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

Surprise early promotion contenders Coventry City travel to Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday.

The Sky Blues are third in the table with just under a quarter of the season gone, while Rovers are in eighth, one point off the playoffs.

Match preview

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Coventry have shocked everyone with their early season form, winning seven of their first 11 games to sit just three points behind league leaders Bournemouth.

Spearheaded by Viktor Gyokeres, who has nine goals to his name already, the Sky Blues have earned several plaudits for their eye-catching football and impressive performances.

Mark Robins's side produced an emphatic second-half display to win 4-1 against Fulham before the international break, bouncing back from a 5-0 defeat to Luton Town three days earlier.

However, while Coventry still have a perfect home record this season, they have won only one of their five away games so far and are the lowest scorers on the road in the Championship.

Meanwhile, the Midlands outfit have not won any of their last three games against Blackburn, last beating Rovers in 2009.

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Blackburn will have been pleased to see the international break come around after losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.

After going on a five-match unbeaten run, Tony Mowbray's side lost 3-2 to Huddersfield Town and 2-1 to Blackpool in the space of four days.

Mowbray described the loss at Bloomfield Road as a "harsh lesson" for his young side, as they came away with nothing despite a strong second-half performance.

Nonetheless, Rovers remain right in the mix for a playoff spot with a trip to sixth-place Queens Park Rangers to come on Tuesday.

Only Coventry and Bournemouth have scored more goals on home turf this season than Blackburn, who have lost only once at Ewood Park so far.

Team News

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Ben Brereton Diaz will only return from international duty on Saturday morning so will not feature for Blackburn, leaving Rovers short on forward players as Tyrhys Dolan has had tonsillitis and Sam Gallagher has not trained all week due to a hamstring issue.

It could mean that youngsters Daniel Butterworth and Reda Khadra come in for their first league starts in a makeshift attack.

In defence, Harry Pickering is a doubt as he has also suffered from tonsillitis, while Daniel Ayala has missed a couple of days' training.

Coventry will be forced into a change at wing-back as Ian Maatsen is suspended, with Todd Kane expected to come in.

Matty Godden is also suspended after admitting to diving against Fulham a fortnight ago, which should mean that Tyler Walker starts for only the second time this season.

Martyn Waghorn is out of isolation after testing positive for coronavirus, but it is unknown whether any after effects or fitness issues will hamper his availability.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, Edun; Travis, Rothwell; Gallagher, Buckley, Khadra; Butterworth

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Hyam, McFadzean, Clarke-Salter; Dabo, Sheaf, Kelly, Kane; O'Hare; Walker, Gyokeres

We say: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Coventry City

Blackburn's squad issues, particularly in attack, will make this a difficult test for Mowbray's side. The only thing in the hosts' favour is Coventry's poor away record, but we still think that the high-flying Sky Blues will emerge victorious.