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An unprecedented international break this season halted Coventry’s brilliant four-match winning run during November, a spell which saw them keep a quartet of clean sheets in the process and propel themselves up the league standings.
However, last weekend that record came to an abrupt end with Amadou Mbengue‘s second-half strike sentencing the Sky Blues to defeat at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, with Mark Robins‘s men failing to score for the first time in 11 second-tier matches.
Despite this, the Coventry supporters will be fairly satisfied with their 15th-placed position heading into this weekend, even more so when considering the Midlands club have spent a large part of this season in the relegation zone – albeit they had played less games than those around them at the time due to issues with their home ground.
Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has netted nine times this season in a continuation of the form that saw the former Swansea man have a breakout term for Coventry last campaign, with the 24-year-old also becoming a more important part of his national team as Euro 2024 qualifying approaches in March.
The Sky Blues have been defensively sound in front of their home faithful this season, allowing just six goals past them in nine fixtures, a record that will serve them well as they look to join a host of teams chasing a coveted top-six position this campaign.
run of seven wins in nine that began in September hinted at what the Swans were capable of in this division, yet the failure to convert draws into wins has cost Martin’s side a more attractive position in the upper reaches of the second tier as the midway point of the season approaches.
Despite this, the tight nature of the Championship this campaign has assured that Swansea still have a realistic chance of battling for a playoff place, although it looks set to be a congested fight with even a 17th-placed West Bromwich Albion fancying their chances of a top-six finish.
Coventry will be without Tyler Walker who has not returned to training yet since suffering a knee injury before the international break, with Robins admitting the player will not be available for a while.
The Sky Blues have a game of head tennis during their mid-season Spain trip to blame for the calf strain picked up by defender Kyle McFadzean, with the 35-year-old set to miss a number of games after a scan revealed the seriousness of the issue.
Matty Godden remains out until late January after rupturing his ankle ligaments during the clash with Sheffield United in October, with the striker having undergone surgery as a result.
Olivier Ntcham played 30 minutes for Swansea on his return from business in Qatar with Cameroon last Saturday, and the attacker should be handed a starting berth here alongside Joel Piroe in the forward line.
Michael Obafemi could feature for the Swans this weekend after returning to training earlier in the week, although the decision of whether to include him in the travelling party will be a late one.
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Doyle, Rose, Panzo; Eccles, Hamer, Sheaf, Bidwell; O’Hare, Allen, Gyokeres
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Benda; Naughton, Cabango, Wood, Latibeaudiere; Fulton, Grimes, Ntcham, Cooper, Manning; Piroe
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
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“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life