Coventry City will look to make it three wins on the bounce when they travel to Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium this weekend.
The Sky Blues have taken maximum points from their last two home games, starting with a gritty 1-0 win over Port Vale on Saturday which was followed up by a slightly more convincing display on Tuesday evening as they beat Carlisle United 2-0.
Saturday’s opponents have found goal scoring hard to come by in the opening seven games of the season. Having lost top goal-scorer Luke Berry to Luton Town this summer, Shaun Derry’s side have only managed to hit the back of the net five times, the joint lowest tally in the division.
To counteract their troubles in front of goal, the U’s have run a tight ship at the other end of the pitch. So far they have only conceded five times in the league, keeping four clean sheets in their last five games in the process, so it may prove a tricky test to break down the United defence.
So how should Mark Robins line up his team to find a way through a tight back-line?
Prior to their two most recent victories, the Sky Blues went 270 league minutes without scoring, before netting three in their last two games.
Winger Jodi Jones has been instrumental in City’s return to goal-scoring form, having provided the assist for Peter Vincenti’s goal on Tuesday as well as bagging the winner himself with a tremendous curled effort on Saturday.
With news that French playmaker Tony Andreu has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear, the 19-year-old will have to step up and be Robins’s main outlet for goals and assists this season and therefore is a dead cert to be in the starting line-up.
Another no-brainer to be on the team-sheet is goalkeeper Lee Burge. Since coming into the team to replace Liam O’Brien he’s kept three clean sheets in three league games and looks a very confident figure between the sticks.
He was particularly outstanding against Port Vale in the closing minutes as he made countless saves to prevent an equaliser after the Sky Blues were reduced to ten men following Rod McDonald’s red card.
Speaking of the centre-back, who is now available for selection again after serving his one game suspension, a return to the starting eleven seems likely, despite the impressive performance from Tom Davies on Tuesday.
McDonald and Willis appear to be Robins’s preferred defensive pairing which is probably down to the fact that both are comfortable with the ball at their feet.
As for the rest of the back four it picks itself, as does the pairing of skipper Michael Doyle and Liam Kelly in the centre of the park. The midfield duo seem to be going from strength to strength as they appear to be building a real understanding with each other.
Thirty-six-year-old Doyle sits just in front of the defence and breaks up the play and prevents any danger. Kelly’s starting position is similarly quite deep but the former Leyton Orient man has the legs to get up and down the pitch and attempt to support the attack, which he seems to have been doing a lot more of over the last few games.
With injuries to Marc McNulty and Andreu, the Sky Blues striking options are limited and therefore makes it highly likely that Stuart Beavon and on-loan Wolves striker Duckens Nazon will again get the nod from the off.
After an impressive showing from the bench against Carlisle, Maxime Biamou may have put himself in the frame for a starting berth, although Robins has said the Frenchman is still adjusting to the league so may find himself settling for a place among the substitutes again with the likes of Jordan Ponticelli champing at the bit to make his league debut for the club.
Tuesday’s goal hero Peter Vincenti is expected to make up the final space in the front three as he continues to grow in confidence after two decent displays of late.
The Telegraph's starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Burge; Grimmer, Willis, McDonald, Stokes; Doyle, Kelly; Jones, Nazon, Vincenti; Beavon.
Here's your chance to pick the team using the widget below.
Download our all-new mobile app to get the latest news, sport and what's on.
One quick sync and you can read our content on the move without being online.
Get regular news alerts straight to your mobile and keep up with the latest traffic and travel or breaking events as they happen via our daily live blogs.
It can be customised to your own specific interests.
Download it today by clicking here for iPhone and here for Android
