Coventry City will attempt to avoid their fourth consecutive league defeat when they face Blackburn Rovers, who are looking to guarantee their Championship safety by putting some distance between themselves and the bottom three in their final two games of the season.

Rovers are currently in 19th place with 49 points, but third-place Birmingham are only three points behind and could catch them if John Eustace’s team fails to pick up more points at home to the Sky Blues before a tough trip to Champions-elect Leicester City on the final day of the season.

Mark Robins’ team at Ewood Park is decimated due to injuries, including Fabio Tavares, Victor Torp, Joel Latibeaudiere, and Luis Binks. Winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto has also been absent for a long time. Young forward Tavares is obviously out, and the manager will check on the other three today. On Wednesday night, the manager said that “if we are going to have to play youngsters as well, then that’s what we are going to have to do.”

On Wednesday night, Brad Collins struggled in goal, allowing Hull’s first goal to bounce over him and failing to commit when Bobby Thomas underhit a back pass to Noah Ohio, resulting in a 3-2 CBS Arena defeat.

So don’t be shocked if Ben Wilson is given the nod to return against Rovers, where he made City history last season by scoring in the dying moments to secure a 1–1 draw.

Given City’s injury issues, three of the back four may just pick themselves, with Milan van Ewijk at right-back, Bobby Thomas and Liam Kiching at centre-back, and one of Jake Bidwell or Jay Dasilva on the left. Binks would be the frontrunner to return to left centre-back if healthy, considering Robins’ comments that the loan defender has earned a spell in the team.

Josh Eccles and Ben Sheaf are likely to remain in midfield, but Liam Kelly demonstrated once again that he still has a lot to contribute after a brilliant performance on Wednesday evening, and it would be prudent to employ him again, especially given City’s match against Ipswich on Tuesday. If Latibeaudiere is confirmed out, Eccles will be free to play high and wide on the right, leaving van Ewijk unavailable to play right wing.

Meanwhile, Callum O’Hare should be able to return after missing midweek due to exhaustion, allowing Kasey Palmer to operate wide on the left and 18-goal Haji Wright to switch across to the right of the forward three. Finally, 19-goal Ellis Simms will be the favorite to lead the line as he attempts to reach the magic 20 mark in the final three games of the season.

In terms of young players, Robins might call on right-back Dermi Lusala, midfielder Kai Andrews, and striker Aidan Dausch, all of whom were on the bench against Hull this week, but none are expected to start ahead of the available senior guys.

Predicted City lineup: Ben Wilson, Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva; Josh Eccles, Ben Sheaf; Haji Wright, Callum O’Hare, Kasey Palmer; Ellis Simms.

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