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Coventryvs.Leeds

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 April 2024, 14:15
Leeds United make the trip to Coventry City on Saturday afternoon looking for the victory that will keep the club in the top two of the Championship standings.

Meanwhile, the Sky Blues head into this contest needing to close the current four-point gap to the playoff spots.

Match preview

Over the Easter period, Leeds were certainly not anywhere near their best, finding themselves behind in games against Watford and Hull City.

Nevertheless, Daniel Farke's side were still able to come through with four points, earning a 2-2 draw at Watford before edging out Hull by a 3-1 scoreline.

On both occasions, late goals proved pivotal, Leeds netting three of their five strikes during those contests in the 85th minute and beyond.

They were required to keep Leeds in a top-two spot, yet the Yorkshire giants are now reliant on Ipswich Town and Leicester City dropping points before the end of the season.

Farke will only want to concentrate on their own matters, though, with Leeds recording 13 wins and two draws during a 15-match period since the turn of the year.

From Coventry's perspective, they have the distraction of a FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on April 21 to negotiate, the opportunity there to reach the final for the first time in well over three decades.

However, Mark Robins is focused on matters in the league, Coventry having seen a three-match winning streak in the second tier come to an end.

Another goal for Ellis Simms put the Sky Blues in control against Cardiff City on Easter Monday, only for defender Liam Kitching to twice put through his own net to give the visitors all three points.

Ahead of games with Leeds and fourth-placed Southampton over a three-day period, Coventry are four points behind sixth, and Robins knows that the stakes are rising as he bids to guide the club to a second successive appearance in the playoffs.

Coventry City Championship form:

L

L

W

W

W

L

Coventry City form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

L

Leeds United Championship form:

D

W

W

W

D

W

Team News

Despite defeat to Cardiff, Robins may not necessarily ring the changes to his Coventry XI.

Victor Torp and Callum O'Hare are most likely to be drafted into the midfield, but Jamie Allen and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto are both sidelined through injury.

Farke may also prefer to stick with the same Leeds side that fought their way to victory over Hull.

Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph are both alternatives for Patrick Bamford in attack, but no further changes are expected.

Stuart Dallas, Pascal Struijk, Ilia Gruev and Wilfried Gnonto may all remain on the sidelines.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Collins; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Eccles, Sheaf; Van Ewijk, Palmer, Wright; Simms

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gray, Kamara; James, Rutter, Summerville; Bamford

We say: Coventry City 1-2 Leeds United

With Coventry generally strong at the CBS Arena, they should give a good account of themselves on Saturday. Nevertheless, we would back Leeds to defeat anyone in the division right now, leading us to predict a hard-earned triumph for the visitors.

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