Yahoo News Goalkeeper and youngsters question - predicted Coventry City team to face Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City are looking to avoid their fourth straight league defeat when they take on a Blackburn Rovers side looking to secure their Championship safety by putting a bit more distance between themselves and the bottom three in their final two games of the season.
Rovers sit in 19th place on 49 points but are still not safe, with third from bottom Birmingham just three points behind and able to catch them, should John Eustace’s men fail to pick up more points at home to the Sky Blues before a difficult trip to Champions-elect Leicester City on the last day of the campaign.
Mark Robins, meanwhile, travels to Ewood Park with a depleted looking squad due to injuries with Fabio Tavares, Victor Torp, Joel Latibeaudiere and Luis Binks the latest casualties to add to the long-term absence of winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. Young forward Tavares is definitely out while the manager will check on the other three today. The manager suggested on Wednesday night that, "if we are going to have to play youngsters as well, then that’s what we are going to have to do.”
READ MORE: Mark Robins' injury fear as four potentially out for final run-in and one to consult surgeon
There is one big selection question based on form, however, and that’s in goal where Brad Collins had a game to forget on Wednesday night, letting Hull’s first goal bobble over him and into the net, and failing to commit himself and put his foot through the ball when Bobby Thomas under hit a back pass to him, allowing Noah Ohio to score the winner in the 3-2 CBS Arena defeat.
So don’t be surprised if Ben Wilson is given the nod to come back in against Rovers where, you may recall, he made City history last season when he scored to secure a last minute point in a 1-1 draw.
Given City’s injury concerns, three of the back four might just pick themselves with Milan van Ewijk at right-back, Bobby Thomas and Liam Kiching a centre-half and one of either Jake Bidwell or Jay Dasilva on the left. Binks would be favourite to return to left centre-back if fit, given Robins had indicated the loan defender had earned a run in the side.
Josh Eccles and Ben Sheaf are probably favourite to continue in midfield but Liam Kelly showed, yet again, that he’s still got plenty to offer after a vintage display on Wednesday evening, and it would be sensible to make use of him again, particularly given City play Ipswich on Tuesday. That would free up Eccles to play high and wide on the right if Latibeaudiere is confirmed out, which would mean van Ewijk wouldn’t be available to operate in the right wing role.
Elsewhere, Callum O’Hare should be fit to return after sitting out with fatigue in midweek, which would free up Kasey Palmer to operate wide on the left and 18 goal Haji Wright to switch across to the right of the forward three. And lastly, 19 goal Ellis Simms will be favourite to lead the line as he looks to hit the magic 20 mark in the last three games of the season.
In terms of using youngsters, Robins could call upon right-back Dermi Lusala, midfielder Kai Andrews and striker Aidan Dausch – all of whom were on the bench against Hull this week – but it’s unlikely any would start ahead of the available senior personnel.
Predicted City team: Ben Wilson; Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva; Josh Eccles, Ben Sheaf; Haji Wright, Callum O’Hare, Kasey Palmer; Ellis Simms.
