MX23RW : Saturday, February 5 09:35:05| >> :120:76519:76519:
Feb 5, 2022 at 3pm UK at St. Mary's Stadium
SouthamptonSouthampton
vs.
CoventryCoventry City

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's FA Cup clash between Southampton and Coventry City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Championship outfit Coventry City will travel to St Mary's for their FA Cup fourth-round clash against Premier League side Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints beat Swansea City 3-2 after extra time in the third round, while the Sky Blues secured a narrow 1-0 win at home against Derby County.


Match preview

Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters celebrates scoring their first goal with Nathan Redmond on January 22, 2022© Reuters

Southampton bounced back from their 3-1 loss away at Wolverhampton Wanderers with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against Premier League leaders Manchester City in their most recent game.

Aymeric Laporte's second-half header cancelled out a stunning opener from Kyle Walker-Peters, but they were able to hold on for a point and end the Citizens' 12-game winning streak.

The Saints, who sit 12th in the table and 10 points above the relegation zone, have now extended their unbeaten record at St Mary's to eight matches, albeit winning only three times during this run.

With no fears of the drop on their minds at present, Ralph Hasenhuttl's side may now target an FA Cup run, with a favourable fixture against lower league opposition to come this weekend in the form of Coventry.

After claiming just three victories in 19 matches with the Sky Blues in all competitions between 1996 and 2008, Southampton have since won each of their last three meetings against them, most recently winning 4-0 on home soil in 2012.

Victory for the Saints this weekend would see them reach the fifth round of the FA Cup in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Coventry City's Victor Gyokeres with Martyn Waghorn after the match on January 25, 2022© Reuters

Coventry's five-game unbeaten run away from home came to an end last weekend when they suffered a slender 1-0 defeat against Middlesbrough.

After a goalless first half, Andraz Sporar broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, which was enough to condemn the visitors to their ninth league defeat of the campaign.

Mark Robins's men have dropped down to 10th in the Championship standings, but they only sit five points behind sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion, with at least one game in hand on every team above them.

Coventry now switch their focus to the FA Cup, a competition that they won for the first and only time in 1986-87. Since then, however, they have only managed to make it as far as the quarter-finals on two occasions, in 1997-98 and 2008-09.

Only once in the last 12 years have Coventry progressed to the fifth round, and their hopes of reaching the next stage seem slim against Premier League opposition. The Sky Blues have lost three of the previous four FA Cup meetings with Southampton, and have been eliminated from six of their last seven FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents.

Southampton FA Cup form:
  • W

Southampton form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D

Coventry City FA Cup form:
  • W

Coventry City form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L


Team News

Adam Armstrong celebrate scoring for Southampton on August 14, 2021© Reuters

Southampton boss Hasenhuttl has revealed that both Alex McCarthy and Nathan Tella will remain sidelined with respective thigh and groin injuries.

Right-back Tino Livramento and midfielder William Smallbone have both returned to first-team training and will be in contention to feature this weekend.

Moussa Djenepo is also available after returning from international duty with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, and he will be competing with Mohamed Elyounoussi, Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond for a starting spot on the flanks.

Striker Adam Armstrong, who scored 20 goals in 40 appearances on loan at Coventry in 2015-16, could start his first game in nearly a month alongside either Armando Broja, Che Adams or Shane Long, while former Sky Blues defender Jack Stephens may also be handed a start at centre-back.

As for Coventry, Robins will need to decide whether to stick with Ben Wilson between the sticks or recall number-one stopper Simon Moore, who was rested for their third-round win over Derby.

After two weeks in training, right wing-back Todd Kane will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI ahead of Josh Eccles, with Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen set to start on the opposite flank.

Gustavo Hamer and Ben Sheaf are expected to partner each other in deeper midfield roles, with Jamie Allen and Callum O'Hare starting in more advanced positions in behind lone striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Forster; Livramento, Stephens, Lyanco, Perraud; S. Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Elyounoussi; A. Armstrong, Adams

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Hyam, McFadzean, Clarke-Salter; Kane, Sheaf, Hamer, Maatsen; Allen, O'Hare; Gyokeres


SM words green background

We say: Southampton 2-0 Coventry City

Coventry have lacked consistency in recent weeks, winning three, losing three and drawing one in their last seven matches, and it remains to be seen which side will turn up at St Mary's.

The visitors will need to be on top of their game if they are to cause an upset this weekend; however, Southampton should have enough quality in their side to secure a routine win on home soil.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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Who will win Saturday's FA Cup clash between Southampton and Coventry?

Southampton
Draw
Coventry City
Southampton
83.7%
Draw
9.3%
Coventry City
7.0%
43
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Coventry City manager Mark Robins on September 11, 2021
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