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M69 derby

The M69 Derby, formerly the A46 Derby[citation needed], is a football match played between Coventry City and Leicester City. It takes its name from the motorway that connects the two cities, which are only 24 miles (38 km) apart.

Although neither side is the other club's traditional "arch rival", with Aston Villa considered Coventry's traditional rival and Nottingham Forest as Leicester's, the fixture became increasingly significant between 2001 and 2011 with both clubs' traditional rivals often being in different leagues, and the disillusionment of some Coventry fans with their traditional rivalry with Aston Villa. According to a survey by The Football Pools published in 2008, this fixture is the 26th fiercest rivalry in English football.[2]

However; the rivalry had declined during the 2010’s as Leicester's rise up the leagues and successful period in the top flight, has coincided with Coventry City struggling financially, in-turn resulting into a lower league position in the Football League. Times have changed recently though, as Coventry have risen up the leagues, while Leicester have lost their Premier League status. Following Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League to the EFL Championship in the 2022-23 season, the M69 derby returned in the 2023–2024 season after an eleven year hiatus. Leicester City won the opening day fixture 2-1 at home, followed by Coventry winning the reverse fixture 3-1.

The derby has on occasion been marred by violence, the most recent in February 2008.[3] Prior to that, another took place in Coventry in October 2004 where police officers were pelted with missiles.[4]

Statistics

The first fixture between the two clubs was a Second Division game on 27 September 1919 and resulted in a 1–0 win for Leicester. The biggest victory resulted in an 8–1 to Leicester in the League Cup at Highfield Road on 4 December 1964.[1] Coventry have been heavily beaten on two other occasions at Filbert Street, with both matches ending in a 5–1 win for Leicester. The first was in 1924–25, when Arthur Chandler scored a hat-trick, and in 1984–85, when Gary Lineker scored a brace.[1]

While Leicester is undefeated on their current home turf, this ended for Coventry when they lost 1–0 at the Ricoh Arena on 6 August 2011.[5] Coventry were in the Premier League when they last won at Leicester on 7 April 2001, in a 3–1 win.[6]

Game list (since 1984)

M69 derby at the Walkers Stadium on 12 January 2008, which Leicester won 2–0.
Coventry's Elliott Ward scores a penalty against Leicester on 23 February 2008.

The most recent game resulted in a 3–1 win for Coventry at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

  Coventry City win   Leicester City win   Draw 

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Head To Head: Coventry". LCFC.com. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Rivalries League". www.footballpools.com. The New Football Pools. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Eleven held in football violence". BBC Sport. 24 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  4. ^ "Police hit with missiles in city". BBC News. 18 October 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Coventry 0 – 1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Leicester 2–0 Coventry (2012)". BBC Sport. 3 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Coventry City 3-1 Leicester City - Callum O'Hare nets twice in Sky Blues win". BBC Sport. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Coventry 3-1 Leicester - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scores two late goals to snatch victory". BBC Sport. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Leicester 1–1 Coventry (2011)". BBC Sport. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Coventry 1–1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  11. ^ "Leicester 2–2 Coventry". BBC Sport. 21 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  12. ^ "Coventry 1 – 1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 3 October 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  13. ^ "Coventry 2–0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  14. ^ "Leicester 2–0 Coventry". BBC Sport. 12 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  15. ^ "Leicester 3–0 Coventry (2007)". BBC Home. 19 February 2007. Archived from the original on 21 February 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  16. ^ "Coventry 0–0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 16 August 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  17. ^ "Coventry 1–1 Leicester (2006)". BBC Sport. 17 April 2006. Archived from the original on 24 April 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  18. ^ "Leicester 2–1 Coventry (2005)". BBC Sport. 23 October 2005. Archived from the original on 23 October 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  19. ^ "Leicester 3–0 Coventry (2004)". BBC Sport. 8 November 2004. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  20. ^ "Coventry 1–1 Leicester (2004)". BBC Sport. 16 October 2004. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  21. ^ "Coventry 1–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 21 March 2003. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  22. ^ "Leicester 2–1 Coventry (2002)". BBC News. 29 October 2002. Archived from the original on 8 April 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  23. ^ "Foxes out-fought by Sky Blues". BBC Sport. 7 April 2001. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  24. ^ "Clockwatch: Coventry 1–0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 10 December 2000. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  25. ^ "Heskey sinks Sky Blues". BBC Sport. 27 November 1999. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  26. ^ "Head to head: Leicester v Coventry". BBC Sport. 5 April 2001. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  27. ^ The 22 clubs of the Football League First Division broke away to form the Premier League in 1992; with the remaining divisions of the Football League renumbered accordingly.
  28. ^ a b c d e f Head-to-Head – Leicester City FC, Foxes-Mad, archived from the original on 7 October 2011, retrieved 26 March 2010