Southampton will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run when they visit Coventry in the Championship. Resurgent Coventry has moved up to 15th place in the standings at a time when the Saints are in fourth place.
Preview (Coventry City vs. Southampton)
Russell Martin was left fuming on Saturday night after seeing his Southampton team give up a late equalizer to Watford at Vicarage Road. The Saints would have anticipated more rewards from a 12-game unbeaten record. That goal has left them 10 points outside of the top two. Nevertheless, Martin will be encouraged that Southampton will ultimately enter the picture because of the previously mentioned streak of victories dating back to September 23. For the time being, the goal should be to lock down a playoff berth. The distance to the seventh is eight points. There is cause for hope due to the favorable schedule, at least on paper.
Up to eight games have gone by since Southampton gave up a goal in the first half. While there was a moment recently when Coventry officials could have thought about taking a different approach. Mark Robins has demonstrated that he is still the most qualified candidate for the position. Following a run of four consecutive losses, Coventry bounced back. They earned 10 of a possible 15 points and recorded three wins with spotless records in that span.
The most recent of those occurred on Friday night as the Sky Blues moved closer to mid-table places with a 2-0 victory over a disorganized Birmingham City. With the gap to the top six being just five points, Robins will feel that momentum is building. Their lone loss since before the November international break was a 2-1 loss at second-place Ipswich Town.
Team News
It is quite likely that the starting lineup will remain the same as Robins made no alterations. With both goals and his first 90-minute play after a lengthy injury break, Callum O’Hare left Yasin Ayari and other replacements in the stands. Ryan Fraser and Will Smallbone are both candidates to make a comeback to the Southampton starting lineup for this match.
Following an illness, Flynn Downes is an additional option, since Shea Charles, Joe Aribo, and Carlos Alcaraz are all susceptible to leaving the team. Under Robins, Coventry has recently shown signs of life, thus they will be challenging for the full ninety minutes against the Saints. But, we believe the visitors will have enough skill in the closing minutes to secure all three points—possibly with a late goal.
Coventry City 1 – 2 Southampton
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