aron gunnarsson returns to the ricoh arena this evening

coventry v cardiff (nov 22):

It is a mystery to many that Coventry are second from bottom and not looking likely climbing the table any time soon.

On paper they look like a mid-table side, but that is assuming that the Championship is at the same level that it was last season.

It isn’t.

The promoted teams last season were lucky in the respect that the second tier seem to be going through a transitional phase. The three sides that cam down last term (Middlesbrough, Hull and Burnley) were in all sorts of difficulties on and off the pitch, while the remnants of the previous season’s Premier League losers (Newcastle, WBA and Portsmouth) had either returned to the top flight or were (Portsmouth) still in a serious state of flux.

Also, this season’s promoted sides from League One (in particular, Southampton and Brighton) look capable of contesting at the top.

So from mid-table obscurity take away three and four and you have at least seven places difference from Coventry’s finish last season (18th).

I make that bottom of the Championship, and then some.

Cardiff must have thought once again that their chance of promotion had gone again – and it hurt real bad to see rivals Swansea leap them.

But, if truth be told, this Cardiff side looks like it has a little more substance than the last few renditins.

If they are going to get promoted, winning at the Ricoh Arena is the best of measures – all three promoted sides won their last season.

Tip

3pts Cardiff to beat Coventry at 11/10 (2.1 at Boylesports, Coral and Betfair)