At this point there’s little denying the Championship is a crazy league.
You’ve probably all seen our tweet that, with four games to go, there isn’t a single team who can’t either get promoted or relegated (mathematically speaking).
Of course for some it’s more likely than others and for Coventry & Albion the play-offs are right there – all they need to do is reach out and take them.
Bizarrely both teams go into the game with their fate firmly in their own hands but only a win will keep it so for the Baggies.
So how are our opponents feeling ahead of this titanic play-off tussle?
We asked Glenn from Sky Blues Fans TV to find out.
This feels like a massive game in the race for the play-offs, how is it being viewed by Sky Blues fans?
Definitely a huge one. Every game feels like a cup final now, but with both teams right in the mix for the play-offs, this has an extra edge. There’s a sense that this could be a defining moment — win, and we’re right in the thick of it; lose, and we’re possibly chasing shadows. Fans know how important it is. If only we’d hung on v Hull a five point lead and being back in 5th place would have been a game changer really.
Has Frank Lampard won the fans over, it didn’t seem a universally popular appointment at the time - is that fair?
That’s fair, yeah. A lot of fans were sceptical at the start — it felt like a bit of a departure from the long-term, steady progress we’d made under Mark Robins. But credit where it’s due: Lampard’s grown into the role, the players clearly back him, and we’re seeing more attacking intent and belief. Results have done a lot of the talking plus he has built a genuine connection with the fanbase with his straight talking and honesty.
How has Lampard evolved your style from what we saw under Robins?
It’s more front-foot now. Robins was more pragmatic, structured — especially in tight games. Lampard’s taken a few more risks, tried to dominate the ball more and push higher. It hasn’t always been smooth, but when it clicks, it’s more fluid and expansive. There’s a bit more freedom in midfield, and we’re playing with a bit more urgency in transitions. Anyone who watched the Hull game would have seen how well we moved the ball and opened Hull up to create chances.
You’ve had a lot of late goals and dramatic, tight games lately - why have you been so good at grabbing the points at the death?
Belief and fitness, I think. There’s a real never-say-die attitude in the group. Some of these lads have been through a lot together — promotions, relegation scraps, play-off pushes — and they know how to dig in. Any team that sits back against us with 5/10 mins to go and allows us to build up pressure and get the fans making noise is asking for trouble as we always create chances in games. Plus, Lampard’s subs have made an impact. He’s not afraid to throw on attacking options and change things late.
What did you make of the game between us earlier in the season?
It was a tough one to take. We felt we deserved more out of it — created chances, had our moments — but Albion were clinical and controlled the key areas well. You looked organised and experienced. It showed how fine the margins are at this level.
Any injuries or suspensions ahead of the game?
We’ve got a lot of injuries – Bobby Thomas (calf), BTA (pelvis), Dovin (ACL), EMC (toe), Eccles (calf) and Victor Torp (ankle). I’d be surprised if any of them feature on Friday. No suspensions, though.
Who is your most important player?
Jack Rudoni has really stepped up — scoring big goals, leading the attacking threat well for us and also a threat with his set piece delivery. But I’d say Matt Grimes is absolutely key. He knits everything together in midfield, reads the game brilliantly, and sets the tempo. If he’s on it, we usually are too.
What is your weak point?
Defending crosses and set pieces can still be a concern. We’ve conceded a few sloppy goals that way. Also, when we don’t start games well, we can look vulnerable — sometimes it takes going behind to wake us up, which isn’t sustainable against the top sides.
What do you predict your formation and starting XI to be on Friday?
Likely a 4-2-3-1 or a flexible 4-3-3.
Predicted XI: Collins; Van Ewijk, Latibeaudire, Kitching, Da Silva; Sheaf, Grimes; Wright, Rudoni, Sakamoto; Simms.
There might be a tweak depending on fitness, but that’s close to our strongest side at the moment.
What are your thoughts on Albion at present?
Solid, experienced, and hard to beat. Corberán had you well-drilled so Mowbray has a decent base to build from although I think Palmer leaving to join Ipswich is a big departure for you along with Molumby being suspended for Cov game, and there’s a good mix of physicality and creativity. You know how to manage games and don’t give much away but haven’t really clicked offensively consistently yet. You’re definitely one of the most consistent sides in the top half — we’ll have to be at our best.
What is your score prediction for Friday?
Tight game, maybe one goal in it. I’ll go 2-1 to Coventry — heart over head maybe, but we’re due a win over the Baggies and the CBS will be rocking. Plus, Mowbray doesn’t have the greatest record v Cov as a manager since managing us but then again we hardly ever beat the Baggies either and Karlan Grant has a record of scoring against us regularly so who knows. I think it’s a game WBA have to win but for Cov a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world just don’t lose.
Written by:
Chris Hall
@CJHall83