Coventry - QPR

Interesting things are happening in Coventry these days. They lost the key striker Leon Best (sold to Newcastle), but their results and performance are improving. I see two reasons. First, Chris Coleman is definitely a manager for Premier, not second tier. Second, selling Best was also a good move for the club. Coventry hadn’t score more with him in the squad just because lack of assistance passes in front. Antagonism between him and the other players, I’m not sure. But sure is Eastwood (especially) and Clinton Morrison (was in Best’s shadow) are great attacking force. In previous round, they defeated promotion chasers Nott.Forest (with a slight touch of luck, though), and their self confidence is additionally raised. Midfielder Aron Gunnarsson and center-back James McPake are facing a late fitness tests. New on loan signing, striker Freddie Sears, will take some part in this game. Coventry won four of last five home games in league and are unbeaten in five matches against QPR.

Situation in QPR could be described as at least chaotic. Briatore faced a hors of boos and left the stadium at the half time (Ipswich 1-2), chairman Gianni Paladini has offered his resignation, while team is in a freefall! They have four defeats in a row (two came from Scunthorpe and Peterborough), scored just one goal and they’re just two points far from relegation zone. New caretaker, Mick Harford (and his assistant Tony Coton), is not well appreciate from the players and the fans as well. Looking at their current situation, I’m much closer to think it will be the end of one era, instead they’ll improve somehow. They’re also lost one key player, Wayne Routledge (and also to Newcastle). Rangers are without on-loan striker Marcus Bent, while midfielder Mikele Leigertwood is suspended, but defender Peter Ramage is back after serving a one-match ban and left-back Gary Borrowdale has recovered from an injury. QPR have picked up one point out of a possible 15 since Mick Harford took over as care taker and they are without a win in seven away matches. 

I see some consistency in Coventry’s results and in my opinion is they’re clear favorites today. My only limitation is QPR’s bad habit to shine and put a Champions League performance when no one expect. However, in my opinion any positive reaction from the players today would be a first class surprise. Following all my reasons, only conclusion is a home win.

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan, who plays for Borussia Dortmund, is being chased by Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona - according to his dad.(The Sun) 
Manchester City are likely to make a fresh move for Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago in the summer, City boss Roberto Mancini has confirmed.(The Guardian) 
And City also want to bring Lazio striker Mauro Zarate back to England to replace Robinho - the Argentine previously had a spell at Birmingham.(Goal.com) 
Manchester United are resigned to losing Nemanja Vidic in the summer, with AC Milan ready to rival Real Madrid's £20m attempt to prise him away. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to sign Brazilian wonderkid Wellington Silva after his trial with the Londoners. (Daily Mirror) 
The Gunners boss has also apparently stepped up the chase for £14m France striker Loic Remy, dubbed the 'new Thierry Henry'. (The Sun) 
Liverpool's attempt to sign Standard Liege forward Milan Jovanovic could be under threat after his agent claimed other clubs are interested. (Various)
Lokomotiv Moscow have joined city rivals Dinamo in the pursuit of Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun, despite Reds manager Rafa Benitez being reluctant to sell. (Daily Mail) 
Tottenham are interested in Ghana goalkeeper George Owu, who has been offered a trial following his release by Egyptian club Al Masry.(Daily Mail) 
Veteran striker Paul Dickov is wanted by Leeds and Derby after being released by Leicester.(Daily Mirror) 
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is trying to sign 17-year-old Bolivian star Gabriel Alvarez from Callejas for next season.(Daily Mirror) 
QPR have offered former Fulham defender Moritz Volz, who is a free agent, a contract until the end of the season. (The Sun) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James is to take a pay cut as he does not want to inflict any more financial pressure on the cash-strapped club.(The Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City have offered first-team regulars at Eastlands a bonus of £1m each to take the club into the Champions League and win the FA Cup. (Daily Express) 
Aston Villa have banned youth defender Nathan Baker from this month's League Cup final after the 18-year-old was caught selling his ticket allocation for the game on social networking site Facebook. (Various)
Villa defender Nicky Shorey, who is on loan at Fulham, could be in trouble with Fifa after playing for his third club this season, breaking the world governing body's rule of only being allowed to play for two clubs in a season.(The Daily Mail) 
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is looking into selling his company's NHL ice hockey team the Dallas Stars.(The Guardian) 
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has emerged as potential target for Espanyol as the Barcelona club's hierarchy is losing confidence in coach Mauricio Pochettino.(Daily Mail)
Premier League clubs are set to pocket £1bn thanks to a TV deal which the league's chief executive Richard Scudamore is ready to announce as he publishes the figures for the worldwide rights to screen top Premier League matches. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

French left-back Patrice Evra says Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson "dances up and down like a child" when United win.(The Sun) 
Five Portsmouth fans will walk into the Premier League's luxurious offices in London on Friday looking for answers as to why their club has become football's financial basket case.(The Times) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger cancelled a day off for his Arsenal players ahead of this weekend's match against Chelsea because he was so angry after Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Manchester United.(Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle's new signing Leon Best has turned down the chance to take the club's famous No9 shirt because the £2m buy from Coventry City says he has not earned it yet. (Daily Mail)
www.bbc.co.uk

Derby 2-1 Coventry

Rob Hulse scored twice as Derby came from behind to beat Coventry in a feisty Championship match that ended a run of three straight defeats for the Rams.
Derby started the game in 20th place and it looked as though manager Nigel Clough could be in for another torrid evening after Leon Best put Coventry ahead with a well-taken finish from 14 yards. 
Paul Dickov missed a glorious chance to equalise just before the break but shortly after the restart his cross was converted by Hulse. 
The Rams took the lead when Hulse, who has just returned after a stomach bug, finished a sweeping move before Coventry's Jordan Clarke saw red after picking up a second booking. 
Hulse should have completed his hat-trick but he had a late penalty saved by Dimi Konstantopoulos. 
Derby had lost eight of their last 11 games as Clough struggled to deal with a horrendous injury list. 
But in addition to Hulse, the Rams boss was also able to welcome back Dean Leacock and Paul Green - and his team were good value for their win after an improved second-half performance. 

