Burnley preview

The Sky Blues look to close the gap on the play-off places with a win over sixth-placed Burnley on Saturday, and go into the game unbeaten in their last four matches.

Their visitors have bounced back well from a trio of defeats against sides set to challenge at the end of the season, beating Leeds and drawing at Ipswich last week.

Micky Adams: 'I still don't feel we are firing on all cylinders at home but I don't think we are too far away.

'We have started a little run but what we want from a run is eight, nine or ten games undefeated.

'And if we can do that we will be close to where we want to be.'

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill told his club's website: 'Everybody says that when you get into the last couple of months, that's the business end of the season but I actually think that your season is quite often shaped around those middle months.

'It's important that you keep going and keep trying to produce the form that you produced in the first couple of months of the season.

'The middle is the important bit and if you are there or thereabouts when you bring your head up at the end of February, then you are in with a shout of achieving that season.'

Marcus Hall is suspended so Clive Clarke is set to play at left-back, meaning a chance for Chris Birchall in midfield.

Stern John is poised to partner Dele Adebola up front with boss Micky Adams saying: 'Dele is fit and scoring goals so I would think he has got every chance of playing and we have to look at what's best to go alongside him.

'Stern is a goalscorer.

'If he gets the ball in the right area, generally he puts it in the back of the net.'

Had probably his best game in a Sky Blues shirt last week and seems to be benefitting from the extra space afforded to him by Darren Currie's arrival.

Highly-rated young striker Kyle Lafferty will again start in the absence of Andy Gray and will be looking to build on his goal at Ipswich last week.

Boss Cotterill said: 'We just have to make sure that we nurse him through this period.

'He is definitely not Andy Gray's replacement because he is a different player.'

The Welsh international goalkeeper has looked sharp in the two games he has played since returning from over a year on the sidelines.

Dele Adebola's goal settled a hard-fought match between the two sides in February.

Mike Thorpe of Suffolk takes charge.

The Sky Blues travel to West Brom next Saturday while Burnley are at home to Sunderland.

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco