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Coventryvs.Hull City

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 April 2024, 15:32
Following a drama-filled FA Cup semi-final on the weekend, Coventry City return to Championship action as Hull City visit the Coventry Building Society Arena on Wednesday night.

Both sides are still in with a chance of sneaking into the playoffs, however the Sky Blues and the Tigers require near-perfect ends to the campaign in order to reach the top six.

Match preview

Following goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, Coventry City had a mountain to climb at Wembley on Sunday afternoon after 58 minutes, with the Sky Blues' hopes of reaching a first FA Cup final since 1987 seeming all but over at the home of football.

However - in what threatened to be the greatest comeback in the competition's history, Mark Robins's side forced extra time and ultimately penalty kicks courtesy of strikes from Ellis Simms, Callum O'Hare and Haji Wright - a trio who have been the driving force for Coventry in the second half of the campaign.

The Championship club were unable to hold their nerve from 12 yards out and Erik ten Hag's men progressed into the final, however the Sky Blues will take great memories and plenty of positives from their day out in the English capital ahead of their last four matches in the second tier.

Coventry's chances of making back-to-back appearances at Wembley this season are slipping after consecutive Championship losses at Southampton and Birmingham City, with the East Midlands side having plenty of work to do over the next fortnight in order to achieve a top-six finish.

The Sky Blues currently occupy eighth position in the second-tier standings, nine points behind sixth-placed Norwich City, however Wednesday's hosts have played two games fewer than David Wagner's Canaries heading into the dramatic conclusion of the term.

Threatening a real assault for promotion this season - especially after a number a shrewd additions during the January transfer window - Hull City suffered another blow to their Premier League dreams on Saturday afternoon, when the Tigers were forced to share the spoils with Watford at Vicarage Road.

Despite having the majority of the possession and creating the lion's share of clear-cut chances, Liam Rosenior's troops were unable to breach the net of Daniel Bachmann, who managed to expertly save a penalty from Hull attacker Ozan Tufan in the early stages of the first half.

Although the Tigers were able to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to a healthy four games in Hertfordshire on the weekend, maximum points on a consistent basis are what is required if the Humberside club wish to sneak into the top six and return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Arguably unfortunate not to be included in the second-tier's Team of the Year, Hull winger Jaden Philogene has enjoyed a stellar campaign despite injury problems, with the former Aston Villa youngster netting 11 goals and providing six assists in 29 Championship appearances.

Hull have enjoyed their recent visits to the CBS Arena and are currently five games unbeaten versus Coventry dating back to March 2012, when the Sky Blues secured maximum points on Humberside.

Coventry City Championship form:

W

W

L

W

L

L

Coventry City form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

L

L

Hull City Championship form:

L

L

W

D

W

D

Team News

Coventry remain without the services of midfielder Jamie Allen, who suffered a broken cheekbone and will not be back in action until early May.

Winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a back issue, meaning that Milan van Ewijk could start on the right flank.

That being said, Fabio Tavares has been mightily impressive on the wing for Coventry in recent matches and could be handed a start by Robins on Wednesday night.

Hull are without one of their high-profile January arrivals, with Burnley loanee Anass Zaroury out of action until early May due to a groin strain.

Rosenior could opt to make some changes to the forward line after firing a blank at Watford, with Liam Delap and Billy Sharp potentially entering the XI.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Collins; Van Ewijk, Kitching, Thomas, Bidwell; Sheaf, Eccles, Tavares, O'Hare, Wright; Simms

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Allsopp; Slater, Jones, Greaves, Jacob; Omur, Morton, Seri, Philogene; Delap, Carvalho

We say: Coventry City 1-1 Hull City

After the emotion and heartbreak of Sunday's loss to Manchester United, it will be extremely hard for Coventry to refocus their attentions onto a faltering top-six push.

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