Talking Tactics | Coventry City v Swansea City

Swansea City travel to face Coventry City in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday evening and, ahead of the clash, WhoScored.com preview the contest, looking at what to expect from the hosts, a key battle and key stat.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM COVENTRY CITY

Coventry welcome Swansea to the CBS Arena having won their last two Championship matches without conceding a goal.

Mark Robins’ side have found good form, and will head into this one in 13th place, but just three points away from the play-off places.

Coventry’s five-match unbeaten streak is, at present, the third-best such run in the division, behind Southampton (16) and Leicester (eight).

The hosts have most frequently opted to set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, but, of late, Mark Robins has settled on a 4-4-1-1 shape, with attacking midfielder Callum O’Hare playing in behind Matt Godden.

According to WhoScored.com, Coventry excel at winning the ball back from their opponents, as well as creating scoring chances and attacking along the wings.

The hosts’ statistically-identified weaknesses include aerial duels and avoiding fouls in dangerous areas. Coventry like to attempt through balls often and take plenty of shots which comes as no surprise given the energetic fashion in which Robins likes his team to play.

KEY BATTLE

The in-form man for the home side is Japanese winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who has found the net three times in his last two matches.

Swansea left-back Josh Tymon is set to be tasked with keeping the 27- year-old quiet along Coventry’s right flank, and it could prove to be a crucial head-to-head contest.

Sakamoto is not a traditional winger - in that he does not attempt many dribbles - but he has started to take more shots on goal for the Sky Blues.

He has had four shots in each of his last two games, more than he had managed in any of his 18 other Championship appearances this season.

With Sakamoto looking to goal more frequently than previously, Tymon, who is making 1.3 tackles per game in the league this season, could have an important role to play.

KEY STAT

Only West Brom (11) have kept more clean sheets than Coventry (nine) in the Championship this season.

The Sky Blues have found a sound defensive formula in recent weeks, with three clean sheets coming in their last five matches, and only two goals conceded across that run.

Swansea, however, had scored in their last eight matches prior to the Boxing Day defeat at Southampton.