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

The Sky Blues were beaten comprehensively by promotion-chasing Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day, whilst Cardiff drew a third consecutive game since returning from the World Cup break.

Match preview

Coventry have resumed their second-tier campaign following the month-long hiatus in an inconsistent manner, collecting just four points in as many games so far in December.

Mark Robins's men are among a host of clubs chasing a coveted top-six position this season and currently sit two points behind sixth-placed Millwall following the results on Boxing Day.

The Sky Blues were Sheffield United's latest victims last time out, with goals from James McAtee, Ciaran Clark and Tommy Doyle securing all three points for the Blades before Coventry's Viktor Gyokeres netted a consolation in Yorkshire.

That 75th-minute goal for the Swedish striker took his tally to an impressive 12 for the campaign, making the 24-year-old the division's leading scorer alongside Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom.

Gyokeres is continuing to show that his breakthrough season in the Championship last term was no fluke, with the forward enjoying a remarkable rise since being deemed surplus to requirements at Cardiff's fierce rivals Swansea City during a difficult loan spell two years ago.

Cardiff have recorded three successive draws since the Championship started again after the World Cup, but those results against Stoke City, Blackpool and recently Queens Park Rangers have not been enough to steer the club significantly clear of danger.

In a home game where Cardiff fans would have expected their side to impose themselves offensively on the visiting Londoners, the Bluebirds did not manage a single shot on goal, leaving Seny Dieng wondering if he had even been in a game on Boxing Day.

The South Wales outfit are clearly continuing to struggle in front of goal and possess the worst attacking record in the Championship, having netted just 20 times in 24 matches - a type of ratio that sees clubs in trouble season after season at this level.

Nevertheless, Cardiff boss Mark Hudson was pleased with his side keeping a clean sheet and will be keen on building on such defensive solidity against a Coventry side with one of the Championship's most potent forwards in Gyokeres.

The players at the Cardiff City Stadium are adamant they are better than what their lowly league position suggests with the likes of Callum O'Dowda stating "things will click" for the team, but that needs to happen relatively soon to avoid an unexpected relegation battle this season.

Coventry City Championship form:

W

W

L

D

W

L

Cardiff City Championship form:

W

L

L

D

D

D

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

D

D

Team News

Coventry suffered a huge injury blow in the defeat at Bramall Lane with playmaker Callum O'Hare being stretchered off after just seven minutes with a knee injury, meaning the midfielder is highly unlikely to feature against Cardiff on Thursday.

Sky Blues boss Robins confirmed recently that Tyler Walker is expected to be sidelined for at least another month following a cruciate knee ligament tear in November, with the issue jeopardising any potential move away from the Midlands for the striker.

Rubin Colwill impressed in his first start for Cardiff in over four months after struggling with a multitude of injury problems, although the Welsh youngster may not be asked to start two games in the space of four days meaning Gavin Whyte should come into the XI.

Another solution to that Colwill conundrum could be to push O'Dowda into a more advanced role on the left flank and bring Niels Nkounkou into the side to play at left-back, although Hudson will be wary of changing too much considering his side kept a clean sheet last time out.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; Rose, Doyle, Panzo; Dabo, Hamer, Sheaf, Bidwell; Waghorn, Palmer, Gyokeres

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Allsopp; Romeo, Ng, Kipre, O'Dowda; Wintle, Ralls, Philogene-Bidace, Robinson, Whyte; Etete

We say: Coventry City 1-0 Cardiff City

Coventry have been inconsistent of late, but a constant of their season has been the excellent performances of talisman Gyokeres - even when the rest of the team are not shining as bright as Robins would want.

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