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

Blackpool will be looking to continue their impressive run of form in the Championship when they make the trip to Coventry City on Tuesday evening.

The visitors will enter the match off the back of a 3-1 victory at Bristol City, while Coventry's last league game ended in a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on January 29.

Match preview

© Reuters

Coventry saw their FA Cup journey for the 2021-22 campaign come to an end on Saturday, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Premier League side Southampton after extra-time.

The result made it three defeats in their last four matches in all competitions, including two in the Championship against Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough, which has seen them drop down the table.

Indeed, Coventry currently sit 12th in the table, five points outside of the playoff positions, but they have only played 27 league games this term, with Mark Robins's side having three matches in hand on Preston North End directly above them, so they are still in a relatively strong position.

Absent from the Premier League since 2001, the Sky Blues are bidding to challenge for a return to the top flight, and having exited the FA Cup, they now only have the league to focus on for the rest of the season.

Coventry recorded a 1-0 victory over Blackpool when the two sides locked horns for the reverse match earlier this season, while they also won 3-2 in their last match at the home of the Sky Blues in September 2019.

© Reuters

Blackpool, though, will enter Tuesday's match full of confidence, having picked up nine points from their last four league games against Hull City, Millwall, Fulham and Bristol City.

Neil Critchley's side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the start of January, so they were in league action on Saturday, recording a 3-1 victory over Bristol City, with Chris Hamilton, Gary Madine and Josh Bowler finding the back of the net in an impressive performance.

The win moved Blackpool into 13th position in the table, also five points off the playoff positions, although they have played two games more (29) than their opponents in this match.

The Tangerines, who came through the League One playoffs last term, last competed in the Premier League back in 2010-11, being relegated courtesy of a 19th-place finish.

Blackpool's home form this season has been mixed, meanwhile, winning eight, drawing two and losing six of their 16 matches, while they have collected 14 points from their 13 games on their travels.

Team News

© Reuters

Coventry boss Robins will make changes from the side that started against Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, with Jamie Allen, Kyle McFadzean and Jordan Shipley in line to return.

Viktor Gyokeres was on the scoresheet against the Saints and will retain his spot in the final third of the field.

The home side are likely to start with a three-man defence, meanwhile, with Dominic Hyam and Jake Clarke-Salter retaining their spots in the starting XI.

Blackpool, meanwhile, do not have any fresh injury concerns from their win over Bristol City, so it would not be a surprise to see the same starting side take to the field.

Hamilton, Bowler and Madine scored the goals at the weekend and should continue in the side, although Owen Dale is also pushing to be involved, having featured off the bench against Bristol City.

Jerry Yates came into the starting side on Saturday as part of two changes, and the forward is also likely to retain his spot in the XI for Tuesday's clash with Coventry.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Clarke-Salter, McFadzean, Hyam; Eccles, Sheaf, Allen, Bidwell; Shipley, Gyokeres, O'Hare

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Lawrence-Gabriel, Keogh, Thorniley, Sterling; Hamilton, Connolly, Dougall, Bowler; Yates, Madine

We say: Coventry City 1-1 Blackpool

Both managers will be looking to move closer to the playoff spots with a victory on Tuesday evening, but we are finding it difficult to separate the pair and have had to settle on a low-scoring draw, which would not be the worst result for either side.

Previews by email