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

At a time when the Saints sit in fourth position in the standings, a resurgent Coventry have recently improved up to 15th spot.

Match preview

Russell Martin left Vicarage Road on Saturday evening feeling frustrated after witnessing his Southampton side concede a last-gasp equaliser to Watford.

That goal has left the Saints sitting 10 points adrift of the top two at a time when they would have expected a 12-game undefeated streak to have provided more rewards.

Nevertheless, it is the aforementioned run of no defeats since September 23 that will leave Martin feeling optimistic that Southampton will eventually get themselves into the mix.

For now, cementing a playoff spot should be the aim with the gap to seventh being eight points, yet there is reason for optimism given the favourable fixture list, on paper at least.

As many as eight matches have passed since Southampton last conceded a goal in the first half, while the last two strikes have come in the 87th minute and beyond.

Although there may have been a time recently where Coventry officials could have considered a change in direction, Mark Robins has shown that he remains the best person for the job.

On the back of a four-game losing streak, Coventry have responded by collecting 10 points from a possible 15, recording three wins with clean sheets during that time.

The latest of those came on Friday night as the Sky Blues defeated a disjointed Birmingham City by a 2-0 scoreline, moving the club closer to the mid-table positions.

Their only defeat since before the November international break was a 2-1 reverse at second-placed Ipswich Town, and Robins will feel that momentum is growing ahead of another potential push for promotion with the gap to the top six being just five points.

Coventry City Championship form:

L

D

W

W

L

W

Southampton Championship form:

W

W

D

W

W

D

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Team News

Robins unusually made no substitutions during the win over Birmingham and that gives every indication that an unchanged starting lineup will be made.

Callum O'Hare scored both goals as he completed 90 minutes for the first time since a long injury layoff, leaving the likes of Yasin Ayari to stay among the replacements.

If Matt Godden is available for selection after missing out on Friday night, the forward will likely be named on the substitutes' bench.

Will Smallbone and Ryan Fraser are both in contention to return to the Southampton XI for this contest.

Flynn Downes is also an option after illness, with Shea Charles, Joe Aribo and Carlos Alcaraz all at risk of dropping out of the team.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Sheaf, O'Hare, Allen; Sakamoto, Simms, Wright

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Smallbone, Downes, S.Armstrong; A.Armstrong, Fraser; Adams

We say: Coventry City 1-2 Southampton

With Coventry having recently shown life again under Robins, they will expect to be competitive throughout the 90 minutes against the Saints. Nevertheless, we feel that the visitors will have enough quality in the final third to claim all three points, potentially through a late goal.

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