FOOTBALL - Coventry City vs Bristol City Preview - The Coventry Observer

FOOTBALL - Coventry City vs Bristol City Preview

Coventry Editorial 5th Nov, 2021 Updated: 5th Nov, 2021   0

COVENTRY City are aiming to remain in the Sky Bet Championship play-off places when they host Bristol City at the Coventry Building Society Arena tomorrow afternoon.

 

The Sky Blues were beaten 2-1 in midweek by Swansea City – which brought an end to their seven-match unbeaten run at the CBS Arena.

 




Despite the defeat, City remain fourth in the table – two points clear of the teams outside of the play-off spots.

 


Their opponents Bristol City have struggled for form this term and find themselves in 19th place – eight points clear of the relegation zone.

 

The Robins have lacked consistency and are yet to secure back-to-back wins in the league this season.

 

FORM

Coventry will have been disappointed to lose their unbeaten home record against Swansea – with Kyle McFadzean’s header not enough to take a share of the spoils on Tuesday night.

 

The Sky Blues made a slow start at the CBS Arena – conceding twice in the opening 15 minutes – and will want to right the wrongs against the Robins on Saturday afternoon.

 

Bristol City have won just once at home all season after beating Barnsley 2-1 at Ashton Gate last weekend thanks to a brace from Andreas Weimann.

 

The Bristol club side have impressed on the road however, winning four of their away matches this campaign.

 

TEAM NEWS

Coventry are set to be without striker Martyn Waghorn with a shoulder injury but otherwise have everyone available for selection.

 

Bristol City are set to be without Andy King (hamstring), Matty James (foot), Nathan Baker (head) and Antoine Semenyo (knee) for the trip to the CBS Arena.

 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID

Sky Blues boss Mark Robins is expecting the visitors to bring a good atmosphere but wants his side to focus on their own strengths tomorrow afternoon.

 

Robins said: “Bristol City are a big club, they’ll be bringing their own support, it’ll be a great atmosphere.

 

“They’ve got some really good players throughout the team, I had Nahki Wells before, and I know he is a good player, a brilliant finisher – Chris Martin and Andi Weimann as well.

 

“Matty James of course, I think he is carrying a foot injury at the minute, but we know all about Matty and they’ve got a lot of experience throughout their team.

 

“We’ve got to focus on us and what we do and as I said before we’ve been really good and we’ve got to try and reach those levels knowing they will be trying to counter that.”

 

Bristol manager Nigel Pearson praised the work rate of the Sky Blues forward line and is expecting a tough match this weekend.

 

Pearson said: “Just on form alone, we have to be mindful of them because they’ve had a really good start to the season and they play decent football too.

 

“They have forwards who work exceptionally hard and they’re a very fit side, so it’ll be a tough game.”

 

KEY PLAYERS

Coventry – Ian Maatsen – The teenage wing-back could hold the key for the Sky Blues this weekend against a Bristol side who know where the net is on their travels.

 

Maatsen has undoubted talent and will need to provide City with plenty of width and attacking prowess down the left to nullify Bristol’s right-hand side.

 

Bristol City – Andreas Weimann – The former Aston Villa man is the Robins top scorer in the league with six goals this season – all of which have come in braces.

 

His energy and versatility make him a threat all across the forward line and City’s defence will need to be alert to keep him quiet on Saturday afternoon.

 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The two teams last met in April 2021 when City won 3-1 at St Andrew’s thanks to goals from Leo Ostigard, Matty Godden and Viktor Gyokeres.

 

Bristol’s last away win against the Sky Blues came in October 2014 when they won by the same scoreline in a League One fixture.

 

The two teams are evenly matches when it comes to head-to-head having both won on 23 occasions against the other with 22 draws.

 

PREDICTION

Sky Blues 3-1 Bristol City – The Robins have kept just one clean sheet all season and whilst they have impressed on the road City should have enough to return to winning ways.

 

Coventry’s match against Bristol City takes place on Saturday, November 6 with kick-off at 3pm at the CBS Arena.

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