Venue: St James' Park
When: Wednesday, February 17
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Competition: Coca-Cola Championship

COVENTRY City head into tonight's clash with the Magpies currently enjoying their finest run of form this season.

Saturday's 1-0 win at home to QPR made it five wins from six games at home, propelling the Sky Blues up to tenth in the Championship table.

City are also five games unbeaten both home and away in the league so will be looking to take some of that form to St James' Park where Chris Hughton's Newcastle have not lost all season.

Check out FULL pre-match interviews with City manager Chris Coleman and loan striker Freddie Sears on Sky Blues Player NOW!!!

OVERVIEW

NEWCASTLE United have led the way in the Championship this season in the way many neutrals thought they would after having been relegated from the Premier League last season.

Although they do not currently top the table, they are level on points with current leaders West Brom with a game in hand.

The Magpies' home form this season has also been without question, Chris Hughton's side having not lost at St James' Park all season.

Newcastle have also won their last two games at home and carry a 1-1 away draw at Swansea into tonight's clash with the Sky Blues.

HEAD TO HEAD

THE Magpies have won nearly half of all clashes with the Sky Blues since 1936, registering 33 victories from 67 all-time ties.

The Sky Blues have beaten Newcastle 18 times in that 74-year period but they have not tasted victory against the North-East outfit since a 4-1 Premier League victory at Highfield Road in October 1999.

Last five fixtures

Coventry City 0 Newcastle Utd 2, Coca-Cola Championship, 09/12/2009
Coventry City 2 Newcastle Utd 3, Coca-Cola Championship, 26/08/2008
Newcastle Utd 3 Coventry City 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 29/01/2005
Newcastle Utd 3 Coventry City 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 13/01/2001
Coventry City 0 Newcastle Utd 2, Coca-Cola Championship, 06/09/2000

Check out a classic clash between the Sky Blues and the Magpies from 1977 on Sky Blues Player by clicking below NOW!!!

CONNECTIONS

FORMER Coventry City legends Micky Quinn, Kevin Gallacher and 1987 FA Cup winner Brian Kilcline all enjoyed similar status following spells at St James Park.

Micky 'Sumo' Quinn scored 25 goals in 64 appearances for the Sky Blues and 59 in 115 games for the Magpies.

Gallacher scored 28 goals in 100 appearances for City before netting four times in a two-year stay in the North East.

Recent links though see former Sky Blues players from this season Leon Best and Patrick van Aanholt currently donning the black and white stripes.

Van Aanholt was on loan at the Ricoh Arena from parent club Chelsea during the first half of the 2009/10 season and Best was the subject of a move in the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee.

Click below to check out our exclusive Legends interview with Kevin Gallacher on Sky Blues Player!

LAST GAME

Swansea City 1 Newcastle Utd 1

NEWCASTLE'S England Under 21 striker Andy Carroll managed to salvage a point for the Magpies with a last-gasp equaliser at Liberty Stadium at the weekend.

Chris Hughton's side were just three minutes away froma  second consecutive away defeat until Carroll headed home Leon Best's cross.

Swans winger David Cotterill had put the hosts on 56 minutes, curling an effort from the corner of the Magpies area around Steve Harper and into the top corner. 

INJURIES AND BANS

Coventry City could be without defender James McPake and midfielder David Bell for the trip to St James' Park.

McPake (back) and Bell (shin) were both omitted from the Sky Blues' squad that beat QPR at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday although Bell may be considered fit enough to travel.

Aron Gunnarsson has been declared fit again after recovering from a shin knock which kept him out of the win over QPR at the weekend.

New loan signing Jonathan Stead could also be in line to make his debut for the Sky Blues after completing a move to the Ricoh Arena from Ipswich Town for the rest of the season on Tuesday.

Newcastle United could still be without influential wideman Jonas Gutierrez who is currently battling to be fit from a muscle strain which kept him out of Saturday's draw with Swansea.

Shola Ameobi, who scored against the Sky Blues in the first league meeting between the two clubs earlier this season, is out as is Jose Enrique with both players suffering from hamstring injuries.

Nicky Butt (thigh), Joey Barton (foot) and Steven Taylor (knee) are also out.

DANGER MAN

Kevin Nolan

TEN goals from midfield so far this season says all you need to know about Nolan who has been the beating heart in the centre of the pitch for Newcastle this season.

Nolan currently sits as the Magpies' top scorer this season and has been ever present in the middle of the pitch for Chris Hughton because of the impact he has when he is playing.

Intelligent, strong and with an obvious eye for goal, the only downside to Nolan's game so far this season has been his temperament on occasion.

If he plays, he will demand constant attention ffrom the Sky Blues midfield which will need to multi-task to work out a way of keeping an eye on him as well as developing attacks of their own.

BETTING