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Coventry City

Heartbreak#1939.6

Coventry, Coventry · England · Premier League

Major cups
1
last 1987

Power-ranking history

Hover a season for its rank and score
Rank (1 = best)1304Score (per-season normalised)0.00.51.069/7074/7579/8084/8589/9094/9599/00

Against expectation

Every English top-flight match this club has played, scored against the odds an Elo rating gave it before kick-off. Over 34 seasons from 1967-68 to 2000-01 it has beaten them by +6.4 match points.

Coventry City: surplus against expectation, 1967-68 to 2000-011967-68: −1.5 league points vs expected (33 on 34.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.8 match points1968-69: −2.7 league points vs expected (31 on 33.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.3 match points1969-70: +10.3 league points vs expected (49 on 38.7, 2 for a win) · bar height +5.2 match points1970-71: +0.9 league points vs expected (42 on 41.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points1971-72: −5.7 league points vs expected (33 on 38.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.9 match points1972-73: −1.9 league points vs expected (35 on 36.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.9 match points1973-74: +1.8 league points vs expected (38 on 36.2, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.9 match points1974-75: +2.7 league points vs expected (39 on 36.3, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.4 match points1975-76: +1.7 league points vs expected (40 on 38.3, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.9 match points1976-77: −3.4 league points vs expected (35 on 38.4, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.7 match points1977-78: +7.3 league points vs expected (48 on 40.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.7 match points1978-79: +2.0 league points vs expected (44 on 42.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.0 match points1979-80: −1.3 league points vs expected (39 on 40.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1980-81: −2.0 league points vs expected (36 on 38.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.0 match points1981-82: +2.4 league points vs expected (50 on 47.6, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.6 match points1982-83: −4.0 league points vs expected (48 on 52.0, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.8 match points1983-84: −2.3 league points vs expected (50 on 52.3, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.8 match points1984-85: +4.7 league points vs expected (50 on 45.3, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.6 match points1985-86: −3.6 league points vs expected (43 on 46.6, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.3 match points1986-87: +13.9 league points vs expected (63 on 49.1, 3 for a win) · bar height +4.9 match points1987-88: +3.4 league points vs expected (53 on 49.6, 3 for a win) · bar height +1.8 match points1988-89: +4.4 league points vs expected (55 on 50.6, 3 for a win) · bar height +1.9 match points1989-90: −0.4 league points vs expected (49 on 49.4, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1990-91: −0.8 league points vs expected (44 on 44.8, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.2 match points1991-92: −7.7 league points vs expected (44 on 51.7, 3 for a win) · bar height −2.7 match points1992-93: +0.8 league points vs expected (52 on 51.2, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.4 match points1993-94: +4.1 league points vs expected (56 on 51.9, 3 for a win) · bar height +1.7 match points1994-95: −0.8 league points vs expected (50 on 50.8, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.1 match points1995-96: −4.4 league points vs expected (38 on 42.4, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.0 match points1996-97: −0.6 league points vs expected (41 on 41.6, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.4 match points1997-98: +6.6 league points vs expected (52 on 45.4, 3 for a win) · bar height +3.0 match points1998-99: −3.5 league points vs expected (42 on 45.5, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.5 match points1999-00: −2.1 league points vs expected (44 on 46.1, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.2 match points2000-01: −6.7 league points vs expected (34 on 40.7, 3 for a win) · bar height −2.3 match points
1967-68one bar per season · height in match points · hover for that season2000-01
Best season against expectation
1986-87 +13.9 league pts
63 points on 49.1 expected as Coventry City
Worst season against expectation
1991-92 −7.7 league pts
44 points on 51.7 expected as Coventry City

Season points use that season’s own scoring, two for a win before 1981-82 and three after; the bars use match points so the whole series is comparable.

Coventry against expectation →How this is measured →

Greatest games

Coventry City's top matches by the club Game Score: closeness, stakes, quality and upset over one unified rating of league and European play.All-time board.

