FA Cup: Coventry City's fortunes since 1987 – in pictures

Keith Houchen's diving header – considered one of the finest goals scored at the old Wembley – drew the Sky Blues level at 2-2 in a rasping Cup final after earlier goals from David Bennett, Clive Allen and Gary Mabbutt ... Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

City's players recorded a song, Shooting to Win, in the build up to the final, but few outside of the city expected anything other than a triumph for Tottenham who had finished the season third in the league Photograph: David Cannon/Getty

Ultimately, a deflection off Gary Mabbutt's left knee from Lloyd McGrath's right-wing cross in extra-time gave Coventry a 3-2 victory. To this day, Mabbutt's knee is still celebrated by Coventry fans and provides the initials for the club fanzine, GMK Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

City's captain Brian 'Killer' Kilcline lifted the trophy for the Sky Blues. It remains the only major trophy the club has ever won, excluding promotions Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Celebrations were wild on and off the pitch Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Manager John Sillett, pictured here with his right-hand man George Curtis, drank imaginary champagne from the trophy Photograph: Action Images/Action Images

But just two years later, Coventry experienced a shocking cup result – losing 2-1 to non-league Sutton. They are the only top-flight club to be knocked out of the Cup by a non-league side Photograph: Getty Images

1990 saw City reach the semi-final of the Littlewoods Cup, but a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Nottingham Forest ended their aspirations Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Coventry's tenure in the top flight had been sustained through numerous last-day escapes, but none was more dramatic than at White Hart Lane in 1997 when goals from Dion Dublin and Paul Williams secured a 2-1 win in a game City had to win to stay up Photograph: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

The following season City were a force in the league and cup. Dion Dublin ended as the league's joint top goal-scorer alongside Michael Owen and Chris Sutton with 18 goals Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Though defeat to Sheffield United on penalties in the quarter-final of the FA Cup - a game they had led until the dying minutes - ended their best hopes of a trophy since 1987 Photograph: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS Sport

Following the sale of Dion Dublin to Aston Villa and the departures of other talented attacking players, Coventry's stay in the top flight was finally brought to an end in 2001. Worse still for Coventry fans, it happened at the home of their bitter rivals Villa in a match City had been leading 2-0 but eventually lost 3-2. John Hartson was among the squad, led by Gordon Strachan, that dropped into the second tier for the first time in 34 years Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Fans were optimistic of a swift return, but instead City frequented the mid to lower regions of the Championship table, never once making the play-offs, as they became the longest serving Championship side after 11 years in the second tier Photograph: Rui Vieira/Press Association Ima

Plans for a spectacular stadium with retractable roof and pitch were shelved, but the Sky Blues eventually left their home of 106 years, Highfield Road, in 2005. They went out with one hell of a party, winning 6-2 against Derby County Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Their new home, the Ricoh Arena, a 32,500 seater stadium on the outskirts of the city, was inaugurated with a 3-0 win against Queens Park Rangers. But attendances were never sufficient to fill the stands Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

City were 20 minutes from bankruptcy in 2007 prior to a deal which saw hedge fund SISU, fronted by former Manchester City player Ray Ranson, take over the club. Chris Coleman was brought in as manager as the Sky Blues sought a swift return to the top flight Photograph: Paul Redding/Action Images

Instead City's misfortunes continued as more managers walked in and out of the club. Eventually the club's scout, Andy Thorn, was made boss, but he could not prevent City from tumbling out of the Championship into League One in 2012. Thorn was then sacked after a woeful start to the current season Photograph: Adam Fradgley/Action Images

Fans blamed the owners, SISU, for their failure to supply the necessary funds to help the club survive. The ground is owned by Coventry Council and the Alan Higgs Trust, both of which helped to finance it, but it remains another contentious issue. SISU can ill afford to pay the rent and were given until the start of 2013 to pay their arrears or the club could be forced to move out Photograph: Adam Fradgley/Action Images

In came a new manager, Mark Robbins, the former Manchester United striker, who revitalised the squad, promoted a swift passing game and turned City into a free-scoring team who hurtled into the top half of the table Photograph: PA Wire/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Loanee David McGoldrick notched 17 goals during his spell with the club, which ended earlier this week, making him the division's most prolific marksman. He helped City to six successive away wins – a run they are still on going into Saturday's match against Spurs – though an unlikely home defeat to Shrewsbury at the weekend has dented the sense of invincibility the club had been enjoying in recent months Photograph: PA Wire/Press Association Images