# 1997–98 Coventry City F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Coventry City competed in the FA Premier League.

## Season summary

After a last-day "houdini" act and the bonus of Middlesbrough having 3 points deducted kept Coventry up in the 1996–97 season, manager Gordon Strachan was determined to avoid another season of struggle. He achieved it, and an 11th-place finish was Coventry's highest in four seasons. However, even though they only suffered 10 defeats all season (the fourth least amount, after Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool), they staggeringly drew 16 games which ultimately prevented them from finishing any higher. Their secure finish was helped no end by the loyalty of striker Dion Dublin, who pledged his future to the club after turning down an offer from Blackburn Rovers. Coventry were, in fact, 17th on Boxing Day 1997, but a 3–2 win over Manchester United, with no small thanks to late goals from Dublin and Darren Huckerby, appeared to kickstart a sudden surge in form as by late March, the club found themselves in 9th. Right up to the final day of the season, the Sky Blues were within a shout of a UEFA Cup place, but they were beaten to it by local rivals Aston Villa. The two places above them were occupied by two other local rivals – Derby County and Leicester City.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 9 | Derby County | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 55 | |
| 10 | Leicester City | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 51 | 41 | +10 | 53 | |
| 11 | Coventry City | 38 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 52 | |
| 12 | Southampton | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 50 | 55 | −5 | 48 | |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 44 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
* ↑ As Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their Cup Winners' Cup place as FA Cup winners defaulted to Newcastle United, the runners-up.

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: 1997–98 FA Premier League table

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | W | L | D | D | L | W | D | D | D | D | L | D | W | D | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | D | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | D | L | D | D | D | D | W | D |
| Position | 1 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 |

## Results

Coventry City's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 9 August 1997 | Chelsea | H | 3–2 | 22,686 | Dublin (3) |
| 11 August 1997 | Arsenal | A | 0–2 | 37,324 | |
| 23 August 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 16,633 | Telfer, Huckerby |
| 27 August 1997 | West Ham United | H | 1–1 | 18,289 | Huckerby |
| 30 August 1997 | Manchester United | A | 0–3 | 55,074 | |
| 13 September 1997 | Southampton | H | 1–0 | 18,659 | Soltvedt |
| 20 September 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–0 | 21,087 | |
| 24 September 1997 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–1 | 15,900 | Dublin |
| 28 September 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–0 | 19,086 | |
| 4 October 1997 | Leeds United | H | 0–0 | 17,770 | |
| 20 October 1997 | Barnsley | A | 0–2 | 17,463 | |
| 25 October 1997 | Everton | H | 0–0 | 18,760 | |
| 1 November 1997 | Wimbledon | A | 2–1 | 11,201 | Huckerby, Dublin |
| 8 November 1997 | Newcastle United | H | 2–2 | 22,679 | Dublin (2) |
| 22 November 1997 | Derby County | A | 1–3 | 29,351 | Huckerby |
| 29 November 1997 | Leicester City | H | 0–2 | 18,309 | |
| 6 December 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 0–3 | 33,250 | |
| 13 December 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 4–0 | 19,499 | Huckerby (2), Breen, Hall |
| 20 December 1997 | Liverpool | A | 0–1 | 39,707 | |
| 26 December 1997 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | 24,532 | |
| 28 December 1997 | Manchester United | H | 3–2 | 23,054 | Whelan, Dublin (pen), Huckerby |
| 10 January 1998 | Chelsea | A | 1–3 | 34,647 | Telfer |
| 17 January 1998 | Arsenal | H | 2–2 | 22,864 | Whelan, Dublin (pen) |
| 31 January 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 5–1 | 25,000 | Whelan, Huckerby (2), Dublin (2) |
| 7 February 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–0 | 18,375 | Dublin (pen) |
| 18 February 1998 | Southampton | A | 2–1 | 15,091 | Whelan, Huckerby |
| 21 February 1998 | Barnsley | H | 1–0 | 20,265 | Dublin (pen) |
| 28 February 1998 | Crystal Palace | A | 3–0 | 21,810 | Telfer, Moldovan, Dublin |
| 14 March 1998 | Newcastle United | A | 0–0 | 36,767 | |
| 28 March 1998 | Derby County | H | 1–0 | 18,705 | Huckerby |
| 4 April 1998 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 21,137 | Whelan |
| 11 April 1998 | Aston Villa | H | 1–2 | 22,792 | Whelan |
| 13 April 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 33,463 | Dublin |
| 19 April 1998 | Liverpool | H | 1–1 | 22,721 | Dublin (pen) |
| 25 April 1998 | Leeds United | A | 3–3 | 36,522 | Huckerby (3) |
| 29 April 1998 | Wimbledon | H | 0–0 | 17,968 | |
| 2 May 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 2–0 | 18,794 | Dublin (pen), Boateng |
| 10 May 1998 | Everton | A | 1–1 | 40,109 | Dublin |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 3 January 1998 | Liverpool | A | 3–1 | 33,888 | Huckerby, Dublin, Telfer |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Derby County | H | 2–0 | 22,824 | Dublin (2) |
| R5 | 14 February 1998 | Aston Villa | A | 1–0 | 36,979 | Moldovan |
| QF | 7 March 1998 | Sheffield United | H | 1–1 | 23,084 | Dublin (pen) |
| QFR | 17 March 1998 | Sheffield United | A | 1–1 (lost 1–3 on pens) | 29,034 | Telfer |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 16 September 1997 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 5,884 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 1 October 1997 | Blackpool | H | 3–1 (won 3–2 on agg) | 9,565 | McAllister (2, 1 pen), Dublin |
| R3 | 15 October 1997 | Everton | H | 4–1 | 10,087 | Hall, Salako (2), Haworth |
| R4 | 18 November 1997 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 30,199 | |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Steve Ogrizovic |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Richard Shaw |
| 3 | DF | ENG | David Burrows |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Paul Williams |
| 5 | DF | IRL | Liam Daish |
| 6 | DF | IRL | Gary Breen |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Darren Huckerby |
| 8 | FW | ENG | Noel Whelan |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Dion Dublin |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Gary McAllister (captain) |
| 12 | DF | SCO | Paul Telfer |
| 13 | GK | SWE | Magnus Hedman |
| 14 | MF | NOR | Trond Egil Soltvedt |
| 15 | MF | BEL | Philippe Clement |
| 16 | MF | GHA | George Boateng |
| 17 | MF | IRL | Willie Boland |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Marcus Hall |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 19 | MF | DEN | Martin Johansen |
| 20 | MF | NIR | Michael O'Neill |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Andy Ducros |
| 22 | FW | WAL | Simon Haworth |
| 23 | DF | SWE | Roland Nilsson |
| 24 | FW | ROU | Viorel Moldovan |
| 28 | MF | SCO | Gavin Strachan |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Scott Goodwin |
| 30 | MF | ENG | John Eustace |
| 31 | FW | ENG | Adam Willis |
| 32 | DF | IRL | Barry Prenderville |
| 33 | MF | ENG | Chris Barnett |
| 34 | MF | IRL | Barry Quinn |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Craig Faulconbridge |
| 36 | DF | IRL | John Andrews |
| 37 | DF | ENG | Sam Shilton |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | MF | ENG | John Salako (to Bolton Wanderers) |
| 15 | FW | BER | Kyle Lightbourne (to Stoke City) |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Kevin Richardson (to Southampton) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Brian Borrows (to Swindon Town) |
| 26 | GK | SCO | Scott Howie (on loan from Motherwell) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | MF | ENG | Martin Devaney |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | FW | ENG | Chukki Eribenne |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee |
| 19 June 1997 | MF | Trond Egil Soltvedt | Rosenborg | £500,000 |
| 4 July 1997 | FW | Kyle Lightbourne | Walsall | £500,000 |
| 7 July 1997 | GK | Magnus Hedman | AIK | Free transfer |
| 19 June 1997 | MF | Martin Johansen | Copenhagen | Free transfer |
| 29 July 1997 | DF | Roland Nilsson | Helsingborg | £200,000 |
| 18 December 1997 | DF | George Boateng | Feyenoord | £250,000 |
| 2 January 1998 | FW | Viorel Moldovan | Grasshoppers | £3,250,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | MF | Philippe Clement | Racing Genk | £625,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 1997 | MF | Chris McMenamin | Peterborough United | Free transfer |
| 4 July 1997 | MF | Eoin Jess | Aberdeen | £700,000 |
| 14 July 1997 | FW | Peter Ndlovu | Birmingham City | £1,600,000 |
| 1 August 1997 | GK | John Filan | Blackburn Rovers | £700,000 |
| 1 August 1997 | GK | Jed Sumner | Cambridge United | Free transfer |
| 9 September 1997 | MF | Kevin Richardson | Southampton | Transfer |
| 14 November 1997 | DF | Brian Borrows | Swindon Town | Free transfer |
| 16 February 1998 | FW | Kyle Lightbourne | Stoke City | £500,000 |
    Transfers in: £5,325,000
    Transfers out: £3,500,000
    Total spending: £1,825,000

