Coventry City v Stoke City

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sixth-placed Stoke travel to The Ricoh Arena in fine heart following an impressive 3-0 win over Cardiff in the week.

On-loan midfielder Liam Lawrence is Stoke's major doubt as he battles to overcome a thigh strain, so Czech midfielder Patrik Berger stands by.

Ricardo Fuller could return to the starting line-up after coming on as a substitute in the win over Cardiff and then opening the scoring.

Coventry are boosted by the return of striker Stern John from a knee injury. John could replace Leon McKenzie in Micky Adams's attack.

Source: http://home.skysports.com

[kennethlindheim]

Coventry:

33 Andy Marshall
24 Richard Duffy
5 Elliott Ward
4 Robert Page
3 Marcus Hall
26 Clive Clarke
9 Dele Adebola
23 Colin Cameron
8 Michael Doyle
27 Darren Currie
15 Leon McKenzie

Subs
13 Rafael Gonzlalez-Robles
20 Mikkel Bischoff
25 Adam Virgo
11 Chris Birchall
14 Stern John

Stoke:

1 Steve Simonsen
2 Carl Hoefkens
5 Michael Duberry
14 Danny Higginbotham
20 Andy Griffin
16 Lee Hendrie
18 Salif Diao
17 Darel Russell
27 Patrik Berger
10 Ricardo Fuller
9 Mamady Sidibe

Subs
6 Clint Hill
22 Lewis Buxton
8 David Brammer
12 Peter Sweeney
15 Vincent Pericard

[kennethlindheim]

0-0 Half-time!

[kennethlindheim]

0-0 Full-time!

[2Slick]

Coventry 0 Stoke 0

City extended their run of consecutive clean sheets to an all-time record of six as it finished in stalemate at the Ricoh Arena.

The Potters have now gone over 500 minutes without conceding and are now unbeaten in six games.

Ricardo Fuller and Patrik Berger went closest to breaking the deadlock in a lively second half while City's defence held firm at the opposite end.

Recent signing Liam Lawrence failed a late fitness test before the game, so Patrik Berger made his first start for the club on the left wing.

Ricardo Fuller also replaced Vincent Pericard in attack following his fifth goal of the season against Cardiff City in the week.

But it was strike partner Mamdy Sidibe who made early inroads into the home defence, firing into the arms of Andy Marshall before Fuller replicated his effort soon after.

Leon McKenzie was proving to be the biggest danger to City relinquishing their consecutive clean sheets record, heading over from close range, shortly before turning provider for Dele Abebola to force a point blank save from Steve Simonsen nod wide.

A mistake in the City rearguard almost put McKenzie through on goal, but a heavy first touch was gobbled up by Simonsen in the Potters' goal.

Lee Hendrie lofted a free kick over the bar while Fuller's mazy run and shot couldn't break Coventry's resistance.

But the Sky Blues almost took the lead on the stroke of half time when Adebola's header cannoned off the bar in injury time.

Coventry seized the initiative after the break but with chances few and far between, a single goal always looked like being good enough.

Sidibe squandered a glorious chance midway through the half after being put clean through by Fuller, while Berger's thunderous drive was deflected wide by City old boy Marcus Hall.

Fuller could have won it for the Potters late on but forced a decent save from Marshall before blazing over the bar.

Coventry: Marshall; Duffy, Ward, Page, Hall; Currie (Birchall 90), Doyle, Cameron (John 67), Clarke; Adebola, McKenzie. Subs (Not used): Gonzalez, Bischoff, Virgo.

City: Simonsen; Hoefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Griffin; Hendrie, Diao, Russell, Berger (Brammer 90); Fuller (Pericard 88), Sidibe. Subs (Not used): Hill, Sweeney, Buxton.

http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.....html?ptvParm=