Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion meet in a league fixture for the first time since March 2010 on Saturday afternoon.

The Sky Blues are currently sixth in the Championship table, one point behind the Baggies who are fourth.

Match preview

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The fact that these two teams are neck and neck with almost half of the season gone is indicative of how Coventry have overachieved and Albion have underachieved.

The Sky Blues are surprise playoff contenders after a 16th-placed finish last season, but showed they can match the best in the division with a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth a week ago.

Matt Godden scored in the 85th minute and then Todd Kane equalised in the 95th minute as Mark Robins's side mounted a sensational late comeback from two goals down on the South coast.

It was a third successive draw for Coventry, who have lost just one of their last seven matches.

No team in the Championship have picked up more points at home this season than the Sky Blues (23), who have only been beaten twice at home in the league since March.

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That makes the 30-mile trip a daunting task for West Brom, who have taken just one point from their last five away matches.

That is reflective of a general drop in form for the Baggies, as they are winless in four matches and have recorded just one victory in their last six.

Albion have the joint-best defence in the Championship but at the other end of the pitch, they have scored as many goals (two) in their last six games as they have received red cards.

A 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest last weekend left West Brom eight points adrift of the automatic promotion spots, meaning the pressure is growing on Valerien Ismael, who was expected to deliver an instant return to the Premier League following his appointment in the summer.

If the French-German coach can survive Saturday's game, then he will hope that an upturn in form could be around the corner with Albion facing Reading, Barnsley and Derby County – all sides in the bottom four – in their following three fixtures.

Team News

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Coventry will hope to have Michael Rose and Gustavo Hamer back available after the pair missed the draw against Bournemouth through illness and injury respectively.

Jake Clarke-Salter and Martyn Waghorn are expected to return from the sidelines soon, but Saturday's game might be too early for them.

Sky Blues top scorer Viktor Gyokeres is in line for a recall after starting on the bench at the Vitality Stadium.

Jayson Molumby's red card against Nottingham Forest leaves West Brom short of midfield options, with Jake Livermore also suspended.

Valerien Ismael is likely to be forced to play someone out of position, with Semi Ajayi, Matt Phillips and Adam Reach the contenders to partner Alex Mowatt in the middle of the park.

Injured defender Dara O'Shea has returned to training on the grass this week and will hopefully be available again early in the new year.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Rose, McFadzean, Hyam; Kane, Hamer, Sheaf, Maatsen; O'Hare; Godden, Gyokeres

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Kipre, Bartley, Clarke; Furlong, Phillips, Mowatt, Townsend; Diangana, Grant; Hugill

We say: Coventry City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

With both sides picking up plenty of draws lately and the fact they are so close in the table, we think that this game will also end level. Both teams will probably take a cautious approach to avoid losing the game, so it may even finish goalless.

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