
'Not the toughest of starts for Sky Blues'
Hull City at home at 12:30 BST on the opening day of the season won't have been on many Sky Blues' fans wish lists.However, given that Hull only survived relegation on goal difference last season, and they're under the management of Championship newbie, Bosnian Sergej Jakirovic, it could well present an opportunity to start the 2025-26 campaign with all three points.Trips to Derby and Oxford with QPR - also under new management - at home, doesn't seem to represent the toughest of starts.Back to back derbies in September, away to Leicester, and Birmingham at the CBS Arena, are a bit more mouthwatering, with a first competitive visit to Wrexham since a League Cup tie way back in 1994, also catching the eye at the beginning of November.Two home matches over Christmas, Swansea on Boxing Day, and Ipswich on December 29th, are followed by welcoming in 2026 with a trip to south London to face Charlton.The derby returns away to Birmingham and Leicester at the CBS give the start to the New Year a slightly tricky look, but the all important run-in looks a lot more friendly, on paper at least.The Sky Blues face Blackburn away and Portsmouth at home over Easter – Wrexham at the Arena is the last home game, and Vicarage Road, Watford, is where the Sky Blues finish the campaign, hopefully celebrating automatic promotion to the Premier League, but if not that, at the very least, another play-off place.As we all know, though, an awful lot of water has got to flow under the bridge between now and then.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Farrell's late try gives Wigan victory at Castleford
Betfred Super LeagueCastleford (4) 20Tries: Tate 2, Asi, Wood Goals: Atkin 2Wigan (12) 26Tries: Field, Keighran, Eckersley, Farrell Goals: Keighran 5 Captain Liam Farrell scored a 77th-minute try as Wigan Warriors left it late to claim a hard-fought victory over Castleford Tigers and narrow the gap on Super League leaders Hull KR to four Tate's try with seven minutes to go had put the Tigers 20-18 up to leave the Warriors looking at back-to-back an Adam Keighran penalty brought the scores level and then Farrell was on hand to finish after Jai Field had burst through the Cas from Field and Keighran had given the Warriors an eight-point half-time advantage, but Castleford roared Tate's first-half score, Daejarn Asi and Sam Wood turned things in their favour only for Zach Eckersley to put Wigan back in front before the late drama. More to follow. Castleford: Cini; Simm, Senior, Wood, Tate; Asi, Atkin; Singleton, Horne, Amone, Lawler, Mellor, Griffin, Hall, Hill, Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Douglas; Farrimond, Smith; Byrne, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Havard, Mago, Dupree, Tom Grant.


Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Jack Draper could be in for £3million payout if he wins Wimbledon this year... in which case the British number one could swap his humble £1,000 Polo for a Porsche like Emma Raducanu
As Britain's No 1 tennis player, he is in line for a bumper £3 million payday if he can battle through a challenging draw to scoop this year's Wimbledon trophy. But unlike many successful sports stars, Jack Draper looks set to keep things pretty humble. These exclusive pictures show the 23-year-old still driving around in a battered VW Polo – quite the contrast to the £125,000 Porsche that Emma Raducanu bagged in a lucrative sponsorship deal after winning the 2021 US Open. Taken earlier this month, the photos show Jack filling up the 12-year-old car – worth a measly £1,000 – at a petrol station in Ashtead, Surrey. It is close to where he grew up as the son of former Sport England and Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper, and 12 miles from the All England tennis club where he will make his first appearance this week against Argentinian Sebastian Baez, the world's No 38. Draper clearly has a down-to-earth approach that shows his mind is on the game – and not on any potential spoils, which may, in any case, be transient. Raducanu had to hand back her Porsche 911 Carrera late last year, after her world rankings slipped, and she was subsequently seen driving her own modest car, a £5,000 second-hand Dacia Sandero. While Draper's vehicle looked like it has taken a battering over the years, the same cannot be said of his career. These exclusive pictures show the 23-year-old still driving around in a battered VW Polo The past 12 months have seen a remarkable breakthrough, having started last year's grass court season as the world No 40. He reached his first grand slam semi-final at the US Open in September, and took his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells in March before reaching the semi-finals at Queen's this month. Now ranked fourth in the world, it is thought his professional earnings have topped £5 million. But Wimbledon, where he has yet to pass the second round, could be his toughest challenge yet with a tough route to the final. 'I'm really excited to go out there to compete,' said Draper, who has just recovered from a bout of tonsillitis. '[I'm] full of excitement knowing the crowd is right behind me – that I'm going to be playing on the courts that I wanted to play on since I was young, watching [Andy] Murray, watching all these great players perform out there – and it feels amazing to know that.'


Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Jamie Vardy joins new ‘dream team' on holiday with Tottenham and Man Utd stars
The Leicester City legend is taking a break before deciding on his next club HAVING A PARTY Jamie Vardy joins new 'dream team' on holiday with Tottenham and Man Utd stars Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAMIE Vardy has delighted fans after joining a new 'dream team' since becoming a free agent - after he was pictured partying with his Leicester City pals while on holiday. The striker, 38, who last month drew the curtains on his 13-year chapter at the club, was seen reunited with his former teammates and their families in Portugal. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Jamie Vardy was spotted with pals on holiday including former Leicester City teammates James Maddison and Harry Maguire Credit: instagram/zoemaguirewilkinson Joined by wife Rebekah, 43, Jamie beamed for the camera at the beach alongside Harry Maguire, James Maddison and Leicester City coach Andy King. Maguire's sisters, Daisy and Zoe, his wife Fern and dad Alan were also in tow. Fans voiced their delight at the reunion, with one posting: 'Dream team!' Another said: 'Lovely to see former players still socialising together.' READ MORE ON JAMIE VARDY STRIKE IT LUCKY Vardy tipped for shock Champions League move after free Leicester exit In response, Rebekah commented: 'Always! Unbreakable bonds.' Another supporter described it as a 'heartwarming' picture. It's understood the reunion took place in the Algarve. It comes just weeks after Rebekah's bitter six-year libel court battle with Wayne Rooney's other half Coleen finally ended, resulting in a £1.4million bill for the Vardys. And last month we told how the Vardy's were selling their lavish Portuguese home for a huge seven figure sum. The couple are hoping to fetch £9.7 million for the massive pad in Quinta do Lago, which boasts three pools, a gym and six bedrooms. Rebekah Vardy throws husband Jamie a surprise party as he leaves Leicester City A source denied they're trying to claw back cash and said the pair are looking for a new holiday home. In May, the Vardys enjoyed a trip to Turkey, staying at the Lujo Hotel in Bodrum, where rooms can cost up to £10,000 a night. Jamie is said to be holding crunch talks as he weighs up lucrative offers ahead of the new season, and is rumoured to be considering moving Stateside. Despite his nine Premier League goals in 2024-25, he was unable to save Leicester from relegation. The Foxes made an instant return to the Championship after a dismal campaign saw them finish 19th. He said: 'I'm always excited for what comes next.' Rebekah threw Jamie a lavish surprise party celebrating his final appearance for Leicester last month.