Coventry City make the short trip up the M69 this weekend to resume their local rivalry with Leicester following the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League and return to the Championship.
The fixture is much anticipated for Sky Blues fans desperate for the bragging rights on offer from what is always a feisty affair, and Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off will be another opportunity for Frank Lampard to further endear himself to the City faithful if he can guide his team to victory on enemy turf.
So what team will he pick as he plots his game plan to keep his side’s unbeaten run to the new league season going and, preferably, return with the full three points?
The phrase, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ springs to mind on this particular occasion, given the level of performance against Norwich last time out. That game produced some sparkling attacking football from Coventry who created numerous opportunities in and around the box.
City’s biggest failing on the day was not being able to convert enough of those chances to take the win against a resolute Canaries’ defence that blocked and saved most attempts that came their way.
Lampard said he ‘enjoyed’ watching his players perform against Norwich and, as such, he’s unlikely to make any changes unless forced to do so by any training injuries in the build-up to the trip to the King Power Stadium.
That means Carl Rushworth – who was barely troubled at the weekend, such was City’s dominance of the ball – will continue in goal behind a settled back four that includes Milan van Ewijk and Jay Dasilva at full-back – both of whom are proving instrumental in the side’s attacking play.
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Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching are also expected to continue at the heart of the defence at a time when deadline day signing Luke Woolfenden is patiently waiting for his debut. But having played so little football this season, it’s unlikely that the 26-year-old will be pitched in from the start for such a big derby game.
Newly-appointed skipper Matt Grimes is key to controlling the midfield with Victor Torp given licence to get forward and get shots off, although Jamie Allen would provide fresh legs, bags of non-stop running and tactical discipline if Lampard wants more energy and caution on the road.
Elsewhere, left winger Ephron Mason-Clark was outstanding against Norwich and showed, once again, what an attacking threat he can be while Tatsuhiro Sakamoto also enjoyed moments of real quality from the right flank.
Jack Rudoni glues everything together in the number ten role behind leading scorer Haji Wright who has six goals in his last five games, keeping him ahead of back-up strikers Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Predicted City team: Carl Rushworth; Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva; Matt Grimes, Victor Torp; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni, Ephron Mason-Clark; Haji Wright.