Coventry v Palace preview

Sky Blues takes on Eagles at Ricoh Arena

Last updated: 20th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Coventry v Palace preview

Warnock: Palace unbeaten in four

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Crystal Palace will be hoping to build on their win over Middlesbrough against out-of-form Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.

Neil Warnock's Palace outfit are unbeaten in four Championship games while the Sky Blues have lost four of their last five.

Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is rated as 50/50 after missing the past two games having been forced off with a back injury against West Brom that has proved more serious than first expected.

Manager Chris Coleman will only include him if he is 100 per cent fit, meaning Dimi Konstantopoulos remains on standby to deputise again.

Central defender Ben Turner (ankle) and midfielder Isaac Osbourne (knee) are certain to miss out while captain Stephen Wright is still shaking off the effects of a recent flu bug but may be involved.

Coleman is boosted by the loan arrival of Richard Wood and he could line up for the first time alongside fellow loanee Leon Barnett, who is in line for his home debut, depending on Wright's availability.

Midfielder David Bell will be hoping for more game time after his recent return from injury but defender James McPake is still working on his match fitness, while Sammy Clingan (broken toe) hopes to be back in around a week. Teenage defender Jordan Clarke also serves a one-match ban.

Eagles news

Paddy McCarthy looks set to miss out when Palace travel to the Midlands.

The centre-half has been sidelined for the last three games with a shoulder injury which will eventually require surgery.

He has been given the green light to resume playing as the problem will not get any worse, but Eagles boss Warnock is likely to hold him back for at least another week so Claude Davis and Jose Fonte will continue at the back.

Young winger Sean Scannell suffered a hamstring injury playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side last weekend and will also be missing.

Striker Calvin Andrew is stepping up his return from a cruciate injury but is some way from full fitness, while midfielder Kieran Djilali has joined Chesterfield on a month's loan.

Coventry 6/4, Crystal Palace 7/4, Draw 12/5