Preview: Coventry City vs. Millwall - prediction, team news, lineups

Coventry City play host to Millwall on Sunday afternoon looking for the victory that would only strengthen their Championship playoff bid.

At a time when the Sky Blues occupy seventh spot in the standings, Millwall are down in 16th position after an unconvincing run of form.

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Match preview

After a slow start to the season, Coventry have been consistently solid in recent months, catapulting last season's playoff finalists into contention for the top six.

While they went down by a 2-1 scoreline at Norwich City in their most recent Championship fixture, Coventry had gone 10 such games unbeaten since December 8.

Mark Robins's will remain concerned about certain aspects of their game, though, with no clean sheet being recorded since Boxing Day, a run spanning six encounters.

Although goals are coming more freely than they were at the beginning of the season, the Midlands outfit need to get back on track in defence if they are to maintain a promotion push.

On a more positive note, Coventry recorded a 4-1 success over Sheffield Wednesday in their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday night, setting up a fifth-round showdown with non-league Maidstone United.

Meanwhile, Millwall are continuing to battle with a period of transition with the appointment of Joe Edwards as head coach having not worked out as they would have hoped.

Despite three successive wins being posted over the Christmas and New Year period, they represent Millwall's only victories in a run of 15 matches in all competitions.

Only one point has been recorded in their last four contests in the Championship - a 1-1 draw at home to Preston North End - and going down 1-0 at Hull City last time out made it one goal in three games.

Now sitting just five points adrift of the relegation zone, Edwards knows that an upturn in performances and results is required to prevent the Millwall hierarchy from having doubts over his reign.

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Team News

Robins will again be without defender Liam Kitching as he continues to serve a ban for his dismissal against Norwich.

Having been rested for that fixture, the likes of Jake Bidwell and Jamie Allen should return at left-back and in midfield respectively.

Ben Sheaf is currently the only confirmed absentee due to injury.

Meanwhile, Edwards may choose to recall Tom Bradshaw in attack to take the place of recent arrival Michael Obafemi.

Joe Bryan is an option at left wing-back, but Edwards could be against making major alterations on the back of pushing Hull on their trip to the MKM Stadium.

Coventry City possible starting lineup: Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Binks, Bidwell; Sakamoto, Allen, Torp, Wright; O'Hare; Simms

Millwall possible starting lineup: Sarkic; Tanganga, Harding, Cooper; Norton-Cuffy, De Norre, Saville, Wallace; Watmore, Flemming; Bradshaw

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We say: Coventry City 2-1 Millwall

Having pushed Hull last time out, Millwall will feel that they can do the same against the Sky Blues. Nevertheless, we are backing Coventry to bounce back from their recent league disappointments with a hard-earned triumph over the Lions.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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