Coventry City play a Portsmouth side this weekend who have managed just three Championship victories since gaining promotion to the second tier from League One last term.
Pompey appeared to be picking up form with two of those wins and two draws coming consecutively prior to last weekend’s 4-0 thumping at fellow second tier new-comers Derby County.
As such, manager John Mousinho and his players will be desperate to get back on track when the Sky Blues pitch up at Fratton Park for a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday.
Question is, what team and formation will Frank Lampard go with to dull the sound of the Pompey Chimes?
Well, the 46-year-old boss has made it pretty clear that he favours a back four rather than three with wing-backs, and has kept faith with Brad Collins in goal in his first four matches. And given the former Chelsea prospect’s second half heroics against Hull, when he made two really good saves to keep City in the game, we can expect him to keep his place between the posts.
Lampard has chopped and changed a bit with his defence as he looks for a stable combination to emerge and, certainly going on Saturday’s win, there’s a strong case for Bobby Thomas and Luis Binks to remain at the heart of the back four, with Milan van Ewijk at right-back. There may, however, be a change at left-back where Jake Bidwell and Jay Dasilva have taken turns. Bidwell started on the bench against the Tigers and may well return to the starting line-up on the south coast.
Ben Sheaf is arguably the only guaranteed starter in midfield but Victor Torp’s performance, which included an assist for Ephron Mason-Clark’s opening goal last time out, might just give the Dane the edge over Josh Eccles, while Jamie Allen is still waiting for his chance to show the new boss what he can do in a game.
Jack Rudoni is one of the first names on the teamsheet as he’s increasingly impressed under Lampard, and is expected to again be deployed in the number ten role with in-form Ephron Mason-Clark to his left – in the continued absence of the injured Haji Wright – and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to his right.
That leaves a three-way battle between Norman Bassette, Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante to lead the line, with Bassette having emerged as the head coach’s go-to man so far.
Predicted City team v Portsmouth: Brad Collins; Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Luis Binks, Jake Bidwell; Ben Sheaf, Victor Torp; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni, Ephron Mason-Clark; Norman Bassette.
