With the “M69 Derby” tomorrow between Coventry City and Leicester City, let’s take a look at all the parts and see if this really is one of the most underrated derbies in the country.
Previously known as the “A46 Derby”, the battle between the Sky Blues and the Foxes gets its name from the road connecting the two cities.
Furthermore, with the first A69 Derby between the two coming all the way back in 1919, it is certainly not a fixture without history.
In the 2023/24 season, the sides met for the first time in 12 years after Leicester’s relegation back to the championship and Coventry’s loss in the Playoff final to Luton Town.
The first fixture would be played as the two clubs’ first game of the season, with the Foxes completing a 2-1 comeback win with a brace from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The reverse fixture came on the 13th of January 2024 with Leicester sat at the top of the league, while Coventry were in 9th place.
Leicester would take the lead through a penalty by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who would come back to haunt the Sky Blues after already scoring 2 against them in the very last game.
However, the momentum would swing in the second minute of added time in the first half, as Abdul Fatawu would be given his marching orders after a sliding tackle on Jake Bidwell.
With the Foxes a man down but a goal up at half time, manager Enzo Maresca made the tactical decision to hook Stephy Mavididi and replace him with Kasey McAteer, moving to a five at the back and sitting in a low block attempting to see the game out.
It was all going to plan for the men in royal blue until the 78th minute, where Callum O’Hare would receive the ball on the turn and place it into the far bottom corner levelling the tie up.
The Sky Blues weren’t done there however, after a corner was floated in and initially cleared on the 88th minute, Milan Van Ewijk would fire in a rocket from the edge of the box sending the Sky Blues fans and bench into absolute raptures.
Both City and O’Hare weren’t done there, as in the 94th minute he would hit a dropping ball first time and send it into the bottom left corner of Mads Hermansen’s net, leaving the final score 3-1 to Coventry City.
This season was different for both teams, as Leicester were once again coming down from the Premier League.
But this time had a potential points deduction and many charges looming over their heads, while Coventry were licking their wounds after a heartbreaking end to their play-off campaign at the hands of Sunderland.
The first game would once again be played at the King Power, but neither side were able to get on the scoresheet and played out a 0-0.
Now, looking ahead to the game tomorrow, this time it is Coventry at the top of the league, with Leicester currently sitting in 12th place.
For the first time in 65 years, the Sky Blues will be going into the M69 Derby in a higher league position and the bookies favourites to get the win.
