Ex-Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray will be hoping his Blackburn Rovers side can inflict defeat on his former club, as Rovers make the journey south to the West Midlands this Saturday.

Both sides will be hoping that the international break can help them capture some consistency.

Mark Robins' Coventry have won just one of their last six, and Mowbray's side have only won two in the same period.

For Rovers, it is a case of trying to hold on to what they have. Currently in sixth, they have played at least a game more than the rest of the top half.

For Coventry, there is still a chance of making their Premier League dream come true, but it is getting slimmer as the weeks go on. They currently occupy 11th place and are six points off the play-offs.

Team news

Robins has admitted to CoventryLive that he is "spinning plates" and that he will be forced to field a makeshift back line for the visit of Blackburn.

Captain Kyle McFadzean remains unavailable with a calf strain, and Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter is likely going to be out for the rest of the season with a torn groin.

Michael Rose and Todd Kane are also both fighting to be fit in time for Saturday's game, with Rose returning to training in the last week following a period out with Covid.

Kane has also missed the last two matches due to a hamstring strain and his availability for Saturday will be a subject to a late decision from Robins.

Embed from Getty Images

As for Rovers, Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph that Reda Khadra, Darragh LenihanDeyovaisio Zeefuik and Daniel Ayala will all definitely not be fit for the trip to Coventry.

Khadra and Lenihan both had to withdraw from Germany Under-21s and Republic of Ireland respectively over the international break, due to injuries picked up in the loss against Reading.

Embed from Getty Images

Although, Jan Paul van Hecke could be fit for the Coventry game, as he tries to shake off a slight hamstring problem. Mowbray declared him "touch-and-go".

Rovers' manager also believes that Ryan Nyambe and Tayo Edun will definitely be available to feature against the Sky Blues.

Predicted lineups

Coventry City: Moore (GK), Kane, Rose, Sheaf, Hyam, Maatsen, Hamer, Allen, O'Hare, Godden, Gyokeres

Blackburn Rovers: Kaminski (GK), Wharton, van Hecke, Brown, Giles, Rothwell, Travis, Nyambe, Buckley, Gallagher, Dolan

Ones to watch

Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Hamer has been nothing short of sensational since moving to Coventry from PEC Zwolle in 2020, and on Saturday he will make his 75th league appearance for the Sky Blues.

He is the complete midfielder.

His ability to pick a pass is unmatched in this side, his delivery from set pieces is almost always threatening and his tenacity - though it earns a lot of yellow cards - is a valuable asset that should see Hamer in the top flight before long.

If Blackburn can keep him quiet, they could pick up a result, though it is a lot easier said than done.

Embed from Getty Images

For Blackburn, their star man is Chile international Ben Brereton-Diaz.

Though he is not expected to start for Mowbray's side on Saturday, you cannot talk about Rovers without mentioning Brereton-Diaz.

After a stellar breakthrough tournament at last summer's Copa America, the Stoke-born Chilean international has notched up a goal tally of 20 for this season and has finally realised the potential that he was signed to fulfil in 2019.

Luckily for the Sky Blues, he is not expected to start, as he played his first minutes since February in Chile's 2-0 loss to Uruguay.

However, if he is to feature, then a makeshift Coventry defence may struggle to contain him.

Embed from Getty Images

Past meetings

These two sides have a fairly even record. In a total of 40 meetings, Coventry have won 17 times, Blackburn have won on 15 occasions and points have been shared eight times.

Neutrals will be hoping for a repeat of the reverse fixture back in Ocotber.

Blackburn raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half at Ewood Park, thanks to goals from Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher.

However, two goals in six minutes from Coventry levelled the game and spoils were shared.

A near post tap-in from Tyler Walker was followed by a Thomas Kaminski own goal, as Liam Kelly's strike deflected off the Rovers number one and into the net.

Where to watch

The game is not available for neither domestic fans nor international fans to watch on iFollow, due to overseas TV coverage of the game.

However, for UK fans, iFollow audio passes are still available to purchase.