Coventry are 19th after losing six of their opening eight games
Sunderland are the only team below the Sky Blues in the standings
This will be the first top-flight meeting between the sides since April 2001
The Premier League's bottom two will meet at the CBS Arena on Saturday as Coventry entertain Sunderland.
Frank Lampard's hosts have begun life back in the top flight after a 25-year absence by losing six of their opening eight games, a run that leaves them 19th in the standings.
Sunderland are a point and place worse off than the Sky Blues, but Regis Le Bris’s side have been performing well in Europe and have also advanced through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Brentford in midweek.
The latest Coventry vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Key Stats
Coventry have lost only one of their last 12 meetings with Sunderland
Sunderland did beat the Sky Blues in the Championship play-off semi-finals two seasons ago
Alongside Nottingham Forest, these are the two lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League (six goals each)
Sunderland have collected just a solitary point from their four away matches
Coventry have picked up the fewest yellow cards in the Premier League this season (eight)
Centre-back Bobby Thomas has had 14 shots this season, more than any other Coventry player
Brian Brobbey has scored half of Sunderland's league goals but they all came in one match
Recommended Bets
Bet Builder
Sunderland to win
Under 2.5 goals
Under 2.5 Coventry cards
Score prediction
Team News
Coventry are sweating over the availability of influential centre back Bobby Thomas, who is struggling with a calf issue. Stephen Mfuni is likely to start should the 25-year-old fail to prove his fitness.
Sunderland should be boosted by the return of forward Wilson Isidor following five matches out with a knock. That leaves just Dan Ballard and Romaine Mundle on the Black Cats' treatment table.
Need to know
Coventry have failed to score in five of their eight league matches since returning to the top flight, including three of their four games on home soil.
Sunderland may be struggling at the foot of the table but they have only lost one of their last five matches in all competitions.
The last top-flight meeting between this pair ended in a 1-0 victory for Coventry in April 2001 — their most recent Premier League success before this season — John Hartson scored the only goal of the game that day.
Prediction
It is far too early to call this a relegation six-pointer but there will be one or two nerves in the air at the CBS Arena and this could become a scrappy match decided by just one goal.
Coventry have drawn a blank in three of their four home games since returning to the top flight, while Sunderland have only scored in one of their last five league fixtures, further underlining that goals should be at a premium.
If there is to be a winner, Sunderland look the more likely, as they have only lost one of their last five across all competitions and have claimed some impressive results in cup competitions.
It may prove a battle at the CBS Arena, but that does not mean there will be a flurry of cards, certainly for Coventry, who have received just eight yellows in eight games.
There was not a single Sky Blues player booked in last week's home defeat to Fulham and their card count is unlikely to rise too high in this one either.
Back Sunderland to win, under 2.5 goals & under 2.5 Coventry cards @ 5/1 with LiveScore Bet
