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

Coventry are currently ninth in the table, just three points behind sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers, while Watford are 12th, six points off the playoffs with six matches left.

Match preview

Coventry have been absent from the Premier League since 2001, spending time in League Two during that time away from the top flight, but they are currently challenging for a possible return to the big time.

The Sky Blues will need a lot of things to go their way in the closing stages of the season in order to claim a top-six finish, but they are only three points behind sixth-placed Blackburn heading into the next set of games.

Coventry have only actually won one of their last five in the league, but they bounced back from their heavy home defeat to Stoke City at the start of the month by claiming a point in a goalless draw at Swansea City on Friday afternoon.

Mark Robins's side have been relatively strong at home this season, picking up 33 points from their 20 matches, and they will be hosting a Watford side with only the 15th-best away record.

Coventry are also unbeaten in their last two league games against Watford, which includes a 1-0 victory in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this season.

Watford, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 home loss to Huddersfield Town on Friday, which followed a 2-0 defeat at Luton Town at the start of the month.

The Hornets actually led 1-0 against Huddersfield at Vicarage Road but then conceded three times to trail 3-1, with Britt Assombalonga's stoppage-time effort only proving to be a consolation.

Chris Wilder's side have dropped to 12th in the table, but they are still involved in the playoff race, sitting six points behind Blackburn, who have crucially only played 39 matches.

Watford have only picked up one point from their last three games in the second tier, but a positive result on Monday would lead them nicely into back-to-back home games with Bristol City and Cardiff City.

The Hornets are bidding to return to England's top flight at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the Premier League in 19th position last term, losing 27 of their 38 matches during a tough campaign.

Coventry City Championship form:

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Watford Championship form:

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L

Team News

Coventry will again be without the services of Liam Kelly, Kasey Palmer, Fabio Tavares and Callum O'Hare for Monday's clash with Watford.

The Sky Blues did not suffer any fresh issues against Swansea, but Robins could freshen his side by bringing in Matt Godden, who was a half-time substitute last time out.

There will be no changes in the final third of the field, though, with Viktor Gyokeres, who has 18 league goals this season, again leading the line for Coventry.

As for Watford, Tom Cleverley, Francisco Sierralta, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Edo Kayembe, Kortney Hause and Dan Gosling are on the sidelines through injury.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann will be suspended due to his late red card against Huddersfield, which will open the door for Ben Hamer to start between the sticks.

Jeremy Ngakia and Assombalonga are also pushing for starts, with head coach Wilder expected to make changes to the side that started Friday's defeat at Vicarage Road.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; McNally, McFadzean, Doyle; Norton-Cuffy, Sheaf, Hamer, Eccles, Wilson-Esbrand; Godden; Gyokeres

Watford possible starting lineup:

Hamer; Porteous, Catchcart, Hoedt; Ngakia, Choudhury, Louza, Sema; Asprilla, Pedro, Assombalonga

We say: Coventry City 1-2 Watford

Recent form does not favour Watford, but we just have a feeling for the Hornets here. Coventry will be looking for the win to boost their own playoff ambitions, which could create space for the visitors, who have enough quality to secure what would be a huge three points in this contest.

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