Match Preview - Coventry v Fulham

City aim to get back to winning ways with what could be called a must win game. If we are looking to stay in the PL then, and no disrespect to Fulham, three points will go a very long way to helping with that.

Read on for more including pressers, team news, past meetings, player links, prediction, playlist & opposition view.

Bring on the Jimmy Hill Derby!

Presser

SFL Presser

Past Meetings

This will be only the second time City have hosted Fulham in the top flight. The last time was 1967 when Fulham actually won 3-0. City survived the drop in their first season by a point, Fulham went down - I'll take that come May.

I've made a page dedicated to past meetings with some video highlights of the last meeting a few years ago and of Jimmy Hill HERE.

City Team News

I can see SFL going with an unchanged team and formation for this game. The back 4 seems pretty set, Grimez and Rudi are undroppable and I Shot the Cherif has had a good 2 games. The only questions are in wide positions and with Tchouna and Gboho apparently in the dog house options may be more limited. Maybe E=MC² comes in for Sakamoto, BTA moving to the right and E=MC² on the left. We shall see!

What do you think? Head to the LAST Line Up Builder and make your own, you can post straight to the match comments or social media.

The usuals are again missing for City - HWWW remains sidelined with a thigh injury, Eccles (ankle), Woolfenden (knee) and Amenda (calf) are also still out.

Fulham Team News

It's been a difficult start to the campaign for Fulham and they arrive at the CBS Arena sitting just below us in the table, with City 17th and the Cottagers 18th. Just one point separates the two sides, so while it's probably a little early to be throwing around the dreaded phrase six-pointer, there's no denying the importance of Saturday's encounter.

Under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, the Cottagers had gone six league matches without a victory before finally getting off the mark with a 1-0 home win over Hull City last weekend.

Alex Iwobi scored the decisive goal, although Fulham finished with ten men following Ryan Sessegnon's late dismissal.

That victory will have lifted some of the pressure on Arbeloa, but Fulham remain in the bottom three and their away form, not winning for 8 games offers City encouragement.

They haven't won any of their last eight Premier League away matches, drawing four and losing four.

Fulham have some technically gifted players, particularly Iwobi, Oscar Bobb and Joshua King, while Sander Berge provides a physical presence in midfield.

The danger for City will be allowing Fulham too much time and space between the lines.

Ryan Sessegnon is suspended following that dismissal against Hull.

Hugo Larsson has also been listed as doubtful with a groin problem.

Otherwise, Arbeloa may be tempted to retain much of the side that finally secured Fulham's first league victory.

Iwobi will be one to watch, particularly if he is allowed to drift into space between City's midfield and defence. Don't let anyone shoot from outside the box.....

Player Links

Before becoming the architect of Coventry City's Sky Blue Revolution, Jimmy Hill spent nine years at Fulham between 1952 and 1961, making 297 appearances and scoring 52 goals.

He arrived at Coventry in November 1961, with his first match in charge coming against Northampton Town on 2nd December and what followed changed Coventry City forever.

The introduction of the Sky Blue identity, the transformation of Highfield Road, the entertainment, the ambition and ultimately the rise from the Third Division to the First Division.

And, of course, the Sky Blue Song, from which LAST takes its name.

It's difficult to imagine what Coventry City would look like today without Jimmy Hill's influence.

His connection with both clubs makes Saturday's fixture particularly appropriate, especially now that City have finally returned to the top flight.

There are other connections between Coventry and Fulham over the years, but none comes close to JH. They include jack Grimmer, Olly Norwood and Cyrus Christie who is currently playing in Ha Noi in Vietnam. Julian Gray, John Salako, Leon McKenzie, Paul Trollope, David Stockdale, Dean Leacock, Stephen Hughes and Kyle "Laser"Lightbourne all featured at some stage for both clubs. Oscar Varney, one of City's U21 keepers, came from Fulham where he also reprented the U21's.

LAST Prediction

This feels like a genuinely important match. Fulham will arrive encouraged by their first win of the season, but their away record is poor and they haven't exactly been pulling up trees. With home advantage, a noisy CBS Arena and three points that could create some breathing space above the relegation zone, City have every incentive to go for it. I think SFL will stick with a positive approach, and I'm backing City to get back to winning ways, as ever!

LAST Prediction : 2-1
Huwligan* Prediction: 2-2
ChatGTP Prediction : 2-1 - "It might not be comfortable. It probably won't be straightforward. And knowing City, there'll be a few nervous moments along the way."

* "Huwligan" is Huw, 7 1/2 year old son of Greg "Sweet of the Match" from LAST 1.0. More to come from him, believe me!

Opposition View