COVENTRY CITY’s play-off hopes hang in the balance when they entertain bottom of the table Barnsley this weekend.
The Sky Blues slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away at Cardiff City in midweek which means City remain 12th in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Their opponents Barnsley sit at the foot of the table having won just three league matches all season including one against the Sky Blues back in August.
FORM
The Sky Blues have struggled for consistency since the turn of the year and were beaten 2-0 by Cardiff after conceding two late goals on Tuesday night.
Coventry are yet to win back-to-back games in 2022 after drawing 1-1 with Blackpool in their last home fixture which was followed by a 3-2 victory at Reading.
The Tykes ended a run of 13 games without a win last weekend after they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 to secure a first league win under boss Poya Asbaghi.
Barnsley have scored the least goals of any side in the division (19) and are six points adrift of safety with a game in-hand on the teams above them.
TEAM NEWS
The Sky Blues will be without captain Liam Kelly and Josh Eccles for several weeks with hamstring and calf injuries respectively.
Barnsley are set to be without Callum Brittain (leg), Clarke Oduor (leg), Cauley Woodrow (knee) and Victor Adeboyejo (knock).
KEY PLAYERS
Coventry – Callum O’Hare – The midfielder has not contributed to a goal since City’s win at Peterborough United over a month ago, albeit remaining a key component of Mark Robins’ team.
O’Hare will be reeling after he was denied a penalty at Cardiff in midweek and should have plenty of space this weekend against a Barnsley side who concede possession away from home.
Barnsley – Domingos Quina – The former Portugal youth international scored the winner in Barnsley’s last outing against QPR and spent the first half of the season on loan at leaders Fulham.
Quina joined the Tykes on loan in January and if on his game can cause the Sky Blues plenty of problems with his quick feet and tricky dribbling.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two teams last met in the league in August when City were beaten 1-0 at Oakwell after Viktor Gyokeres saw a stoppage time penalty saved by Tykes goalkeeper Bradley Collins.
Coventry’s last win against Barnsley came in April last year when goals from Dom Hyam and Matty Godden helped City move further clear of the relegation zone.
The Sky Blues have a better overall head-to-head record against Barnsley having won 30, drawn 15 and lost 19 games across 64 meetings.
PREDICTION
Coventry 3-0 Barnsley – City should run out comfortable winners on Saturday afternoon and have more than enough quality to see off a side who appear to be heading down to League One.
Coventry’s clash with Barnsley takes place on Saturday, February 19 with kick-off at 3pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
