Mark Robins will be hoping for a response from his Coventry City players when they face a tough test as Leeds United on Saturday.
And after a flat display against Swansea at the weekend – when Leeds were busy beating bottom club Cardiff in South Wales – Coventry will be looking to get their performance levels back up to those shown against Watford and Tottenham in their previous two games. So what team will Robins go for?
Well, having held his hands up and admitted that he was wrong to have stuck with an unchanged outfield ten to face the Swans, following their impressive showing against Spurs in the Carabao Cup a few days earlier, it would appear fairly certain that he’ll be making changes. Whether that means going with the line-up that started at Watford, remains to be seen.
But, certainly, having been very critical of “one or two individuals” without naming names on Saturday, we can expect the manager to mix things up again as he continues to search for his strongest, or most effective, line-up.
Tactics could also play a part, as it did in last season’s 1-1 away draw when Robins threw Daniel Farke by playing both Jay Dasilva and Jake Bidwell, with Dasilva operating further forward on the wing, while Joel Latibeaudiere was handed an enforcing job in midfield – both changes proving extremely effective on the day.
Latibeaudiere had been in favour prior to the international break and could well be in line for a return to the starting line-up. And, given the fact that Jamie Allen suffered a nasty looking knee ligament injury last time out, the Jamaican could come into contention in midfield. Josh Eccles and Victor Torp are the only other two fully fit central players available, although Ben Sheaf was back on the bench against the Swans but clearly not going to be fit enough to get through 90 minutes after several weeks out with an ankle injury.
Latibeaudiere could, of course, return to the back four, in which case he’d likely play right-sided centre-back alongside either Luis Binks or Liam Kitching. Bobby Thomas, however, has played right-sided centre-half in the last three matches. Milan van Ewijk will be favourite to continue at right-back but can play further forward on the right wing if needed, albeit Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Brandon Thomas-Asante are competing in that wide role.
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