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

Cardiff City will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start under Mick McCarthy when they host Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.

The Bluebirds have followed up back-to-back draws with successive wins in their four games under the experienced coach to move up to 11th.

Coventry are winless in three Championship outings, meanwhile, and enter this clash at the Cardiff City Stadium in 19th place.

Match preview

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Cardiff's late 2-1 win at Rotherham United on Tuesday, coming three days on from a 2-0 victory at Servernside rivals Bristol City, has revived hope of a playoff charge.

The Bluebirds have put together successive wins for the first time since a run of four in a row between November 28 and December 8, leaving them eight points off the top six.

That is still a big gap to make up at this stage in the campaign, but McCarthy's men face three sides below them in the division in their next three outings.

Coventry will not make life easy for their Welsh opponents, but they have struggled for wins in recent weeks, taking maximum points in just two of their last 10 matches.

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However, that run includes a goalless draw at home to automatic promotion contenders Watford last time out, with the Sky Blues the better side at St Andrew's in that stalemate.

Mark Robins's side also drew 1-1 with Birmingham City in their most recent away match, albeit with that game taking place at their temporary St Andrew's home.

Coventry are in need of wins, though, as they sit just three points above the dropzone, having also played one game more than Derby County in the final relegation spot.

The Sky Blues won the reverse fixture 1-0 in November - Tyler Walker scoring the only goal in that one - and are looking for their first league double over Cardiff since 1965-66.

Cardiff City Championship form: LLDDWW

Coventry City Championship form: WLWDLD
Coventry City form (all competitions): LLWDLD

Team News

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January signing Jonny Williams remains a major doubt for Cardiff with a knock sustained in training, while fellow playmaker Lee Tomlin is a long-term absentee.

The other only fitness doubt for City is goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who had to be stretchered off last week after falling ill and has seen his place taken by Dillon Phillips.

McCarthy went with a back five against Rotherham and may stick with a winning formula, with rare goalscorer Joe Bennett and Perry Ng - impressive since arriving last month - at wing-back.

Marlon Pack could provide the hosts with some fresh legs in the middle, but Will Vaulks and Joe Ralls have performed well and will be confident of retaining their places in the side.

As for the visitors, they have had to cope with a growing list of injuries and positive coronavirus cases, with goalkeeper Ben Wilson and centre-back Kyle McFadzean among those sidelined.

Julien Da Costa replaced Josh Pask at right wing-back against Watford and will likely retain his place here, with Sam McCallum on the other flank as the teams match each other in terms of formation.

Striker Maxime Biamou has struggled for goals this term, netting just three times in 20 appearances, but he is favourite to get the nod up top here.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Ng, Vaulks, Ralls, Bennett; Wilson, Moore, Ojo

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Marosi; Rose, Ostigard, Hyam; Dacosta, Allen, James, Hamer, McCallum; O'Hare, Biamou

We say: Cardiff City 2-0 Coventry City

Cardiff finally have a bit of momentum on their side thanks to a four-game unbeaten streak since McCarthy came in, the last two of those ending in victory.

Coventry held Watford last time out and beat Cardiff in the reverse meeting, but we are backing the hosts to come out on top in this encounter.