DPL vs Coventry

Coventry are obviously a better-than-average team and to even draw at their adopted home In Birmingham would surely be a satisfactory outcome.

Their business model is an odd one though. When you are homeless you would surely make your first priority a decent place to live rather than investing in expensive furniture and fittings. But they have seemingly put investment in players first which together with the skills of their experienced manager, Mark Robins, has taken them to second place in the league.

They were nearly in the play-offs last season and they are confidently expecting to go at least one better this time round. It has been their 100% home record, admittedly mostly against unfancied teams, that has lifted them to where they are. They have drawn all their away games including their toughest fixtures at Portsmouth and Burton and have yet to lose.

There was a table recently published showing that we had had the toughest start of all the successful teams based on league position of the opposition at the time we played them which is very creditable. The fact that we had fewer away matches was not taken into account though and of course we have yet to win away.

They have not scored many league goals at home and this made me think they were perhaps rather cautious in style, but Gary McSheffery says they play open football. He also believes Rovers have the edge, particularly in the Whiteman-Sheaf midfield partnership

So it will be an indicative test. Avoiding defeat could bring justifiable confidence about our promotion prospects. That is precisely what I'll go for , 1-1 Anderson/John.