Sideways Sammy

After getting something of a let-off last week against a Watford side that repeatedly manufactured big chances, Coventry City will know they’ll have to improve to keep the unbeaten and winning run going as they enter a tough final week ahead of the November international break. Two tricky away trips and a home fixture against last year’s beaten play-off finalists are sure to test the notion that the Sky Blues are already in such a strong position that it’ll be hard not to get promoted. Any drop in standards could quickly erase the idea that this Coventry side has no-one to fear in this division.

It begins with a Friday night game against media darlings, Wrexham, for whom a win would provide a significant boost to their credentials as play-off outsiders. The combination of inclement weather and a big, physical opposing side with plenty of experience makes this an especially trying examination of Coventry City’s promotion credentials as the seasons change. If the Sky Blues can pass this challenge, it’ll be another strong indication they’re at the top to stay.

Expected Line-Up

With Victor Torp adding to the absentee list in midfield, Frank Lampard may well be tempted to revert to the back three formation that produced a win at another trying opposition ground, Portsmouth, just over a week ago. Having arguably lost the battle for supremacy in the centre of the park in the past two games in which Coventry City started in their familiar 4-2-3-1, adds to the sense that this team could be more stable with a back three until the likes of Jack Rudoni and Victor Torp are fit again.

There are a couple of doubts against starting with a back three. The first of which is Brandon Thomas-Asante’s excellent scoring form of late while operating just behind the centre-forward. There is an argument that starting with, in effect, four forwards in this game could prove handy in attempting to blitz Wrexham early on. However, Thomas-Asante is in such sparkling fettle that it doesn’t really seem to matter what position he is played in.

There other doubt is probably the bigger one, that being Bobby Thomas seemingly have gone off with a knock against Watford last time out. However, that could well have been a precautionary move. Frank Lampard is likely to have in mind how well the back three nullified a big, physical opposing target-man last time they were used – against Colby Bishop of Portsmouth – in an attempt to stymie the danger of Wrexham’s leading goalscorer, Kieffer Moore.

Should Coventry City move to a back three, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto will probably the forward player to drop out, with Brandon Thomas-Asante moving to the right wing and attempting to stretch a slow opposing back-line. There is potentially a call to be made between Haji Wright and Ellis Simms at centre-forward, but the former is likely to remain favoured as the first-choice in the position unless his form drops off in a concerning manner.

Elsewhere, Kaine Kesler-Hayden will come into the team to replace the suspended Milan van Ewijk, which not only heightens the temptation to play in a back three and use Kesler-Hayden in his more comfortable wing-back position, but also may lead to a search for someone else to deliver long throw-ins. Bobby Thomas supposedly has one in his locker, while the absence of Victor Torp could be more keenly felt here, as a Scandinavian with handball experience to fall back on.

Last Time We Met

It was a game that sealed the end of Simon Moore as a viable candidate to play in goal for Coventry City, with a disastrous performance from the former number one allowing a then non-league Wrexham side to waltz to victory in the FA Cup at the CBS Arena back at the start of 2023. It began when Moore reacted slowly to a Sam Dalby header to put the away side ahead. It got even worse when the goalkeeper allowed a mishit cross from Elliot Lee to slip past him to allow the tie to get out of control.

A rare Ben Sheaf goal, teed up by Martyn Waghorn, should have sparked a comeback, but Coventry failed to deal with a long throw shortly before half-time, allowing Tom O’Connor to restore Wrexham’s two-goal advantage. If the hope had been to regroup at the break, Jonathan Panzo handling a shot on goal and getting a red card saw Paul Mullin seemingly end the game as a contest by converting the resulting penalty.

Having rested key players for this tie, Mark Robins eventually brought on the cavalry of Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres, quality Wrexham quite clearly couldn’t deal with. Gyokeres pulled a goal back, set up by Kasey Palmer seizing on a poor pass played by Wrexham in defence. A Palmer free-kick set-up a grandstand finish, with Jamie Allen, Viktor Gyokeres, Todd Kane and Palmer himself all spurning good chances to earn a replay, instead making setting up one of the more memorable Cov-related moments in Wrexham’s documentary – that is, after Jordan Ponticelli featured as a Wrexham player in early episodes.

