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Leicester go into Sunday’s crucial derby with Coventry City aiming to strengthen their grip on the play-off race.
The Foxes currently sit in 4th place in the Championship after the midweek victory over Crystal Palace, a healthy position for Nigel Pearson’s men with ten games remaining.
Visitors Coventry have never won at the Walkers Stadium in five attempts so far, but head into the game with faint play-off hopes of their own.
The Sky Blues have lost just two of their last eleven league matches, and currently lie five points adrift of Cardiff in 6th place.
It was Cardiff who proved too strong in the week for Chris Coleman’s side, Clinton Morrison’s opener proving meaningless as the Welsh side pounced twice to take all three points.
Elsewhere around City, Swansea face a tough trip to Loftus Road to face QPR, whilst East Midlands promotion rivals Nottingham Forest welcome bottom-of-the-league Peterborough to the City Ground.
Cardiff host Watford on Sunday to complete the current play-off occupying quartet.
Vital Quotes:
Coventry defender James McPake: “We were already looking forward to the Leicester game in the dressing room after Tuesday`s match. It is on TV and there will be an extra edge to if because it is a derby and we want to go and get the three points.
“The fans will be there in numbers and they have been great recently and really helped us, and hopefully they can keep getting behind us because it is far from over.’
Leicester City Team News:
Nigel Pearson should name the same side which brushed aside Crystal Palace midweek, providing older heads such as Nolberto Solano are fit enough.
Player to watch: Paul Gallagjer
Gallagher has enjoyed, like his fellow striker partners, significant success as part of City’s three-pronged attack.
Championship player of the month for February after finding the net four times, the Scot has certainly found life more enjoyable up front after a series of appearances on the wing early doors.
Coventry City Team News:
Coventry look set to have influential midfielder Sammy Clingan back in the starting lineup after sitting out the midweek defeat to Cardiff with a calf injury.
The same cannot be said for winger Michael McIndoe, who picked up an injury himself in that game.
Player to watch: Sammy Clingan
If fully fit, Clingan is perhaps Coventry’s most dangerous weapon. A player in a similar mould to Leicester’s own Richie Wellens, Clingan has demonstrated his abilties as a fine Championship player on a consistent basis.
Leicester fans may remember Clingan’s goal-scoring free-kick at the Ricoh Arena earlier in the season, a scenario Nigel Pearson will hope his side do not set themselves up for again this time.
Match Facts & Stats
– Coventry are looking for their first ever point at the Walkers Stadium.
– Leicester still claim the impressive record of never losing in a match they have score first in this season.
– In stark contrast, no other side has lost more points from winning positions than Coventry (23).
– Clinton Morrison has 11 league goals for the season, just one short of his tally for the whole of last season.
Match Prediction:
It’ll be a tough one no doubt. Leicester 1-1 Coventry.
Next Fixtures:
Wednesday 24th March
Leicester: Reading (H)
Coventry: West Brom (A)