#DateStageResultScore
11987-05-16FA Cup · FinalNW 3-2 v Tottenham Hotspurgame score 72.3
21987-04-12FA Cup · SemifinalsNW 3-2 v Leeds Unitedgame score 57.5
31990-02-11League Cup · Semifinals · 1st legAL 1-2 v Nottingham Forestgame score 54.7
41937-02-20FA Cup · Round 5HL 2-3 v West Bromwich Albiongame score 54.2
51981-01-14League Cup · Semifinals · 1st legHW 3-2 v West Ham Unitedgame score 54.2
62000-01-29FA Cup · Fifth RoundHL 2-3 v Charlton Athleticgame score 53.3
71946-01-05FA Cup · Round 3HW 2-1 v Aston Villagame score 53.0
81981-02-10League Cup · Semifinals · 2nd leg, agg 3-4AL 0-2 v West Ham Unitedgame score 52.7
91974-01-30FA Cup · Round 4AW 1-0 v Derby Countygame score 52.4
101990-02-25League Cup · Semifinals · 2nd leg, agg 1-2HD 0-0 v Nottingham Forestgame score 52.0

Footprint

Tiers played
L1, L2, L3, L4
Top-flight (L1) seasons
35
Lower-tier league seasons
67
First season
1920
Most recent season
2026

The Heartbreak Index9.6 · #193

The Damned · Major trophy, 1987

9.6
Heartbreak
#193
of 1,139 clubs
#107
in Football
6.2
agony · 3.3 despair
The clocks
  • Major trophy since 19876.6
  • Major final appearance since 19873.3
Heaviest wounds

relegated from the top flight, 2001 · relegated from the second tier, 2012 · survived a relegation scare, 1999 · survived a relegation scare, 1997

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

Season-by-season

Most recent season first. Covers Levels 1 through 5 of the English pyramid. Rows tagged "national playoff" are pre-modern formats where the workbook records only playoff participants, not round-robin standings.

