Jay braced to face boo boys

The striker, who hit his fourth goal of the season to seal a much-needed win against Colchester on Saturday, was sold by the Sky Blues to help the club out of dire financial straits in 2003.

But, with some fans still bitter about the timing of his exit, Bothroyd anticipates being cast as the villain of the piece tonight.

"I know I'll get stick from them - I left on bad terms. But I don't really let that kind of pressure get to me - if anything it spurs me on.

"I had it all with Perugia in Italy when they used to make monkey noises at the black players.

"When I hear people booing me it makes me want to try to show them exactly what I can do. Personally I hope they boo me all game, it'll probably make me play better.

"Our fans are great anyway, and I know they will make their voices heard and drown it out."

Despite leaving under a cloud, Bothroyd insists his time at Coventry wasn't all bad. "I had a few good times at Coventry and I'm still in touch with a few of the lads from those days," he said. "I scored goals for them and played regularly and that's what I needed at that stage in my career.

"But it got to a situation where I wanted to move on. At Coventry they went through a bad time and players were getting dragged into it.

"I went to Italy with Perugia and that gave me a new lease on life - it was what I needed.

"I don't know many of the lads who are playing for them now. The last Coventry player I played with was Gary McSheffrey.

"There are still a few of the younger lads there, but they have changed a lot since I was there. They have a new stadium and are on the up."

Coventry assistant boss Adrian Heath admits he is wary of the Wolves striker.

"Wolves have Jay Bothroyd who I'm sure Coventry people will know all about. He has probably not done as well as he should have for the talent he has, but in the two games I have seen him in this year he has been their best player," he said.