Sky Blues versus Brewers: Is there anybody there?

Coventry City make their debut in the Football League Trophy on Tuesday night when what will surely be the lowest crowd in the history of the Ricoh Arena will welcome League Two Burton Albion for a first round tie.

Burton have made a very topsy-turvy start to the new season, scoring 10 goals in wins against AFC Wimbledon in the league and Leicester but losing heavily on visits to Rotherham and Exeter.

The Sky Blues meanwhile continue to frustrate their fans no matter what division they are in, as witnessed by Saturday`s defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra and captain Kevin Kilbane`s flare-up with one of the visiting supporters.

His swift apology should bring that matter to a close but, as the very future of the football club continues to be the subject of debate, City desperately need to bring some kind of feelgood factor to the table.

Despite the low profile of its opening rounds the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy can provide that. It arguably began the revival of Southampton FC when they ended a 34-year wait for a trophy by winning at Wembley in front of 44,000 of their fans in 2010. Two subsequent promotions followed for the Saints.

Competition rules mean that a strong side has to be played but that still gives the Sky Blues plenty of scope to field those players who have been on the fringes so far this season with the likes of Gary McSheffrey, Callum Ball and new signing David McGoldrick in line for a start.

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