2027
Premier League (1) · P20● live
4 P · 0-0-4 · 0:10 · -10
0
pts
2026
Championship (2) · P1↑
46 P · 28-11-7 · 97:45 · +52
95
pts
2025
Championship (2) · P5PO
46 P · 20-9-17 · 64:58 · +6
69
pts
2024
Championship (2) · P9
46 P · 17-13-16 · 70:59 · +11
64
pts
FA SF
2023
Championship (2) · P5
46 P · 18-16-12 · 58:46 · +12
70
pts
2022
Championship (2) · P12
46 P · 17-13-16 · 60:59 · +1
64
pts
2021
Championship (2) · P16
46 P · 14-13-19 · 49:61 · -12
55
pts
2020
League One (3) · P1↑
34 P · 18-13-3 · 48:30 · +18
67
pts
2019
League One (3) · P8
46 P · 18-11-17 · 54:54 · 0
65
pts
2018
League Two (4) · P6↑
46 P · 22-9-15 · 64:47 · +17
75
pts
2017
League One (3) · P23↓
46 P · 9-12-25 · 37:68 · -31
39
pts
2016
League One (3) · P8
46 P · 19-12-15 · 67:49 · +18
69
pts
Show all 102 seasons
2015
League One (3) · P17
46 P · 13-16-17 · 49:60 · -11
55
pts
2014
League One (3) · P9
46 P · 16-13-17 · 74:77 · -3
51
pts
2013
League One (3) · P13
46 P · 18-11-17 · 66:59 · +7
65
pts
2012
Championship (2) · P23↓
46 P · 9-13-24 · 41:65 · -24
40
pts
2011
Championship (2) · P18
46 P · 14-13-19 · 54:58 · -4
55
pts
2010
Championship (2) · P19
46 P · 13-15-18 · 47:64 · -17
54
pts
2009
Championship (2) · P17
46 P · 13-15-18 · 47:58 · -11
54
pts
2008
Championship (2) · P21
46 P · 14-11-21 · 52:64 · -12
53
pts
2007
Championship (2) · P17
46 P · 16-8-22 · 47:62 · -15
56
pts
2006
Championship (2) · P8
46 P · 16-15-15 · 62:65 · -3
63
pts
2005
Championship (2) · P19
46 P · 13-13-20 · 61:73 · -12
52
pts
2004
First Division (2) · P12
46 P · 17-14-15 · 67:54 · +13
65
pts
2003
First Division (2) · P20
46 P · 12-14-20 · 46:62 · -16
50
pts
2002
First Division (2) · P11
46 P · 20-6-20 · 59:53 · +6
66
pts
2001
Premier League (1) · P19↓
38 P · 8-10-20 · 36:63 · -27
34
pts
2000
Premier League (1) · P14
38 P · 12-8-18 · 47:54 · -7
44
pts
1999
Premier League (1) · P15
38 P · 11-9-18 · 39:51 · -12
42
pts
1998
Premier League (1) · P11
38 P · 12-16-10 · 46:44 · +2
52
pts
1997
Premier League (1) · P17
38 P · 9-14-15 · 38:54 · -16
41
pts
1996
Premier League (1) · P16
38 P · 8-14-16 · 42:60 · -18
38
pts
1995
Premier League (1) · P16
42 P · 12-14-16 · 44:62 · -18
50
pts
1994
Premier League (1) · P11
42 P · 14-14-14 · 43:45 · -2
56
pts
1993
Premier League (1) · P15
42 P · 13-13-16 · 52:57 · -5
52
pts
1992
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 11-11-20 · 35:44 · -9
44
pts
1991
First Division (1) · P16
38 P · 11-11-16 · 42:49 · -7
44
pts
1990
First Division (1) · P12
38 P · 14-7-17 · 39:59 · -20
49
pts
Lg Cup SF
1989
First Division (1) · P7
38 P · 14-13-11 · 47:42 · +5
55
pts
1988
First Division (1) · P10
40 P · 13-14-13 · 46:53 · -7
53
pts
1987
First Division (1) · P10
42 P · 17-12-13 · 50:45 · +5
63
pts
FA
1986
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 11-10-21 · 48:71 · -23
43
pts
1985
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 15-5-22 · 47:64 · -17
50
pts
1984
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-11-18 · 57:77 · -20
50
pts
1983
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-9-20 · 48:59 · -11
48
pts
1982
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 13-11-18 · 56:62 · -6
50
pts
1981
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 13-10-19 · 48:68 · -20
36
pts
Lg Cup SF
1980
First Division (1) · P15
42 P · 16-7-19 · 56:66 · -10
39
pts
1979
First Division (1) · P10
42 P · 14-16-12 · 58:68 · -10
44
pts
1978
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 18-12-12 · 75:62 · +13
48
pts
1977
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 10-15-17 · 48:59 · -11
35
pts
1976
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 13-14-15 · 47:57 · -10
40
pts
1975
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 12-15-15 · 51:62 · -11
39
pts
1974
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 14-10-18 · 43:54 · -11
38
pts
1973
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 13-9-20 · 40:55 · -15
