Preview: Coventry City vs. Birmingham City - prediction, team news, lineups

The Sky Blues extended their unbeaten run with a win over Reading last time out, whilst Birmingham were unable to get anything out of their encounter with Blackpool.

Match preview

Coventry made it five games without defeat last Saturday with a 2-1 success over Noel Hunt's relegation-threatened Royals at the CBS Arena, with goals from Matt Godden and Gustavo Hamer securing all three points.

The Sky Blues' long-term form is just as impressive - Mark Robins's men have lost just one match since the beginning of February, with the side's wobble in January now a distant memory.

Last weekend's win against Reading moved Coventry into the top six, with the Sky Blues now sitting in fifth and a single point ahead of seventh-placed Millwall.

Key to the club's playoff charge this term has been the consistent goalscoring of Viktor Gyokeres - only Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom has netted more than the Swede's 20 in the Championship this campaign.

Coventry are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Saturday's opponents, and you have to go back to an FA Cup fixture in January 2011 for the last time Birmingham bested the Sky Blues over 90 minutes.

Birmingham were unable to build on a resounding victory at Millwall just over a week ago after losing at St Andrew's to Stephen Dobbie's Blackpool last time out - a game which was decided by a mistake.

Blues defender Kevin Long sold goalkeeper Neil Etheridge short with a back pass, allowing Tangarines striker Morgan Rogers to latch on and present Ian Poveda with the opportunity to kick the ball into an empty net.

It certainly feels like the season is fizzling out for the Second City club after that emotional night at The Den last Tuesday, and considering the recent relegation battles, Bluenoses may not mind a quiet end to the campaign.

John Eustace's side sit 17th in the Championship table and are unlikely to be caught by 18th-placed Queens Park Rangers, meaning Birmingham are set to enjoy their highest finish since the 2018-19 season at least.

The progression of Blues over the past year might not be too obvious well into the future, but this season - and safety in the Championship - has allowed the situation off the field to move into an ever-more-promising position.

Coventry City Championship form:

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Birmingham City Championship form:

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Team News

Coventry City will be without midfielder Ben Sheaf for a crucial match at the CBS Arena on Saturday, with the 25-year-old sidelined for the remainder of the regular season due to a calf injury.

Long-term absentees Callum O'Hare (cruciate ligament), Fabio Tavares (Achilles) and Kasey Palmer (hamstring) remain in the Sky Blues medical room, meaning manager Robins will have to make the most of his limited options - especially in the midfield.

Birmingham have confirmed two players will play no further part this season, with Scott Hogan and John Ruddy out for the last two matches due to groin and thigh issues respectively.

Troy Deeney returned to the bench against Blackpool and could be handed his first start since February in order to give Lukas Jutkiewicz a break from carrying the forward line.

Eustace has also mentioned illness which is affecting the Birmingham camp in the build up to Saturday's match, with three unnamed players missing training on Thursday as a result.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; McNally, Doyle, Panzo; Norton-Cuffy, Eccles, Kelly, Hamer, Wilson-Esbrand; Godden, Gyokeres

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Etheridge; Colin, Long, Roberts, Trusty; Bielik, Bacuna, Khadra, Bellingham, Chong; Jutkiewicz

We say: Coventry City 1-1 Birmingham City

Coventry go into their final two matches of the regular season knowing their playoff fate is in their own hands - something that seemed very unlikely during their abysmal run of form in January.

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