During the 1995–96 English football season, Coventry City competed in the FA Premier League.
Season summary Once again, Coventry City defied the odds after a season of struggle. This time they had the determination of manager Ron Atkinson and the regular supply of goals from Dion Dublin to thank for their survival. They hit the headlines in December with a spectacular 5–0 win over defending champions Blackburn, but the defence leaked too many goals for the Sky Blues to progress beyond 16th place in the final table, surviving only on goal difference to secure a 30th successive season of top flight football. Tragedy struck the club as promising defender David Busst suffered a harrowing broken-leg injury during a clash with Denis Irwin and Brian McClair from a corner in the 1–0 defeat at Manchester United, often considered one of the worst football injuries in history, which ultimately ended his career. He was diagnosed with MRSA later on from his injury in hospital, forcing him to premature retirement later that year.
New to the side for the season were defender Paul Williams from Derby County (not to be confused with another defender, Paul Williams, who departed the club the following week, nor with yet another Paul Williams, a Northern Irish forward who played for the club on loan from West Brom in the 92-93 season); Brazilian midfielder Isaías; and 21-year-old Leeds United striker Noel Whelan.
Atkinson splashed out more than £15 million on new players during the close season, as he looked to build a Coventry side which was capable of matching the high placing of his old club Aston Villa, one of Coventry's deadliest rivals.
Final league table
Results summary
Results by round
Results Coventry City's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
FA Premier League DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 19 August 1995 Newcastle UnitedA0-336,485 23 August 1995 Manchester CityH2-115,957Telfer, Dublin 26 August 1995 ArsenalH0-020,065 30 August 1995 ChelseaA2-224,398Isaías, Ndlovu 9 September 1995 Nottingham ForestH1-117,219Dublin 16 September 1995 MiddlesbroughA1-227,882Isaías 23 September 1995 Blackburn RoversA1-524,382Ndlovu 30 September 1995 Aston VillaH0-320,987 14 October 1995 LiverpoolA0-039,079 21 October 1995 Sheffield WednesdayH0-113,998 28 October 1995 Leeds UnitedA1-330,161Dublin 4 November 1995 Tottenham HotspurH2-317,545Dublin, Williams 19 November 1995 Queens Park RangersA1-111,189Dublin 22 November 1995 Manchester UnitedH0-423,400 25 November 1995 WimbledonH3-312,523Heald (own goal), Dublin, Rennie 4 December 1995 Sheffield WednesdayA3-416,229Dublin (3) 9 December 1995 Blackburn RoversH5-013,376Busst, Dublin, Rennie, Ndlovu, Salako 16 December 1995 Aston VillaA1-428,486Dublin 23 December 1995 EvertonH2-116,639Busst, Whelan 30 December 1995 Bolton WanderersA2-116,678Whelan, Salako (pen) 1 January 1996 SouthamptonH1-116,818Whelan 14 January 1996 Newcastle UnitedH0-120,547 20 January 1996 Manchester CityA1-125,710Dublin 31 January 1996 West Ham UnitedA2-318,884Whelan, Dublin 3 February 1996 ArsenalA1-135,623Whelan 10 February 1996 ChelseaH1-020,639Whelan 24 February 1996 MiddlesbroughH0-018,810 2 March 1996 West Ham UnitedH2-217,459Salako, Whelan 9 March 1996 EvertonA2-234,517Daish, Williams 16 March 1996 Bolton WanderersH0-217,226 25 March 1996 SouthamptonA0-114,461 30 March 1996 Tottenham HotspurA1-326,808Dublin 6 April 1996 LiverpoolH1-023,137Whelan 8 April 1996 Manchester UnitedA0-150,332 13 April 1996 Queens Park RangersH1-022,910Jess 17 April 1996 Nottingham ForestA0-024,629 27 April 1996 WimbledonA2-015,540Ndlovu (2) 5 May 1996 Leeds UnitedH0-022,769
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR36 January 1996 Plymouth ArgyleA3-117,721Pickering, Telfer, SalakoR47 February 1996 Manchester CityH2-218,709Whelan, DublinR4R14 February 1996 Manchester CityA1-222,419Dublin
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 20 September 1995 Hull CityH2-08,915Richardson, LampteyR2 2nd Leg 4 October 1995 Hull CityA1-0 (won 3–0 on agg)6,929LampteyR325 October 1995 Tottenham HotspurH3-218,227Busst, Ndlovu (pen), SalakoR429 November 1995 Wolverhampton WanderersA1-224,628Williams
Squad
Left club during season
Reserve squad
Transfers
In DatePosNameFromFee7 June 1995MFCalitaFarense£250,0005 July 1995FWIsaíasBenfica£500,00011 July 1995MFPaul TelferLuton Town£1,150,0003 August 1995MFJohn SalakoCrystal Palace£1,500,0006 August 1995DFPaul WilliamsDerby County£750,00012 February 1996DFLiam DaishBirmingham City£1,500,00023 February 1996MFEoin JessAberdeen£2,000,000
Out DatePosNameToFee26 June 1995MFMike MarshGalatasaray£500,00025 July 1995DFSteven PressleyDundee United£750,00028 July 1995MFSandy RobertsonDundee United£250,0002 August 1995GKMartin DaviesCambridge UnitedFree transfer10 August 1995DFPaul WilliamsPlymouth Argyle£50,00011 August 1995MFSean FlynnDerby County£225,00015 September 1995FWJohn WilliamsWycombe Wanderers£150,00024 November 1995MFJulian DarbyWest Bromwich Albion£250,0008 December 1995MFLeigh JenkinsonSt JohnstoneSigned11 January 1996GKPeter ShiltonWest Ham UnitedFree transfer29 February 1996MFPaul CookTranmere Rovers£250,000
Transfers in: £6,150,000 Transfers out: £2,425,000 Total spending: £3,725,000
References