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Coventry City host Maidstone United at CBS Arena in the opening tie of the Fifth Round in the 2023-24 FA Cup.
Victory would see Coventry reach the Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2008-09 season, whilst sixth-tier Maidstone seek to extend their historic run.
Team News
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is ruled out for Coventry after he suffered a rumoured pelvis injury in their Championship defeat against Preston.
Victor Torp (calf) could return but Ben Sheaf (hamstring) and Jamie Allen (cheekbone) remain absent.
Maidstone have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-0 loss at Aveley in the National League South just over a week ago.
Harry Kyprianou though is a doubt after he was absent for the trip to Aveley.
When is Kick-Off?
Coventry host Maidstone at CBS Arena on Monday 26 February at 7:45pm GMT, live on ITV4 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Coventry’s first ever meeting against Maidstone United in all competitions.
- Maidstone are playing away to Coventry for the first time in a competitive fixture.
- Coventry have won three of their last five FA Cup ties against Non League opposition (W3, L2).
- Sam Corne has scored in each of Maidstone’s last three FA Cup matches (W3).
Prediction
After a surprisngly toothless display in their defeat against Preston, Coventry certainly have to be fired up to mount a response in a game where they are favourites, yet many of Mark Robins’ Sky Blues know what it is like to lose to a Non League club from last season against Wrexham.
There however are fresh faces like Joel Latibeaudiere, Ellis Simms and Haji Wright who have joined since that cupset, so another shock result will surely be doubly embarrassing especially given the attacking quality available.
Maidstone however did look at home on the counter-attack against Ipswich in the Fourth Round and I can see them approaching this game in the same manner, which should be interesting tactically given that Coventry aren’t easy to beat at the CBS Arena in recent months.
Robins’ Coventry however are in a difficult scrap for a spot in the Championship play-offs so I can see a lot of changes here if that is their priority, whereas Maidstone have had a week to prepare and if they play like they did at Ipswich then another cup shock is surely on the cards.
Prediction: Coventry 1-2 Maidstone United
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