Coventry, also battling against a lengthy injury list, scored with the first meaningful attack of the match - and it was a goal that, in part at least, was the product of awful defending.

www.bbc.co.uk

Derby County - Coventry City

Derby County hold the 20^th position in Championship with just two points more than clubs from relegation zone. They’ve noticed three consecutive defeats, Middlesbrough 0-2 (away), QPR 2-4 (home) and Ipswich Town 0-1 (away). Club has lots of problems with injured players and that is main reason for mentioned bad run of results (midfielder Dean Moxey is the only outfield player who have been on the field for every minute of all Derby's league matches this season). Four key players are sidelined, strikers Chris Commons and Rob Hulse and defenders Dean Leacock and Shaun Barker, while midfielder Jay McEveley has been recovered and is expected to appear tonight. They also have problems with ball transition and lack of creativity in the midfield. They create goal opportunities only after set pieces or shooting from a distance. The Rams have the biggest number of defeats this season (nine), while six of them have been by a single goal - more than any other club. Manager Nigel Clough desperately needs a win tonight, but I don’t see them as, even slight favorites.

 

At the start of the season, club’s officials and manager Chris Coleman were stating that club has an ambition to make one step more comparing with previous seasons and make a break to the play-off position. And season started well, as Coventry defeated Ipswich and Barnsley in opening two rounds. But, soon they went back in poor reality, that is team is consisted of not even average Championship players. Chris Coleman still is one of the most talented managers in second tier and Leon Best (best league player in October) and Clinton Morrison are maybe the best attacking duo in this level, but that’s almost all. The most they can achieve is calling of the most unpredictable club in Championship. Coventry have noticed five games without a win, two draws (Leicester and WBA, both at home) and three defeats (Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City and Reading). Also, they failed to score in three of their last four games. Home defeat against Reading was a big blow for Coleman who still has to cope with the absence of first goalie Keiren Westwood. Club brought defender Leon Barnett on-loan deal from   WBA and he has been included in the squad. Their total of 17 points after the first 15 games is their lowest return for four years.

 

Both teams are in bad run and have a lots of problems with scoring. Also injuries on both sides will additionally weaken their quality. Derby have a small advantage in fans at Pride Park, while Coventry  have duo Best-Morrison who finally should score. Both sides won’t risk too much and would be absolutely satisfied with one point. 2.43 at Pinnacle. Draw, correct score 0-0.

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Coventry City - Leicester City

Coventry came in recent season without big ambitions. Some important players left the club during the summer transfer market (Scott Dann, Danny Fox, Robbie Simpson, Guillaume Beuzelin, Leon MacKenzie and Michael Doyle), while manager Chris Coleman was only able to make three permanent signings, with Sammy Clingan (Norwich), Michael McIndoe (Bristol City) and Martin Cranie (Charlton) arriving at the Ricoh Arena. However, club currently sit 10th in the table noticing some very good displays lately. Just one defeat in last five rounds (Preston, 2-3 on the road), with two draws vs. Bristol City (1-1) and Middlesbrough (2-2) and two great victories over Sheff.Utd. at home 3-2 and in last round at Vicarage Road against Watford (2-3). Last game once again showed the biggest strength and biggest weakness of Sky Blue’s. They have great attacking force (Clinton Morrison and Leon Best), but at the same time very shaky defense line that have conceded nine goals in last four games. Main reason is two important defenders didn’t play in last few encounters, Marcus Hall and Ben Turner, and are likely to remain sidelined for M69 derby. England Under-21 defender Martin Cranie is in contention for a starting place.

The Foxes, last term's League One champions, are eighth in the table and notice more than decent start in the second tier. Team is well balanced, but also possess few very quality individuals. Goalkeeper Christopher Weale, creative link in midfield Richie Wellence and excellent striker Matty Fryatt are the spine of this team. Under the guidance of current boss Nigel Pearson, team is recognizable by the fighting spirit and excellent physical condition that usually brings them advantage as the game comes to end. All these factors make from Leicester a serious contender for a play-off spot. In the last round, they defeated league giants Middlesbrough at the Riverside 1-0, got a first away win and boosted their confidence. Another success would launch them into play-off zone. Additional good news came from club’s medical service. Richie Wellens is available after missing the midweek win through illness, while Matt Fryatt is also fit despite limping off at Boro. Only missing is defender Alexsander Tunchev who will be out for several weeks after knee surgery. The Foxes have avoided defeat in eight of their last 10 visits to Coventry.

M69 Derby usually brings a nervous game, full of hard tackles and yellow cards with small number of goals. I give a small advantage to the visitors because they look more compact and consistent, have bigger ambitions and simply expect another good display from Matty Fryatt against shaky Coventry’s defense. Away win (2.97 at Pinnacle) is a gamble, dnb 2 (odds arround 2.00) is a safe bet. 

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