Week 11 – Saturday – Sport Grill

Coventry City welcome Middlesbrough to Coventry Building Society Arena in a crunch clash in the early battle for Championship survival. 

Victory could see Coventry move to within one point of second-bottom Huddersfield Town, whilst Middlesbrough can climb out of the relegation zone with a win.

Team News

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Gustavo Hamer is suspended for Coventry after he was red carded in their goalless draw at Birmingham City prior to the international break.

Callum O’Hare remains absent with a hamstring injury.

Middlesbrough could welcome Darragh Lenihan (foot) and Chuba Akpom (knee) back into contention, if both players pass late fitness checks.

Stat Attack

• Coventry have claimed seven points from their last seven meetings against Middlesbrough (W2, D1, L4).
• Middlesbrough have won just one of their last five visits to Coventry (W1, D1, L3).
• Coventry have kept just two clean sheets in their last nine home matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions (W4, D2, L3).
• Mark Robins’ Sky Blues have kept just one clean sheet this season, which came last time out at Birmingham City.
• Middlesbrough are winless in their last seven Championship matches played away from home (D3, L4).

Prediction

Having underwhelmed following a dominant pre-season, Coventry can come into this match off the back of two positive draws, of which they were dominant last time out against Birmingham City but wasted their chances in a goalless draw.

I therefore would now like to see them build on that solid display but with better end product because Coventry are better than what they’ve shown so far this season.

Middlesbrough’s biggest issues however has been defending and consistency because they have just been too erratic so far this campaign, so hopefully they’ve used the two-week break to reset and sort out their problems as they like Coventry should be challenging higher up the table.

A classic therefore is surely unlikely but if Coventry can start well and build upon the positives of their last two games, I do worry for Boro who have struggled recently on the road as well as overall form.

Prediction: Coventry 1-0 Middlesbrough