Coventry v Sunderland: free betting tip and preview for the League One clash

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Coventry City v Sunderland in Sky Bet League One on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, midday Sunday

Best bet

Coventry
1pt 13-8 Coral, Ladbrokes
Back this tip with Coral here

Team news

Coventry City
Jodi Jones (knee) is building up his match fitness and Wesley Jobello, Dan Bartlett and Reise Allassani are all long-term absentees with knee injuries.

Sunderland
Joel Lynch (ribs) featured in a midweek friendly against Carlisle and is pushing to return to the squad but Bailey Wright (ankle) is sidelined.

Match preview

Coventry came from behind to secure a creditable 1-1 draw at home to Sky Bet League One leaders Rotherham on Tuesday and they look good value to take three points in their key promotion battle with Sunderland at St Andrew's.

Sky Blues manager Mark Robins has not had much to complain about but he was critical of his players' first-half performance against the Millers, who deservedly led 1-0 at the break.

He felt they played into the hands of their direct opponents and urged his side to commit more to their passing game at half-time.

His words were heeded with Coventry delivering a vastly improved second-half performance which fully merited a share of the points.

The manner of Coventry's midweek recovery is important because it should prepare them well to face the Black Cats, who have earned a reputation for playing an effective, direct brand of football.

Robins will tell his players to start the Sunderland game as they finished against Rotherham and his team's slick, inventive approach may be just enough to get the victory.

Sunderland are on an excellent run, having lost just one of their last 15 games, and they showed resilience in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at home to Fleetwood with Max Power's goal snatching a point in the seventh added minute.

However they had lost all of their three matches away to the top-six teams going into the weekend.

Phil Parkinson's side dug out a 1-0 victory away to promotion-chasing Oxford two weeks ago but even that was laced with good fortune because a third-minute own goal settled the match and the shot count was 11-6 in the home side's favour.

Sunderland are likely to find life even tougher this weekend.

Coventry's temporary move to St Andrew's was supposed to be a hindrance but the decent playing surface has suited them and they look overpriced to register an 11th home league win of the season.