Sideways Sammy

It was a case of getting the job done on Boxing Day against Sheffield Wednesday, with Coventry City scoring with their first decent chance on goal before finishing the game off later on. During this festive period, that’s all that can be really asked for, with fitness levels and starting XIs in a state of flux. Now on a five-game unbeaten run and three points off the play-offs, building on that form over the final two Christmas fixtures would put the Sky Blues in a very good position heading into the remainder of the campaign.

The opposition that stand in Coventry’s way are an inconsistent and managerless Swansea City side off the back of a chastening 5-0 defeat away at Southampton. This looks to be a good opportunity to keep the points ticking over, but this is a side that, on paper, is roughly as good as the Sky Blues and is capable of claiming the win if there is any complacency. The task here is to maintain standards while likely having to make a few changes to manage the fitness of the squad.

Expected Line-Up

With no news, at the time of writing, regarding an appeal against Liam Kitching’s post-game red card against Sheffield Wednesday, it has to be assumed that the centre-back will not be available for this match, as well as the two that will follow. It disrupts what had been a high-performing back-line, which could prove disruptive in maintaining consistency from recent performances.

As for Kitching’s likely replacement in the side, it is hard to see it being anyone other than Luis Binks. Not only is the Bologna loanee a left-footer who can maintain that balance at centre-back that most managers love to have, but with Joel Latibeaudiere currently operating in midfield and Kyle McFadzean’s lack of pace of a bigger concern when deployed in a back four, Binks looks to be the only viable contender to take Kitching’s place.

Elsewhere, having Ben Sheaf back would be a boost but it is unclear whether he will be passed fit for this game considering he has suffered a head injury that is always worth being overcautious about. The big decision to keep an eye on looks to be at centre-forward, where Matt Godden’s struggles to get involved against Sheffield Wednesday aids Ellis Simms’ cause to establish himself as the first-choice in the position.

Other possible considerations for change will be fitness motivated, with Callum O’Hare probably a 50/50 call as to whether to start him in this game or save him for the trip to Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day, and Jake Bidwell another looking somewhat fatigued who could be handed a rest depending on whether Mark Robins views this game or the Middlesbrough one as the most important to play the strongest-possible team.

Last Time We Met

It was another instance of an early season game for Coventry City where the team played within itself as it looked for cohesion and came away with less than what they could have taken. With neither side creating much, a neat move involving Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Haji Wright to set up Matt Godden looked like it could have been enough to win it, only for the Sky Blues to switch off almost directly from the resulting kick-off, allowing Jerry Yates to head in an equaliser for the Swans. From then on, neither team appeared to be much interested in grabbing the win.

The Opposition

The Manager – Alan Sheehan (Caretaker)

The transition from Russell Martin’s slick passing football to Mike Duff’s more pragmatic approach proved to be an ill fit for Swansea City as they struggled for early consistency with the fans displeased at the team’s style. While there were reasons to believe things might have eventually clicked for Duff, the board realised that he would never get fans onside and removed him in early December in order to find a manager who would better fit the club’s philosophy. The search has proved a long and, as of now, fruitless one, with Tottenham Hotspur coach, Chris Davies, reportedly turning down the role and no clear favourite having emerged since, with former Notts County left-back and free-kick whizz, Alan Sheehan, having to hold things together for the time being.

Results and performances in the five games Sheehan has had in charge have been mixed, to say the least. A couple of wins have at least kept Swansea City out of danger, but a heavy defeat on Boxing Day to Southampton looks to have put paid to any prospect of Sheehan landing the job longer term. The Irishman has had a reasonably positive reception from the fans, but the sentiment appears to be that it’s time to put a professional in charge.

Who To Look Out For?

This isn’t a bad Swansea City squad, by any means, and one that, with the right manager in place, could challenge for the play-offs over the next 18 months. As ever with Swansea, the quality they possess in midfield can allow them to dominate games with possession, with the reliable Matt Grimes setting the tempo, ably assisted by the elegant Arsenal loanee, Charlie Patino, to supply further creativity alongside him.

In attack, Jerry Yates’ ability to press from the front and run in behind with his pace has the ability to unsettle even the best defences in this league. Another pacey forward, Jamal Lowe, has returned to the club on loan from Bournemouth after starring at Swansea a few years ago under the management of Steve Cooper. In addition, the nippy Liam Cullen and the experienced Yannick Bolasie (the man who almost single-handedly relegated Coventry City from the Championship in 2012 with his one good performance for Bristol City) add further depth to Swansea’s strike options.

Adding further threat to the team’s forward play is Jamie Paterson – the man forever linked with a move to Coventry, his hometown club – who can ghost into dangerous areas and finish with aplomb if left untracked, along with academy graduate, Ollie Cooper, who is another danger from an attacking midfield role.

At the back, Ben Cabango is a key organising presence with his physicality allowing him to dominate the penalty area, along with the recently-returned Nathan Wood, who is another young, physical centre-back. At full-back, Josh Tymon and Josh Key on either side are two capable attacking options who have had less of a platform to excel of late due to the team’s move to a back four.

Where The Game Will Be Won Or Lost

With this game taking place in the depths of the festive fixture list, fitness levels could prove to be a key defining factor here. Swansea City’s ability to take hold of possession and control the game via Matt Grimes threatens to be something that could really drain the life out of the Sky Blues, the midfield will need to endeavour to shut off Grimes’ options on the ball as much as possible – which is where injecting some freshness around the hour mark from the bench could prove important.

Given that Swansea City are off the back of a heavy defeat, it is likely that they will look to keep things as tight as possible to maintain a clean sheet that would guarantee them a minimum of a point. If Coventry City can find some early energy to force some errors if they look to build spells of possession, that could be enough to get a nose in front to win what could be a tight, scrappy contest. This is likely to be about attacking certain periods, with the first and last 30 minutes seeming to be a sensible use of resources to manage the squad at this time of year.