Newcastle United head to the Midlands this evening to take on newly promoted Coventry City at the CBS Arena, looking to maintain their positive start to the season. Under new head coach Matthias Jaissle, the Magpies have only lost one of their opening five matches and have amassed eight points from a possible 15.
They now face Frank Lampard's men, with the Sky Blues currently languishing in the relegation zone. Coventry are back in the Premier League after a 25-year absence and, after losing their opening four matches of the season, they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 away from home last time out. They are now bidding for their first home Premier League win of the campaign.
Coventry's tough step up
Ahead of the game, Chronicle Live has spoken to Andy Turner, Coventry City reporter at the Coventry Telegraph, to get the lowdown on their opponents, how they have adapted to life in the Premier League, as well as the danger men Newcastle need to look out for.
Asked how Coventry have found the step up to Premier League level, Turner said: "In a word, tough. Having said that, they couldn't have been handed a much harder start with away trips to Arsenal and Man City, while also entertaining one of the early season form sides, Brighton."
"The biggest disappointment was losing at home to fellow promoted Hull who did a real smash 'n' grab job on the Sky Blues who had otherwise dominated but not taken their chances."
"They competed really well in the narrow 1-0 defeat at the Etihad and their first win and goal at Forest last time out has given them a huge boost of confidence and belief that they can use that as a springboard to start picking up more results and points."
Rudoni's quality and danger men
Newcastle were known to be monitoring Jack Rudoni last summer but nothing ever materialised. Turner said: "Jack has been brilliant for the Sky Blues ever since he signed, scoring ten goals and getting ten assists in his first season and seven goals in his second despite having time out with two calf strains and carrying a dislocated shoulder that was finally operated on at the back end of last term."
"In terms of stepping up, he looks right at home in the Premier League and has been unlucky not to get off the mark."
On Coventry's star performers this season, Turner said: "The two players who stand out as having stepped up to the Premier League the best so far are defenders Bobby Thomas and Jay Dasilva – the latter scoring a superb goal to clinch victory at Forest."
"Other than that, Coventry have a lot of new players who are still bedding in and finding their feet both in a new team, at a new level and, in some cases, a new country. Rudoni is a quality player and summer signing and midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi is a really promising talent who has settled in quicker than most."
Score prediction
Turner gave his score prediction ahead of Monday's game: "Coventry don't have a great record against the Magpies who have scored quite a few goals against them over the years but I live in hope of a narrow victory for the Sky Blues, or steadying point at the very least back on home soil."
