Sideways Sammy

A battling performance with ten men to hold onto a point at Southampton saw Coventry City extend their lead at the top of the Championship to six points, but that could all change over the next nine days with four festive fixtures on the docket. Eight or more points should keep Coventry cosy in the automatic places – especially if that involves beating Ipswich Town – anything less could set up a nervier second half of the campaign than had looked likely for much of the past couple of months.

Kicking off the most important run of games in the Sky Blues’ season thus far with all three points against a Swansea City side sitting in lower mid-table would go some way to reducing the difficulty of the task ahead. The Swans have been poor travellers this season but look to be revitalised under a new manager who has imbued them with fresh energy, they are not to be underestimated – especially if Coventry’s woes with the flu continue to hamper the availability and fitness of the squad.

Expected Line-Up

Liam Kitching, Bobby Thomas and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto all missed the Southampton game – seemingly with flu – while Milan van Ewijk and Victor Torp were visibly struggling with an illness. With the issue having started three weeks ago, with Torp missing the Ipswich Town game, questions have to be asked about how the club has managed this illness. No other side in the country has been this decimated by the current flu epidemic and, in a worst case scenario, could cost the team promotion because ill players haven’t been adequately isolated from the rest of the squad. Or, it’s simply bad luck. I’m sure those questions are being asked by the management.

Whether those five affected players will be available at anywhere close to full fitness for this game – and the Ipswich Town one a few days later – feels hugely important for what is already a small and depleted squad. It makes Jay Dasilva picking up a three-game suspension for a reckless red card feel especially costly as it’s come at just about the worst time it could have.

While Joel Latibeaudiere and Luke Woolfenden did a job against Southampton, it would clearly be optimal to have the first-choice central defensive duo available. If either or both of Thomas and Kitching are available, they will walk back into the team.

Just what to do at left-back is the biggest dilemma over the next three games, with neither Jake Bidwell nor Miguel Angel Brau anywhere close to having troubled Jay Dasilva’s place at any point this season. With Bidwell seeming to have lost what little pace he once had and Brau not looking comfortable as a Championship left-back, it seems a big risk starting either in a back four. The alternative is to switch to three at the back to accommodate their respective deficiencies or do something unorthodox, like play Liam Kitching or Kaine Kesler-Hayden at left-back.

Elsewhere, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto would be a welcome return on the right wing to provide attacking depth. It would leave a big call to make between starting a not fully-fit Jack Rudoni in the attacking midfield berth or keeping Josh Eccles there in a role he’s proving rather effective in.

Last Time We Met

It was the kind of alpha behaviour from Coventry City ahead of their last meeting with Swansea City that will seem absolutely alien to anyone who has supported this club for more than the past few years. In the week of the game, it had become apparent that Swansea captain, Matt Grimes, was set to leave the Swans for the Sky Blues. In a move that could have galvanised a Swansea side that had an excellent home record against Coventry, Frank Lampard’s side showed up, controlled proceedings and rubbed salt into the opposition’s wounds.

The first came from Ellis Simms bullying Swansea City’s Ben Cabango to get to a loose ball, before Brandon Thomas-Asante fired in a cross to meet the striker through a crowd of home defenders to finish from close range. Then, Thomas-Asante punished a loose touch in midfield from Goncalo Franco to lob the opposing goalkeeper from range to seal a comfortable win against a Swansea side that looked utterly demoralised and out of fight.

The Opposition

The Manager – Vitor Matos

A former coach at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, Vitor Matos had just twelve games of managerial experience before Swansea City decided that he was the man to lift them away from danger after a poor start to the season under predecessor Alan Sheehan. The early indications are that what had looked a move of utter madness could be a stroke of genius, with the Portuguese lifting the Swans away from danger with nine points from his first six games in charge.

It is early days but Matos’ key quality appears to be his motivational skills, lifting players who had been doubting their own ability. He has looked to change the team’s style quite quickly from a purely counter-attacking approach to playing a more proactive pressing game. Thus far, that has worked well at home and not so much away – all of Matos’ wins have been at home – albeit, each of their defeats under their new manager have been by a single goal.

Who To Look Out For?

There are two standout performers for Swansea City this season, Zan Vipotnik in attack and Ethan Galbraith at right-back. Vipotnik signed last summer and took a season to adapt to English football but is proving to be an excellent Championship centre-forward this season, leading the line effectively and scoring some great poacher’s efforts, scoring 45% of the team’s league goals this year. Galbraith looks an incredible piece of business, plucked from Leyton Orient in League One, the Northern Ireland international plays from right-back but will tend step into midfield and act as playmaker with his excellent passing range.

Swansea have looked to build the rest of the team around a physical centre-back pairing of Cameron Burgess and Ben Cabango, a tidy central midfield and pacey wingers. Zeidane Inoussa and Ronald out wide are full of trickery, with Eom Ji-sung the back-up option to add further energy from the bench.

Vipotnik’s dominance of the team’s scoring charts obscures that the Swans have some handy alternative attacking options, with Liam Cullen able to ghost into scoring positions either as a number ten or an out-and-out striker, while the tall but enigmatic Adam Idah is someone who can score goals when on form.

In central midfield, Marko Stamenic and Goncalo Franco seem the preferred duo for their respective physicality and energy. Stamenic, who was as good as signed for Coventry City around 18 months ago, acts as the shield of the defence and is tidy on the ball, while Franco is a more destructive player with his tackling and ability to push forward. In addition, Brighton & Hove Albion loanee, Malick Yalcouye, is an excellent ball-carrier but somewhat raw as someone who can change things up from the bench.

In goal, Lawrence Vigouroux is a tall, commanding presence between the sticks who is comfortable on the ball and a strong shot-stopper. Having been inconsistent as a youngster, Vigouroux has matured at Swansea City into becoming one of the better Championship goalkeepers who can shut up shop when at his best.

Where The Game Will Be Won Or Lost

Swansea City are likely to show up at the CBS Arena to try and press Coventry City, force errors and have spells of possession. That could render an expectant home crowd edgy, especially if the Sky Blues continue to lack energy as a result of the flu, but it also provides Coventry the chance to attack into the gaps Swansea leave behind on the counter.

Haji Wright’s movement up top could be the kind of thing that undoes a team trying to take the game to Coventry. While Cameron Burgess and Ben Cabango will be comfortable defending crosses if the Sky Blues end up with slow possession that’s circulated out wide, they are not particularly fast, nor are they well-covered by the full-backs – Ethan Galbraith and Josh Tymon – who are both attack-minded players. Additionally, Ephron Mason-Clark taking up the space on the left wing that Galbraith will leave by tucking inside looks an area of opportunity.

By that same token, Galbraith stepping into midfield could see Swansea overload Coventry in the middle of the park. This game could prove a test of patience for the Sky Blues, focusing on defensive shape and being ready to hit the opposition on the counter, rather than trying to completely dominate. If Coventry lose concentration or go chasing the ball, Swansea have pace in attacking areas to take advantage of any gaps that open up.