Coventry City v Cardiff City. Match preview

CCFC v CCFC, live on Sky Sports 2 at 12:30pm. For those looking for internet commentary the Cardiff Official site has commentary for those subscribed to Cardiff City World while the official Coventry Site (www.ccfc.co.uk) will be broadcasting to all the commentary courtesy of BBC Radio WM.

Cardiff are missing three players through suspension (skipper Graham Kavanagh, ex Cov player Willie Boland and Andy Campbell). Out injured are Alan Lee, Rhys Weston and Peter Thorne.

Coventry are without the manager Gary McAllister. A statement on the Coventry website says 'Gary McAllister would be grateful if the media respected the privacy of his family and friends at a very difficult time,' He missed the midweek game against Wimbledon as well. As the statement says it's a private matter so good luck to him. Eric Black will take charge.

During the week Cardiff picked up a well earned point at Sunderland while Coventry moved to within 1 point of the Bluebirds with a 1 - 0 home win over bottom of the table Wimbledon.

I will look more closely at the Cardiff squad later in the day but City are set to choose from

Alexander, Croft, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Langley, Whalley, Robinson, Bonner, Gray, Earnshaw. Plus Margetson, Prior, Collins, Maxwell, Gordon, Fleetwood.

At the time of writing no new loan player has been announced.

The Coventry squad is

Shearer, Whing, Shaw, Staunton, Warnock, Barrett, Safri, Mansouri, Jorgensen, Adebola, Morrell, Arphexad, Pead, Konjic, Suffo, Doyle, Jephcott, Osbourne.

Mo Konjic was on the bench in midweek but may start tomorrow as Steve Staunton is trying to shake off a bout of flu. A threat up front is former Wrexham man Andy Morrell.

The clubs last met earlier this year in the FA Cup. The game at Ninian Park finished 2 - 2 with Cardiff scoring deep into injury time to secure a replay. The first goal of City's comeback from being 2 down was scored by Earnie (right). The return at Highfield Rd (ironically also live on Sky) was won 3 - 0 by Coventry. One of the goals from Lee Fowler who then spent some time on loan at Ninian Park.

Coventry will be upbeat after hearing that they have been given the go ahead for a new stadium.

A victory for wither side should see them climb into the top half of the table. Cardiff are currently 13th, Coventry 14th with a point between them.

This is the first league meeting between the clubs in over 36 years. I had just celebrated my 1st birthday when the teams drew 1 - 1 at Ninian Park in April 1967. Since then, apart from the Cup games mentioned above, we have played in a pre season game. Cardiff won that in Aug 2002. Report here.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here

Recent encounters between the teams:
2002/2003	Wed 15 Jan	Coventry	3 - 0	Cardiff	FAC
2002/2003	Sat 04 Jan	Cardiff	2 - 2	Coventry	FAC
2001/2002	Wed 01 Aug	Cardiff	1 - 0	Coventry	FR
1966/1967	Sat 22 Apr	Cardiff	1 - 1	Coventry	DIV2
1966/1967	Sat 26 Nov	Coventry	3 - 2	Cardiff	DIV2
1965/1966	Sat 26 Mar	Coventry	3 - 1	Cardiff	DIV2
1965/1966	Wed 06 Oct	Cardiff	1 - 2	Coventry	DIV2