Coventry City play host to Sunderland on Saturday looking to build on their recent improvement in the Championship.
While the Sky Blues now sit in 10th position in the standings, the visitors also hope that they are on an upward curve after a disappointing start.
Match preview
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Although Coventry suffered defeat to Leicester City on the opening weekend of the season, there was the feeling that the setback would remain one in isolation.
Despite that being followed by a surprise exit in the EFL Cup, Mark Robins's side have since delivered four points from two games against Middlesbrough and Swansea City.
The Midlands outfit blew away Boro - who they defeated in the 2022-23 playoff semi-finals - by a 3-0 scoreline, before they departed South Wales with a credible 1-1 draw.
Despite there being six teams who remain unbeaten in the second tier, Robins will be encouraged by where his squad find themselves at having already squared off against the title favourites on away territory.
Many new faces has arrived at Coventry over the summer, yet it is Matt Godden who is proving to be a key player with the forward having now netted in three successive games in all competitions.
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As far as Sunderland are concerned, they look a million miles away from the team that held a first-leg advantage over Luton Town in the playoffs in May.
Defeats to Ipswich Town and Preston North End left the Black Cats off the pace before they battled their way to a 2-1 triumph over Rotherham United last weekend.
Having fallen behind to a 20th-minute goal, Jobe Bellingham begun to justify his price tag with two goals at the Stadium of Light, effectively making him a fan favourite in the process.
Tony Mowbray will not want to place too much pressure on the younger sibling of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, yet it was a breakthrough performance that was required to move Sunderland up the standings, albeit still leaving them in mid-table.
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Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, Robins may be prepared to select the same Coventry XI from the fixture against Swansea.
However, Kasey Palmer could return to the side after missing out last time due to personal reasons, while Milan van Ewijk will have a toe injury assessed before kickoff.
Young midfielder Yasin Ayari has been acquired on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, but the Swede is expected to be selected among the replacements.
Mowbray must decide whether to keep Bradley Dack in an unfamiliar centre-forward role or recall Luis Semedo.
The rest of the Sunderland team could stay the same unless Alex Pritchard is preferred to Patrick Roberts.
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Thomas, McFadzean, Latibeaudiere; Van Ewijk, Eccles, Sheaf, Dasilva; Sakamoto; Wright, Godden
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Ekwah; Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke; Dack
We say: Coventry City 3-1 Sunderland
In theory, a battle between two of last season's playoff sides should be a closely-fought affair. Nevertheless, we have been left impressed by Coventry in recent weeks, and we are backing the home side to outclass their opponents this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