35
pts
1972
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 9-15-18 · 44:67 · -23
33
pts
1971
First Division (1) · P10
42 P · 16-10-16 · 37:38 · -1
42
pts
ICFC
1970
First Division (1) · P6
42 P · 19-11-12 · 58:48 · +10
49
pts
ICFC
1969
First Division (1) · P20
42 P · 10-11-21 · 46:64 · -18
31
pts
1968
First Division (1) · P20
42 P · 9-15-18 · 51:71 · -20
33
pts
1967
Second Division (2) · P1↑
42 P · 23-13-6 · 74:43 · +31
59
pts
1966
Second Division (2) · P3
42 P · 20-13-9 · 73:53 · +20
53
pts
1965
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 17-9-16 · 72:70 · +2
43
pts
1964
Third Division (3) · P1↑
46 P · 22-16-8 · 98:61 · +37
60
pts
1963
Third Division (3) · P4
46 P · 18-17-11 · 83:69 · +14
53
pts
1962
Third Division (3) · P14
46 P · 16-11-19 · 64:71 · -7
43
pts
1961
Third Division (3) · P15
46 P · 16-12-18 · 80:83 · -3
44
pts
1960
Third Division (3) · P5
46 P · 21-10-15 · 78:63 · +15
52
pts
1959
Fourth Division (4) · P2↑
46 P · 24-12-10 · 84:47 · +37
60
pts
1958
Third Division South (3) · P19↓
46 P · 13-13-20 · 61:81 · -20
39
pts
1957
Third Division South (3) · P16
46 P · 16-12-18 · 74:84 · -10
44
pts
1956
Third Division South (3) · P8
46 P · 20-9-17 · 73:60 · +13
49
pts
1955
Third Division South (3) · P9
46 P · 18-11-17 · 67:59 · +8
47
pts
1954
Third Division South (3) · P14
46 P · 18-9-19 · 61:56 · +5
45
pts
1953
Third Division South (3) · P6
46 P · 19-12-15 · 77:62 · +15
50
pts
1952
Second Division (2) · P21↓
42 P · 14-6-22 · 59:82 · -23
34
pts
1951
Second Division (2) · P7
42 P · 19-7-16 · 75:59 · +16
45
pts
1950
Second Division (2) · P12
42 P · 13-13-16 · 55:55 · 0
39
pts
1949
Second Division (2) · P16
42 P · 15-7-20 · 55:64 · -9
37
pts
1948
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 14-13-15 · 59:52 · +7
41
pts
1947
Second Division (2) · P8
42 P · 16-13-13 · 66:59 · +7
45
pts
1940
Second Division (2)↓
3 P · 2-1-0 · 8:5 · +3
-
pts
1939
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 21-8-13 · 62:45 · +17
50
pts
1938
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 20-12-10 · 66:45 · +21
52
pts
1937
Second Division (2) · P8
42 P · 17-11-14 · 66:54 · +12
45
pts
1936
Third Division South (3) · P1↑
42 P · 24-9-9 · 102:45 · +57
57
pts
1935
Third Division South (3) · P3
42 P · 21-9-12 · 86:50 · +36
51
pts
1934
Third Division South (3) · P2
42 P · 21-12-9 · 100:54 · +46
54
pts
1933
Third Division South (3) · P6
42 P · 19-6-17 · 106:77 · +29
44
pts
1932
Third Division South (3) · P12
42 P · 18-8-16 · 108:97 · +11
44
pts
1931
Third Division South (3) · P14
42 P · 16-9-17 · 75:65 · +10
41
pts
1930
Third Division South (3) · P6
42 P · 19-9-14 · 88:73 · +15
47
pts
1929
Third Division South (3) · P11
42 P · 14-14-14 · 62:57 · +5
42
pts
1928
Third Division South (3) · P20
42 P · 11-9-22 · 67:96 · -29
31
pts
1927
Third Division South (3) · P15
42 P · 15-7-20 · 71:86 · -15
37
pts
1926
Third Division North (3) · P16
42 P · 16-6-20 · 73:82 · -9
38
pts
1925
Second Division (2) · P22↓
42 P · 11-9-22 · 45:84 · -39
31
pts
1924
Second Division (2) · P19
42 P · 11-13-18 · 52:68 · -16
35
pts
1923
Second Division (2) · P18
42 P · 15-7-20 · 46:63 · -17
37
pts
1922
Second Division (2) · P20
42 P · 12-10-20 · 51:60 · -9
34
pts
1921
Second Division (2) · P21
42 P · 12-11-19 · 39:70 · -31
35
pts
1920
Second Division (2) · P20
42 P · 9-11-22 · 35:73 · -38
29
pts
Domestic Cup Finals

Most recent first. Every domestic cup final the club has played, including losses. Scheduled finals (date not yet passed) are flagged.

1987
FA Cup
Won
1987
Community Shield
Runner-up
European competition appearances

Most recent first. One row per entry showing the deepest round reached. A Cup Winner badge marks tournaments the club won: gold for the European Cup / Champions League, silver for every other UEFA or Intercontinental trophy.

1970-71
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup(ICFC)
Group stage