Can City Cash In On Port Vale Woes?

Having failed to find a way past League Two`s bottom club, Chesterfield, on Saturday afternoon, Coventry City host Port Vale at the Ricoh Arena with their opponents occupying 23rd place in the table.

That represents a 36-year-low for the Valiants and has immediately put pressure on manager Michael Brown after last season`s relegation from League One alongside the Sky Blues.

City supporter Norman Smurthwaite remains the owner at Vale Park but stepped down as chairman in the summer in favour of Tony Fradley who gave Brown his backing in the wake of the weekend defeat at home to Notts County.

Fradley, quoted in the Stoke Sentinel on Monday: ‘I have seen Michael and his backroom staff build up and what has impressed me is the amount of background work that goes on for the players to be ready to play.’

Trying to put his most optimistic gloss on affairs, Brown told the official PVFC website that ‘we are only five points off the play-offs` although that is a situation that most clubs find themselves in with only the same number of matches played to date.

He will run the rule over striker Tyrone Barnett in a reserve team fixture this week with a view to bringing him back into the squad for Saturday’s trip to CV6.