,000
January 1991 FW David Speedie Liverpool £650,000

Source:[21][7][11]

Transfers in: £225,000
Transfers out: £750,000
Total spending: £525,000

Notes

  1. Brown 1998, p. 161.
  2. Andy Turner (16 May 2019). "Coventry City's 1987 FA Cup final victory over Tottenham Hotspur 32 years on". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. Brassington 1989, p. 125.
  4. Brown 1998, pp. 116–118.
  5. Brown 1998, p. 108.
  6. Paul Campbell (3 January 2014). "From the Vault: Sutton United knock Coventry City out of the FA Cup in 1989". The Guardian.
  7. Brown 1998, p. 121.
  8. Brown 1998, p. 122.
  9. "Coventry City results for the 1990-1991 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. "SUPREMOS: A look at the career of Terry Butcher". Coventry City F.C. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  11. Brown 1998, p. 123.
  12. Brown 1998, p. 307.
  13. John Patrick Heeley. "1990-1991 - Coventry City 1 Wigan Athletic 1". Cockney Latic. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  14. "Wigan Athletic v Coventry City, 09 January 1991". 11v11. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  15. Brown 1998, p. 306.
  16. Brown 1998, p. 300.
  17. Aidan McCartney (28 November 2014). "Flashback: Coventry City's famous 5-4 League Cup victory over Nottingham Forest on this day in 1990". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  18. Brown 1998, p. 124.
  19. "All Coventry City players: 1991". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Premier and Football League transfers - Coventry City 1991". 11v11. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. "Premier and Football League transfers - Coventry City 1991". 11v11. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

References

  • Brassington, David (1989). Singers to Sky Blues: The story of Coventry City Football Club (2 ed.). Buckingham: Sporting and Leisure Press Limited. ISBN 9780860234524.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Brown, Jim (1998). Coventry City: The Elite Era : a Complete Record. Westcliff-on-Sea: Desert Island Books. ISBN 9781874287032.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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