Decision time as City bid to Pot a double
IT’S a tricky one to call. Coventry City head to the Bet365 Stadium this weekend to play a dead rubber of a fixture against Stoke.
The only prize up for grabs is one last victory to round off the season and the bragging rights for the fans – with the Sky Blues looking to complete a league double over the Potters, whom they beat 1-0 at the CBS Arena in January.
Mark Robins’ men sit in 11th place in the Championship on 63 points, two points and two places above Stoke, knowing that the highest they can go with one game to go is tenth. They can, however, slip as low as 16th – last season’s finishing spot – depending on results elsewhere.
Robins is determined to end the campaign with a win, as will his opposite number Michael O’neill, but will also see the match as an opportunity to have a look at some of his more peripheral players. He’s already done that in recent weeks by giving understudy goalkeeper Ben Wilson a run in the side ahead of first choice Simon Moore, and there’s no reason to suggest that will be any different tomorrow.
The back three could also stay unchanged, with Michael Rose, Kyle Mcfadzean and
Dom Hyam preferred to Jake Clarke-salter, who has been an unused sub in the last two outings. City are understood to be keen on upgrading the Chelsea loan man’s deal to a permanent move in the summer and if he’s omitted again it might well be a hint that it’s unlikely to happen. After all, why would Robins play a player who is leaving the club ahead of one of his own for an effectively meaningless match?
The same could be said of Ian Maatsen at left wing-back, particularly given that Jake Bidwell was only brought in in January, although Maatsen’s attacking flair would make him a popular choice among the fans for one last hurrah. Todd Kane is the only fit recognised wingback for the right-hand berth but Josh Eccles will be hoping to get a chance to show what he can do in the position in which he excelled for three consecutive games before getting injured in February.
With Ben Sheaf out injured, Jamie Allen will be favourite to slot in to the more defensive midfield role for the second game running at a time when Liam Kelly sat out last week’s match with Covid. He will play alongside Gus Hamer whom supporters will be desperately hoping won’t be the last time they see in a City shirt, given the intense interest and on-going speculation surrounding the player’s future.
Callum O’hare is usually among the first names on the teamsheet and the only way that could change is if Robins hands Jodi Jones a rare start. The manager could, of course, play both at the top of a midfield box and if he’s minded to go with one striker.
Viktor Gyokeres should be a bolton starter on a day when Matty Godden is due to return to the matchday squad. But given Godden has been out for so long it would be a surprise if he starts the game.
The other striker options are Martyn Waghorn, whom Robins has been desperate to get his form going, and youngster Fabio Tavares who showed once again that he is a lively option when he went on from the bench against Huddersfield last weekend and had a hand in the goal.
The prolific Under-23s front man is yet to get his first senior start and he would be a hugely popular choice among the fans.
Robins is determined to end the campaign with a win, but will also see an opportunity to look at some of his more peripheral players.
City’s predicted line-up to face Stoke:
Ben Wilson; Michael Rose, Kyle Mcfadzean, Dom Hyam; Josh Eccles, Gus Hamer, Jamie Allen, Ian Maatsen; Jodi Jones; Viktor Gyokeres, Fabio Tavares.