Poyet wrestles with injuries and suspension ahead of Coventry game

Last updated : 28 December 2011 By Covsupport News Service/RD

Coventry City's next opponents, Brighton, visit The Ricoh without at least nine players because of injury or suspension.

Seagulls boss Gus Poyet takes his diminished squad and out of form side to take on  a Coventry side that is now in confident mood after picking up a much needed win over Bristol City on Monday.

Brighton lost their Boxing Day game at Reading and to compound Poyet's problems Liam Bridcott was booked which rules him out for one game. Poyet will also be without the services of Ashley Barnes and Romain Vincelot who are both serving three game bans for being sent off against Burnley before Christmas.

The three suspensions added to at least six injured players leave Poyet with a massive problem, but he remains upbeat and confident, despite seeing his side slip down the Championship league table in recent weeks.

Poyet, speaking to the local newspaper The Argus, said, "It's a funny situation but that is where we are. We cannot control that. We need to make sure the ones there on Saturday are organised and good enough to win the game."

In the corresponding fixture last November, Coventry took the lead through loan striker Gary Gardner, making his Sky Blues debut, but went on to lose 2-1.

Coventry will go into the game on a high and in confident mood after winning on Boxing Day, while Brighton and Hove Albion, suffering from enforced absences and in a run of poor form will not be so confident.