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Steve Ogrizovic | 30 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | SWE | Magnus Hedman | 17 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | ENG | Richard Shaw | 40 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | David Burrows | 42 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Paul Williams | 25 | 0 | 17+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | IRL | Gary Breen | 39 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | SCO | Paul Telfer | 39 | 5 | 33 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Marcus Hall | 33 | 2 | 20+5 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 |
| 23 | DF | SWE | Roland Nilsson | 39 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | ENG | Sam Shilton | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 10 | MF | SCO | Gary McAllister | 18 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 14 | MF | NOR | Trond Egil Soltvedt | 36 | 1 | 26+4 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | GHA | George Boateng | 19 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | IRL | Willie Boland | 22 | 0 | 8+11 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | NIR | Michael O'Neill | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | SCO | Gavin Strachan | 13 | 0 | 2+7 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | ENG | Darren Huckerby | 40 | 15 | 32+2 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | ENG | Noel Whelan | 25 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Dion Dublin | 43 | 23 | 36 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | DEN | Martin Johansen | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Andy Ducros | 4 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | WAL | Simon Haworth | 13 | 1 | 4+6 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 24 | FW | ROU | Viorel Moldovan | 14 | 2 | 5+5 | 1 | 2+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season ||||||||||||
| 11 | MF | ENG | John Salako | 13 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | FW | BER | Kyle Lightbourne | 10 | 0 | 1+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Kevin Richardson | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
| No. | Pos. | Name | MS | Notes |
| 1 | GK | Steve Ogrizovic | 30 | |
| 23 | RB | Roland Nilsson | 39 | |
| 6 | CB | Gary Breen | 38 | |
| 2 | CB | Richard Shaw | 40 | |
| 3 | LB | David Burrows | 42 | |
| 12 | CM | Paul Telfer | 39 | |
| 16 | CM | George Boateng | 19 | Marcus Hall has 25 starts |
| 10 | CM | Gary McAllister | 18 | Noel Whelan has 25 starts |
| 14 | AM | Trond Egil Soltvedt | 30 | |
| 9 | CF | Dion Dublin | 43 | |
| 7 | CF | Darren Huckerby | 37 | |