The Opposition

The Manager – Phil Parkinson

Brought in as a serial lower-league promotion winner to add certainty to Wrexham’s attempt to bankroll their way up through the divisions, Phil Parkinson has made himself a club legend in achieving three consecutive promotions to exceed the club’s own expectations of their progress. Benefitting last year from a weak League One, Parkinson is now operating at a level where the club’s financial advantage is not as pronounced – even if only two teams spent more on transfers this summer.

Billed as something of a tactical dinosaur, Parkinson may well feel that elements of his preferred style of play have started to come back into vogue. Building an experienced and physical team unit based around bombarding opponents with crosses, set-pieces and long throws, Parkinson hasn’t really been forced to change things up this season, aided by being able to sign a coterie of experienced Championships pros to manage the step up in level. Home form has been a challenge this season, however, as opponents have asked Wrexham to play on the front foot and exposed their slow defence, which will be something Parkinson will hope to rectify over the coming weeks and months.

Who To Look Out For?

Wrexham haven’t been shy in their ambition to not only survive in the Championship this season but push on towards promotion over the next couple of years, shelling out significantly – both in terms of transfer fees and wages – on proven second-tier performers. Kieffer Moore in attack and Lewis O’Brien in central midfield embody this attempt by Wrexham to sign players for the here and now as they look to achieve Premier League football as quickly as possible.

Physicality is a core tenet of this Wrexham side, with Kieffer Moore a huge presence in the penalty area with his height and frame, supported by the energy and shooting threat of Josh Windass and Nathan Broadhead just behind him. George Dobson and Matty James are hard-tackling, hard-running players in central midfield to support Lewis O’Brien, who offers both that and some quality in his delivery. Centre-backs like Dan Scarr, Dominic Hyam and Max Cleworth offer big threats in both boxes.

Another core tenet of Wrexham’s style of play is their desire to manufacture crossing opportunities as much as possible. Right wing-back, Issa Kabore, is a bundle of both energy and physicality down his side of the pitch, someone who played the role in the Premier League for Luton Town two years ago and poses quality with his final ball. Down the left, Wrexham have seemingly settled on Ryan Longman, who is a direct runner, with it apparent that James McClean is a diminished force in Championship football.

In goal, Wrexham have accidentally forced themselves into playing their best keeper after an injury to the hapless Danny Ward has seen former Arsenal youngster, Arthur Okonkwo get a run in the team. A tall and athletic shot-stopper, Okonkwo is someone who can make big saves to keep his team in games, while the distance he gets on his kicks is a handy asset for the team’s overall approach.

Where The Game Will Be Won Or Lost

Frank Lampard may well look towards the Portsmouth game as something as a template for this match, in utilising a defensive trio to stand up to the opposition’s physicality in the final third before playing quickly into the forward players to stretch a slow back-line. It could well be up to Wrexham to decide how much they want to play into Coventry’s approach, possibly in the knowledge that they have been stung for much of the season in home games against opponents who have cut open their slow defensive line.

If Wrexham look instead to sit in, that could make things more difficult for Coventry City – especially if the Sky Blues start with a back three and lose an extra body in midfield. The Welsh side’s biggest strength is their physicality and energy in central midfield, which could prove hugely frustrating with Coventry possibly lacking someone in the centre of the park who can create chances in tight spaces. The onus will fall on Matt Grimes to keep the ball ticking over with purpose in midfield, while Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s ability to wiggle past defenders could be an asset in breaking down the block.

This game could well come down to set-pieces, if Wrexham adopt a cautious approach. Losing Milan van Ewijk’s long throws will be a blow for Coventry if they can’t find someone who can replace that threat. It’s not just about the chances it leads to but the ability to sustain pressure on an opponent, who know that not even clearances are that much use. Again, it puts extra responsibility on Matt Grimes’ shoulders, as the team’s set-piece taker for this match.