COVENTRY CITY can close the gap to the play-off places when they travel to Peterborough United in their first league match of the new year.
The Sky Blues have failed to win any of their last six matches in the league and have slipped to 10th in the Sky Bet Championship table.
However, City have at least one game in-hand on all of the teams above them as they trail the top six by six points.
Their opponents Peterborough are in 22nd place in the Championship table – three points from safety as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.
FORM
Coventry edged out Derby County 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup in their last outing with Dom Hyam scoring the only goal late in the first-half.
However, City suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Millwall in their last league match just before the turn of the year.
Peterborough also advanced in the FA Cup last weekend as they saw off League Two side Bristol Rovers 2-1 at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Much like the Sky Blues, Posh have struggled for form in the league however, winning one of their last nine matches in the Championship.
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen is a doubt with a hamstring injury whilst veteran defender Kyle McFadzean is expected to return after he was forced to isolate due to a close contact with Covid-19.
Captain Liam Kelly was also forced to isolate recently but should return this weekend with fellow midfielder Gus Hamer nursing a side injury.
Posh are set to be without striker Jack Marriott with a tendon injury and defender Dan Butler through an ankle injury.
KEY PLAYERS
Coventry – Matty Godden – Former Posh striker Godden has scored eight league goals in just 11 starts this season and which includes three away from home.
The 30-year-old has scored late goals in each of City’s last two away matches at Bournemouth and Huddersfield respectively and could hold the key to Coventry’s success this weekend.
Peterborough – Siriki Dembele – The diminutive forward is almost unplayable on his day and hit double figures last season to help fire Posh to promotion.
Often deployed through the middle or on the left, shutting down the silky Ivorian was key to City’s 3-0 win at home to Posh, with Dembele the club’s top scorer with five league goals this season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two teams last met in the league in September when City scored three goals in the space of seven minutes to claim a comfortable 3-0 win in front of over 20,000 fans at the CBS Arena.
Coventry’s last league win at Peterborough came back in March 2019 with Amadou Bakayoko and Bright Enobakhare on target in a 2-1 win in League One.
The Sky Blues have a superb head-to-head record against Peterborough having won 15, drawn five and lost five across 25 meetings.
PREDICTION
Peterborough 2-2 Coventry – An entertaining clash awaits at the Weston Homes Stadium and, despite Posh being difficult to score past on their own patch, the Sky Blues should come away with at least a point.
Coventry’s match with Peterborough takes place on Saturday, January 15 with kick-off at 3pm at the Weston Homes Stadium.
