Pre-match pressure all on Ipswich?

‘Ipswich are ready-made with experience so it will be a tough game but I have got every faith in our boys.

‘They have a good manager and players who have played in the Premiership and know their way around this division, so it will be a good test for us.’

Andy Thorn’s pre-match thoughts as his side prepare for Monday night’s televised clash at Portman Road show the Coventry City boss to be in his usual bullish mood about the quality of the young squad he has shaped since taking over from Aidy Boothroyd.

City’s defensive record is up there with the best in the Championship and if they can continue that in Suffolk then a restless home crowd may crank up the pressue on an Ipswich side containing plenty of ‘names’ but who have turned in some horror show performances so far this season.

The most notable of those came in their last Sky TV outing when Peterborough carved through their opponents defence with embarrasing ease to score seven goals, something the Sky Blues may struggle to match but Thorn’s side look increasingly confident in the way they are set out to play and showed against Derby that they now have more of a cutting edge up front.

40% of Vital Coventry readers fancy the Sky Blues to take three points but, over at bwin, 55% of punters are taking the 21/20 on offer for a home victory.