Southampton welcome Coventry to St Mary’s Stadium in a huge Championship clash.
Russell Martin’s Saints will stay fourth regardless of the result, whilst Coventry will remain seventh irrespective of the result because Middlesbrough and Hull don’t meet until Wednesday evening.
A win however could put Mark Robins’ Sky Blues within one point of Norwich if the Canaries lose at Sheffield Wednesday.
Team News
Stuart Armstrong will return for Southampton after he missed their goalless draw at Blackburn due to concussion.
James Bree (suspension) is also available but Juan Larios and Ross Stewart (both hamstring) remain absent.
Coventry have no fresh injury concerns to report after their win over Leeds but Matty Godden (calf), Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (back) and Jamie Allen (muscle/cheekbone) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Southampton host Coventry at St Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday 9 April at 7:45pm BST, live on Sky Sports Red Button in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have lost one of their last seven league meetings against Coventry (W2, D4, L1).
- Coventry are winless in their last five league visits to Southampton (D3, L2).
- Southampton have kept clean sheets in three of their last four league matches at home against Coventry.
- Anything less than a win would see Southampton go fourth matches without a league victory for the first time since September.
- Ellis Simms has scored seven goals in four of Coventry’s last five league matches.
Prediction
Now destined for the play-offs despite having two games in hand, Southampton really need to just start to build momentum to take into the play-offs following a sluggish goalless draw at Blackburn where they defended well but weren’t creative enough on the attack.
Coventry meanwhile could of easily feared an in-form Leeds but they instead were more hungry and clinical despite having to often defend stubbornly – especially late in the second half, but they need to use that as a launchpad if want to keep the pressure on Norwich in the play-off race.
Southampton though isn’t a strong away trip for Coventry but if they can play like they did at the weekend and the Saints are still sloppy, I can see the Sky Blues snatching a potentially significant win come end of season.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Coventry
Result: Southampton 2-1 Coventry
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