Venue: Ricoh Arena
When: Saturday, January 30
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Coca-Cola Championship
COVENTRY City head into their clash with Blackpool at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday having frustrated another of the league's high fliers earlier in the week.
Chris Coleman's side brought back a point from the Liberty Stadium following a goalless draw with the Swans and the Sky Blues will no doubt be looking to better the performance from Bloomfield Road earlier in the season where Ian Holloway's Tangerines took all three points with a 3-0 win.
Check out pre-match video interviews with assistant manager Steve Harrison and striker Leon Best on Sky Blues Player NOW!!!
OVERVIEW
BLACKPOOL have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far in the Championship, a string of impressive displays seeing them emerge as genuine play-off contenders under manager Ian Holloway.
There form to date is a step forward from last season's campaign which saw them finish 16th in the Championship, just one place and two points above the Sky Blues.
A transfer window later though and Holloway has brought in a group of new faces which so far appear to be having an effect on the club's league fortunes.
HEAD TO HEAD
BLACKPOOL have the edge in 24 all-time meetings between the two clubs, the Seasiders winning 14 clashes, City winning eight with two ending in draws.
Recent results though are tit-for-tat with both sides enjoying two wins each and a draw in their last five outings against each other.
Last five fixtures
Blackpool 3 Coventry City 0, Coca-Cola Championship, 29/08/2009
Coventry City 2 Blackpool 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 17/01/2009
Blackpool 1 Coventry City 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 27/09/2008
Blackpool 4 Coventry City 0, Coca-Cola Championship, 22/12/2007
Coventry City 3 Blackpool 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 02/10/2007
INJURIES AND BANS
Coventry City are still waiting on fitness of striker Freddy Eastwood who is hoping to be put through his paces in a training session today to measure hi likelihood of featuring in the clash with the Seasiders.
Defender James McPake though has recovered from the migraine that saw him substituted at half-time in the goalless draw with Swansea in midweek.
Marcus Hall, Ben Turner and Isaac Osbourne remain unavailable.
Blackpool travel to the Ricoh boosted by the news Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has extended his loan until the end of the season.
Bannan, 20, has impressed in eight appearances since joining the Seasiders in November and had come onto bitter rivals Preston's radar.
However, Villa boss Martin O'Neill has now given him permission to stay at Bloomfield Road for the remainder of the campaign.
Manager Ian Holloway is hoping to add more new faces to his squad but admitted he does not expect to make any signings before the weekend.
Jason Euell should come back into contention after missing last weekend's 3-2 home win over Watford for personal reasons.
Strikers Stephen McPhee and Billy Clarke and defender Danny Coid remain sidelined due to injury and attacking midfielder Hameur Bouazza is still on international duty with Algeria.
DANGER MAN
Charlie Adam
THE stats back up everything about this attacking midfielder, top goal scorer, top assists, most shots made and most fouls conceded, the list goes on.
To say he is a hard worker doesn't really do justice to his all-round ability.
Adam is a very good technical footballer as well and he's proved it since his move from north of the border with 12 goals to his name this season from the middle of the pitch.
