Coventry v Bristol City

Coventry host Bristol City in the first league fixture after the international break.

The Ricoh Arena has proven to be a fruitful venue for the Robins having won convincly in all three visits to date over the last few seasons and we would all be delighted to see City win again in order to pick up our first away win of the season.

A lot is being made of McIndoe’s influence on the game, which I predict will be minimal, but hopefully the fans can give him a little stick.

Although many Premiership teams tend to bemoan the first international break of the season, it has arguably come at a good time for Bristol City.

Having pulled off a great victory against Middlesbrough, we have since completed the signings of Evander Sno and Alvaro Saborio who should both be on the bench at the Ricoh.

International players in the squad such as Hartley have returned unscathed and seem keen to get back to the task at hand.

With Akinde picking up an injury in a reserves game and Clarkson doubtful, Haynes and Maynard look set to start up front.

With this in mind, new Costa Rican loanee Saborio should make his debut and could even start depending on how Gary Johnson will approach the game.

Lewin Nyatanga is not a certain to start but has reportedly been recovering well since suffering from the mumps.

Leon Best and Clinton Morrison are the main threats for Coventry but neither have managed to score in the last three games from which Coventry have picked up just one point and scored no goals.

With City’s superb record at the Ricoh, this is an excellent opportunity to pick up points on the road from a Sky Blues team that seem short on confidence.

I predict an open game with chances at both ends but City should have enough to get someting from the Ricoh.

Key player – Coventry: LEON BEST.

Coventry will need their strikers to find form if they are to stand any chance of winning and Best will need to be at his [best] to test Gerken and co at the back.

Key player – Bristol City: PAUL HARTLEY.

The beard has pulled off some great assists already this season and he can really control the tempo of the game. Nobody wants to see ‘hoofball` but he has provided some great balls over the top for Maynard and we hope to see much of the same from the hairy one.

Prediction: 2-1 City. (Maynard, Alvaro)