1 week Ago By [email protected] (Andy Turner)
Coventry City face a testing task when they come up against another Championship side fighting tooth and nail to stay in the division in what could be a crucial penultimate fixture of the regular campaign. The Sky Blues have come up short at relegation battlers Derby County and Plymouth Argyle, and failed to capitalise at Hull in recent weeks where they had to settle for a point. And with a Luton Town side buoyed by the momentum of back-to-back wins for only the second time this term, Saturday’s trip to Kenilworth Road poses a real challenge as Frank Lampard’s men go in search of valuable points to help secure their place in the play-offs.
So what’s the best way to tackle the third from bottom Hatters head on, and what team will Lampard pick to get the job done? READ MORE: Doug King reveals why he’s ‘restless’ at Coventry City READ MORE: Lampard makes admission about player with powerful attributes The selection question in goal has reared its ugly head again after Easter Monday’s 3-1 defeat at Home Park. While the City boss insists it was a collective responsibility for the goals, many fans have called for Ben Wilson to be restored between the posts. Whether he’s 100 percent fit, however, remains to be seen.
Wilson has been back on the bench for the last six matches after recovering from a knee ligament injury that kept him out for several months but didn’t appear to take part in the full warm-up at Argyle. The goalkeeping situation is certainly a delicate subject and the main focus has to be backing whoever is picked to get the job done to help the Sky Blues get over the line. Moving to the back four, there was plenty of criticism aimed their way in south Devon but Lampard doesn’t have the luxury of a bulging squad with lots of options to come in.
Milan van Ewijk was poor by his standards on Monday – and he wasn’t alone – but he remains the standout option for right-back with no direct competition from a fellow senior who is a specialist in that position. Bobby Thomas has missed the last three games with a calf strain and it’s unclear at this stage whether he will be fit for the weekend, which means Joel Latibeaudiere – who was excellent against Hull and West Brom – is favourite to continue alongside Liam Kitching, assuming the former Barnsley defender is preferred to friendly rival for the left central defensive berth, Luis Binks. As for the left-back slot, in-form Jay Dasilva was rested from the starting line-up at Plymouth but is fully expected to come back in for Jake Bidwell at Kenilworth Road given his recent form, unless Lampard feels there’s a need for extra height and muscle against such a physically imposing side.
One change is also expected in midfield with Ben Sheaf likely to return to the starting line-up in place of Jamie Allen in the hope of City having more control in the middle of the park with the skipper’s quality, allied to Matt Grimes’ presence and Jack Rudoni’s attacking flair. Josh Eccles is another midfield option. With limited options on the right wing, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is likely to continue in the side, although there’s no reason why Jamie Paterson couldn’t be considered, while Haji Wright will again likely occupy the left flank, assuming Ephron Mason-Clark is still struggling to get over his foot injury.
That leaves Ellis Simms to provide some much-needed physicality in both boxes against a big side who played with three at the back last time out when they beat Bristol City 3-1. Brandon Thomas-Asante is fit again but lacking match minutes, while we still await news on the only other striking option, Norman Bassette, who sat out Monday with a tight quad. Predicted team v Luton: Brad Collins; Milan van Ewijk, Joel Latibeaudiere, Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva; Ben Sheaf, Matt Grimes; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni, Haji Wright; Ellis Simms.
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