Stat Attack: Notts County v Coventry City

There haven’t been many fixtures between Notts County and Coventry City, in all fairness: just 35 in the last 94 years. The first took place on the 6th November 1920, the Meadow Lane match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Plenty of high-scoring games between the two, with several 5-1s, 3-0s and 4-2s over the years.

Notts County have the upper hand in the head-to-heads – 17 victories over the Sky Blues, 11 defeats and 7 draws.

In 2001, Coventry were relegated from the Premier League after 34 years in the first tier. At the time, only Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal could boast longer tenures in the top flight.

In 2012, Coventry were relegated to the third tier in English Football for the first time in 48 years.

Coventry’s new stadium, the 32,609-capacity Ricoh Arena, was opened in August 2005, but following a rent dispute with the ground's owners the club opted to play their home games at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium starting in the 2013–14 season, a move which hasn’t proved popular with Sky Blues fans.

The club’s proudest moment was undoubtedly the 1987 FA Cup final at Wembley, which was won by the Sky Blues after an enthralling 3-2 win after two hours of football.

None other than Notts County old boy Brian Kilcline, who will be present tomorrow at Meadow Lane, held aloft the famous trophy!

Following Tottenham Hotspur player Gary Mabbutt’s own goal in extra time, which set Coventry on the way to their FA Cup final win, a fanzine was created called GMK – Gary Mabbutt’s Knee!

Notts County are without Callum Ball, who recently suffered an ankle ligaments injury, for six weeks, while fellow striker Ronan Murray is suspended so new boy James Spencer may start.

Bartosz Bialkowski missed the game at Preston but should be fine to replace goalkeeping coach Kevin Pilkington on Saturday.

Left-back Gareth Roberts and midfielder Hayden Mullins made their debuts during the 2-0 defeat to Preston last weekend. Mullins, on loan from Birmingham, came on as a substitute at Deepdale and will hope to be involved from the start on Saturday.

Dylan McGeouch will hope to finally make his debut for Coventry away at Notts County.

The midfielder arrived on loan from Celtic ahead of the close of the January transfer window but saw last weekend's clash against Walsall fall victim to a waterlogged pitch before missing Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Bristol City due to illness.

Fellow new arrivals Nathan Delfouneso and Mark Marshall made their bows at Ashton Gate, although striker Rory Donnelly returned to parent club Swansea for personal reasons before pulling on a City shirt.

Long-term absentee Callum Wilson remains sidelined with his shoulder injury.