Looking to continue their rise towards the playoff places in the Championship, Coventry City will welcome managerless Swansea City to the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday night.
The Sky Blues eased past relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday in the East Midlands on Boxing Day, while the Swans were demolished on the South Coast by Southampton.
Match preview
© Reuters
A 29,000-strong crowd at the CBS Arena witnessed a brilliant display on Boxing Day from Coventry City, with the Sky Blues making light work of Danny Rohl's Sheffield Wednesday in the East Midlands, where Japan international Tatsuhiro Sakamoto netted either side of the half-time whistle.
Mark Robins's side have found their second-tier stride following the seismic departures of Viktor Gyokeres and midfielder Gustavo Hamer during the summer transfer window, with Friday's hosts collecting 18 points from their last nine matches, making them one of the in-form outfits in the division.
An engine room consisting of Callum O'Hare and Joel Latibeaudiere may have confused Coventry supporters at the beginning of the term - especially considering that the latter is a centre-back by trade - but the pair were at their creative and dominant bests alongside Josh Eccles last time out.
The Sky Blues currently occupy 13th place in the Championship standings after a run of one defeat in their last nine second-tier contests, leaving the East Midlanders just three points behind Michael Beale's sixth-placed Sunderland as the season approaches the turn of the calendar year.
Following a 15-goal season in the Turkish Super Lig for Antalyaspor, there was a certain expectation around Haji Wright's ability to waltz into the Championship and set the division alight, and after a tricky start the forward has provided three goal contributions in his last four matches.
© Reuters
There was little reason for festive cheer in the away end at St Mary's Stadium on Boxing Day, as Swansea City's Jack Army witnessed their side truly dismantled by former head coach Russell Martin and his promotion-chasing Southampton, who extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches with a five-goal thrashing.
Joe Aribo bagged his first of the Championship term to put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes, with a second-half brace from Ryan Fraser accompanied by strikes from Samuel Edozie and Che Adams condemning the visitors from South Wales to their heaviest defeat of the league campaign so far.
As the Swans' search for a permanent successor to Michael Duff rumbles on, interim coach Alan Sheehan is preparing to take charge of a sixth-straight game, having earned a respectable return of seven points from five, including a last-gasp victory over Preston North End on December 22.
Swansea's attempts to lure Chris Davies from under the wings of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur were unsuccessful, and Reims' Will Still looks set to stay in France for the moment, meaning that the Welsh club may have to look even further down their list of managerial options.
During an increasingly-difficult campaign for the Swans, the recent form of attacker Jamie Patterson has provided some cause for optimism, with the fresh-faced 32-year-old bagging a match-winning brace against Ryan Lowe's Preston, whilst also notching assists in the fixtures with Huddersfield Town and Leeds United.
Team News
© Reuters
Following a post-match altercation with Sheffield Wednesday's Bambo Diaby, Coventry defender Liam Kitching received a red card and is therefore suspended for the next three matches, but an infuriated Robins insisted that he would be appealing the controversial decision.
Luis Binks is the obvious candidate to partner Bobby Thomas at the heart of the hosts' defence should Kitching be unavailable, with Milan van Ewijk and Jake Bidwell set to continue in full-back roles.
Ben Sheaf suffered a head injury in the win at Sunderland and missed the Boxing Day action as a result, so it remains to be seen whether the midfielder is well enough to play a part on Friday night.
A positive for Southampton during their capitulation on the South Coast was the return of Swansea's Joe Allen, who made his first appearance since picking up an injury in September.
It is not all positive on the injury front for the Swans, though, with right-back Josh Key expected to be sidelined for some time after straining his hamstring in the win over Preston.
After failing to find the net at St Mary's, Sheehan could make some alterations to his forward line, with Oliver Cooper, Charlie Patino and Yannick Bolasie all providing reasonable threat.
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Binks, Bidwell; Eccles, Latibeaudiere, O'Hare; Sakamoto, Wright, Simms
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Rushworth; Humphreys, Cabango, Wood; Tymon; Fulton, Grimes, Bolasie, Paterson, Yates, Cooper
We say: Coventry City 2-1 Swansea City
Coventry have found their rhythm during the festive period and will be confident of recording back-to-back home successes at the end of the calendar year.
Swansea are in dire need of some direction as they continue to operate without a permanent manager, and we feel that the Welsh side will lose on the road once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
