Preview: Coventry City vs. Hull City - prediction, team news, lineups

Following an important victory at the weekend, Coventry City will look to give their playoff hopes another boost on Wednesday, when they play host to Hull City.

A 4-1 win over sixth-placed Sheffield United saw the Sky Blues climb back up to 10th spot in the Championship table, while their hosts sit 20th, albeit with a healthy lead over the relegation zone.

Match preview

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Despite enjoying a strong Championship campaign, Coventry City looked to have seen their playoff hopes hugely reduced in March, as they suffered back-to-back league defeats.

Mark Robins's men firstly lost 3-1 away at Swansea City before being beaten 1-0 on home turf by Luton Town, and their schedule did not get any easier as an in-form Sheffield United side travelled on Saturday looking to strengthen their position in the top six.

Sander Berge gave the Blades a first-half lead but Viktor Gyokeres quickly equalised before a Callum O'Hare brace and a Matt Godden goal sealed an eye-catching 4-1 victory.

That has seen the Sky Blues cut the gap between themselves and the sixth-placed side to just three points while climbing to 10th spot, and, in a crowded top half, they can further improve their standing in the battle with a home victory on Wednesday.

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They welcome a Hull City side with arguably less to play for, as the Tigers currently sit comfortably above the bottom three.

Since the dismissal of Grant McCann and subsequent appointment of Shota Arveladze in late January, the Yorkshire outfit have not enjoyed a particularly strong run, earning eight points from his game in charge including an opening victory over Swansea City.

The second and most recent of his wins came against McCann's new team Peterborough United, as the Tigers put the basement side to the sword with Tyler Smith netting a goal alongside a Keane Lewis-Potter brace in a 3-0 away victory.

They were unable to add to that, though, losing 2-0 to West Bromwich Albion in the following encounter before playing out a goalless draw with 19th-placed Birmingham City last time out.

Now leading the bottom three by 13 points with nine games to play, Arveladze's side may turn their attention upwards and aim for a mid-table finish in their first season back in the second tier.

Team News

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Coventry City will be without key centre-back Kyle McFadzean due to injury, likely leaving Dominic Hyam to return to the back three, while Liam Kelly and Josh Eccles are also confined to the treatment room.

The front line enjoyed plenty of success at the weekend, and Callum O'Hare, Matt Godden and Viktor Gyokeres will all keep their places after netting goals.

Behind O'Hare, Gustavo Hamer is a key man in the midfield alongside Jamie Allen.

Hull also have several injuries of their own to deal with, as Lewie Coyle, Nathan Baxter, Josh Emmanuel and Andy Cannon are all ruled out of Wednesday's trip.

Brentford loanee Marcus Forss will hope to return to the front line after the Tigers' struggles in attack at the weekend.

He will be supported by young attacker Keane Lewis-Potter, who has contributed eight goals and four assists for the Tigers in Championship action this season.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Clarke-Salter, Rose, Hyam; Dabo, Allen, Hamer, Maatsen; O'Hare; Godden, Gyokeres

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; McLoughlin, Greaves, Jones; Longman, Smallwood, Slater, Fleming; Honeyman, Lewis-Potter; Forss

We say: Coventry City 3-1 Hull City

Hull find themselves in a tough spell, and, with the incentive of climbing closer to the top six, Coventry should have what it takes to pick up a relatively dominant win.

Robins's side were particularly impressive at the weekend, and if they can replicate that performance, they will have more than enough to see off the visitors.

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